Australian quantum computing startup Q-CTRL Pty. Ltd. is finally putting its software to use, partnering with U.S.-based Bleximo Corp. to power that company’s superconducting quantum accelerators.

The partnership will see Q-CTRL become Bleximo’s “preferred provider” of quantum firmware as Bleximo looks to bring its quantum computing systems to market.

Q-CTRL is an interesting startup that’s trying to tackle the problem of reliability in quantum computing. The problem is that current quantum computers are so fragile they must be kept in isolated containers at temperatures close to absolute zero in order to work reliably. Even then, most quantum systems can only run calculations for a short period of time before errors start occurring.

That’s because the “qubits” used in quantum computers are inherently unstable. Qubits are potentially superior to the “bits” used in traditional computing because they can be set as a one and a zero, and also both states simultaneously. This means they have an extra value to help with performing calculations, which makes them exponentially more powerful.

Q-CTRL’s software helps quantum computer engineers to stabilize those qubits. The company’s two flagship products, Black Opal and Boulder Opal, visualize processing errors in sleek dashboards that display detailed technical data about the root causes of a problem and include controls that engineers can use to reprogram their quantum computer’s circuitry to correct for errors.

Bleximo is more focused on the actual quantum computing hardware. It sells “quantum accelerators” that use superconducting qubits, as well as tailored quantum processors and control hardware. These are essentially “application-specific” quantum computing systems, which Bleximo says can deliver better performance than general purpose systems.

The company reckons its systems can be used to aid conventional high-performance computing to solve complex problems in areas such as finance, pharmaceuticals and logistics.

“Our combined solutions will help speed the development and usefulness of quantum computing for a variety of industrial applications,” said Bleximo founder and Chief Executive Officer Alexei Marchenkov.

Q-CTRL recently completed a $15 million Series A round led by Australia’s largest venture capital fund, Square Peg Capital, and Silicon Valley’s Sierra Ventures.

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