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ORCA Computing

ORCA Computing Delivers First Photonic Quantum Computing System to UK's National Quantum Computing Centre

ORCA Computing, a renowned quantum computing vendor, delivered and installed its photonic quantum computing system at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) in the UK as part of a major UK government investment in quantum technologies.

ORCA Computing, a leading quantum computing company, makes full-stack photonic quantum computers. They want to make quantum computing a reality to expand applications, boost innovation, and alter industries. They want to create error-corrected quantum computers and value-creating quantum accelerators using their modular, fiber-interconnected design.

Special Method and Benefits ORCA's photonic quantum computing technique has several advantages over other quantum systems for current and future applications. Innovative methodologies and rack-mounted telecom and optical fibre components provide their system the performance, scalability, and usability needed to tackle difficult use-cases like generative machine learning and optimisation. Advantages of their technology include:

Modular, upgradeable architecture.

Better scaling.

Lower user entrance barriers.

a viable fault-tolerant company model.

Mature and reliable PT Series system.

ORCA PT Series Quantum-Accelerated Generative AI & Optimisation The ORCA PT Series is essential for developing near-term industrial applications of quantum-accelerated generative AI and optimisation. These systems work, run, and perform reliably based on real-world applications and deployments, unlike the industry's arduous, fragile, and expensive technology.

The PT Series has advantages:

Quantum Accelerated Generative AI & Optimisation: It breaks the unsustainable power demand of traditional AI and improves companies by giving generative AI capabilities not found in classical or other quantum computing platforms.

Data Centre Ready: Air-cooled, rack-mounted systems can be cloud or on-premises.

Developer-friendly: They support PyTorch, Python, and CUDA-Q.

Lowest Total Cost of Ownership: This includes purchase, setup, maintenance, and upgrades.

The ORCA PT Series has been employed in several generative AI and optimisation applications and use-cases, benefiting researchers and enterprises in major scientific and industrial fields. ORCA and bp investigated a hybrid quantum-classical technique that uses GAN methods to produce low-energy conformations of tiny and medium-sized hydrocarbon molecules. This research aims to solve computational molecular exploration problems, which are crucial for biofuel and energy material development.

Founding and Leading In 2019, ORCA Computing was spun off from Oxford University after 30 years of technology achievements and scientific research. Josh Nunn, Richard Murray, and Professor Ian Walmsley founded the company.

Current Events and News Recently, ORCA Computing has earned waves for its innovations.

The UK National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) receives the first photonic quantum computing equipment.

On June 11, 2025, ORCA Computing installed the UK's first photonic quantum computing device at the NQCC.

ORCA's selection for the UK's Quantum Computing Testbeds effort in February 2024 fulfilled a major program requirement.

at 36 hours, the PT Series system, the first photonic quantum system at a UK public institution, proved its reliability and maturity.

The ORCA system is the first to combine several photonics. It speeds up hybrid quantum-classical workflows and real-world quantum applications.

This facility backs the £121 million UK quantum strategy.

Early users have benchmarked quantum/classical generative AI models for molecular chemistry, completed over 25,000 jobs without interruption, and accomplished an 81-parameter binary optimisation. At Digital Catapult Quantum Technology Access Programme (QTAP), these achievements were displayed.

The NQCC will now test and evaluate the system to benchmark performance and include it into cooperative R&D programs like the University of Edinburgh's Quantum Software Lab (QSL). Dr Simon Plant, NQCC Deputy Director for Innovation, says early access to advanced photonic technologies shapes quantum applications and accelerates innovation.

Vodafone Partnership: Starting October 6, 2025, Vodafone and ORCA Computing will use quantum technologies to quickly evaluate client network designs.

ORCA's Chief Science Officer and co-founder Josh Nunn described the PT Series quantum systems in an Optics & Photonics News cover story on September 6, 2025.

ParTec AG Partnership: On July 5, 2025, ParTec said it would integrate ORCA's photonic quantum computing into its AI Factory infrastructure. This partnership is crucial to expanding quantum computing applications in research and industry.

HPCwire Feature Article: A February 6, 2025 post by ORCA Computing Head of Solutions Architecture James Fletcher detailed how the business is allowing scalable AI Factories using quantum acceleration to overcome compute limitations.

Advances in Quantum Use-Cases Exhibition: On April 9, 2025, QTAP attendees learnt how ORCA's platform lets firms design and test quantum application cases in months.

The milestone shipment of ORCA Computing's PT-2 photonic quantum system to the NQCC on March 21, 2025, was covered in Quantum Computing Report before the entire delivery.