Intel putting $50 mn into quantum computing research. picture: Getty Images

Chip maker Intel has announced plans to invest $50 million (£33 million) in quantum computing research, which could help boost the capabilities of high performance computers.

Intel is putting $50million into a collaboration with the QuTech Institute, itself a partnership between the Technical University of Delft and Dutch national research organisation TNO.

According to Intel, the potential applications for the computing power comprise of intricate simulations, including large-scale financial analysis and better drug development.

Each Intel Vice President Mike Mayberry and Krzanich consider quantum computing shall be obtainable inside 12 years, and Intel’s inclusion within the efforts will exclusively guarantee development.

Quantum computing, which was discovered around 14 years back, is considered to be an exciting and promising area of research. The company believes that it would be hard for any single organization to achieve success in solving the puzzle of advanced quantum computing, and that such a technically complex issue can only be solved through industry collaboration.

“Expertise in specialized electronics combined with advanced physics is required to move quantum computing closer to being a reality”, Mayberry added. “Whereas qubit improvement has been the main target of quantum computing analysis so far, low-temperature electronics can be required to attach, management and measure a number of qubits, and that is the place we will contribute”. However, some say that isn’t a quantum computer, with the argument revolving around whether or not the device performs a process called quantum annealing or simulates it. Nevertheless, D-Wave has the backing of some of the industry’s leading investors.

Quantum computers use quantum bits (qubits), unlike digital computers, which are based on transistors and require data to be encoded into binary digits (bits).

Intel CEO Brian Krzanich published a blog today explaining the company’s strategic interest in quantum computing, and the relevance of electronics and manufacturing expertise in making quantum computing a reality. Intel believes it has the potential to augment the capabilities of tomorrow’s high performance computers.