Raghunath Koduvayur is a renowned expert in quantum technology, having led award-winning global sales and marketing teams at IQM Quantum Computers, Nokia, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Tieto throughout his career. Having lived in Finland, Hong Kong, and India, Raghunath seized the opportunity to move into Quantum and IQM and has since helped businesses in different corners of the world to implement these groundbreaking technologies.

Raghunath’s three passion areas are entrepreneurship, technology and growing business. We hear how Raghunath built and scaled IQM’s brand from their early-stage startup status to the European leader in quantum computing it is today. We discuss the similarities between Finland and Singapore in their Quantum adoption, and the critical importance of Quantum education while highlighting some of the challenges around talent shortage, training and future capacity.

We dive into:

• Why enterprise adoption is a big challenge
• Reasons Quantum education is so necessary for the future workforce and ‘hiding Quantum talent’
• His hopes for public funding for quantum technologies
• His recommendations for enterprises ‘start NOW’
• The single best piece of advice for enterprises looking to start their Quantum journey!
• What has worked well in Europe in terms of the commercialisation of Quantum

How’s your move from Finland to Singapore been and what’s common between the two countries?

Finland and Singapore have several common factors – small countries, great people, developed nations, stable, economically competitive, and invest heavily in research, technology and capability development. Finland and Singapore share close ties and collaborate in many areas including high-performance computing, telecommunications and others. Even in Quantum, Finland and Singapore organizations (including IQM) have signed an MoU to collaborate on several areas.

You will see and hear a lot of quantum updates from us in the upcoming months.

For the quantum industry, enterprise adoption is a big challenge. In line with this, in The State of Quantum 2022 Report, from IQM, it was found that the current costs of running quantum computing experiments and lack of knowledgeable personnel were cited as key obstacles to adoption.

How can Quantum companies facilitate smooth adoption for enterprises keen on Quantum tech?

This is an excellent question. The talent shortage is one of the biggest challenges faced by the industry. Quantum companies have to steer away from the hype and help enterprises with the right product offering and business rationale to invest in quantum technologies. At the same time, we should also offer educational offerings and training to upskill the enterprises' workforce.

At IQM, we’ve chosen to work with enterprises on an Application-Specific Co-design approach. This has several milestones for the customers and our quantum experts partner with them in a phased approach towards a quantum advantage for specific problems. Our experts start working with the customer on scoping the problem, identifying the right solution and algorithm, to design the most suitable processor for the problem. Combined with our educational offerings, we also help customer teams with training and reskilling.

How are organizations working with full-stack system integrators like yourself? Can you share an example of how you deliver on-premises systems to a new customer? 

We have three distinct customer groups: HPC Centers, National research labs, and enterprise customers, and the process itself starts from the customer need.

Let me cover the first two customer groups and also give you examples of where we have delivered/are delivering on-premises systems.

For a HPC Center, LRZ in Munich, Germany, we are actually building a quantum computer which will be integrated into a supercomputer (as part of Q-exa project), and that works as an accelerator to the overall system. There is also a dedicated research in this project. The customer need was an on-premises system with complete access to the hardware and dedicated training and support for their users.

For a National research lab, VTT Technical research centre of Finland, we are delivering an on-premises system as part of a co-innovation project. Here, the requirement was a co-innovation project and an upgradeable system. We’ve already delivered a 5-qubit system which is being upgraded to a 20-qubit system in the coming months and then it will be upgraded to a 50-qubit system next year. This has already helped Finland to create a vibrant national quantum ecosystem, attract new startups and also create new jobs in the country.

If you look 3 years into the future, what do you consider will be the biggest impact Quantum technology will have on your industry?

3 years is quite a short timeframe, but I’m hoping to see a few early signs of quantum advantage. This will likely be using an application-specific processor.

I also hope that this excitement translates into new educational programs, curriculum, and increasing investment in training. I am hoping that there will be an increase in public funding to procure quantum computers and to find solutions for the pressing challenges of humankind, around climate crisis, healthcare, sustainability, energy, and so on.

What is the best single piece of advice you can give to an enterprise looking to start their Quantum journey?

Invest in quantum for the right reasons, be patient, and find the right partner who shares your long-term vision.

Why is Quantum Tech Asia an event not to be missed?

This is an important time to bring together quantum leaders to discuss scientific progress, and the business landscape and explore collaboration opportunities. Quantum.Tech brings together the entire quantum ecosystem and it is a great platform to learn and build new connections. IQM Quantum Computers will also be at the event, so do visit our booth and say hello.

Join Raghunath on his Case Study: Quantum in a system context – Delivering business advantage and an overview of potential quantum enhanced products

@ 11:50 am at Equarius Hotel

Register now for QuantumTech Asia 2023 and be part of shaping the future of technology.

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