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OQC launches OQC Toshiko, the world’s first enterprise ready quantum platform

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At the Global Investment Summit, the company also announces that SBI Investment, Japan’s premier VC fund, is leading OQC’s $100m round

LONDON, Nov. 27, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — OQC, the global leaders in quantum compute-as-a-service (QCaaS), today announced the public availability of OQC Toshiko, the world’s first enterprise ready quantum computing platform, and that SBI Investment, Japan’s premier VC fund, is leading OQC’s $100m round.

 

OQC Toshiko is a powerful next generation 32-qubit platform, deployed to commercial data-centres, enabling businesses to tap into ground-breaking technology from anywhere in the world, seamlessly and securely.

OQC’s $100m round will pave the way for industry-leading R&D furthering its ability to bring enterprise ready quantum to businesses globally.

OQC Toshiko – world’s first enterprise ready quantum computing platform

Quantum computing is a world changing $1.3 trillion opportunity with the power to not only reshape and transform entire industries but ignite and catalyse entirely new ones. Today, quantum computers are predominantly located in labs, making secure access the biggest barrier to wider business adoption of this groundbreaking technology.

With OQC Toshiko, an upgradeable 32-qubit platform, OQC has brought quantum computing to commercial data centres, thereby enabling secure and easy access for customers. This world-first platform is especially important for customers handling sensitive data, in sectors such as financial services, pharmaceuticals, energy, defence and government.

Bringing quantum into data centres makes it possible to offer hybrid compute, integrated quantum and HPC, to the market. OQC has achieved this by adopting an advanced networking infrastructure, Digital Fabric Interconnect, to enable secure, hybrid compute for customers.

To bring quantum out of the lab and into the enterprise, OQC is collaborating with leading global companies including Equinix, NVIDIA, AWS and McKinsey. OQC Toshiko is available today in private preview with expanding availability across public cloud and data centre fabric in the coming months.

OQC believes in a brighter future for all enabled by quantum and is passionate about championing diversity in tech. OQC Toshiko is named after the first female Japanese physicist, Toshiko Yuasa.

SBI Investment, Japan’s premier venture capital fund, leads $100m round

At the Global Investment Summit today, OQC announced that SBI Investment, Japan’s premier venture capital fund, is leading OQC’s $100m Series B raise. New investors in the round have been confirmed in addition to existing investors, Oxford Science Enterprises (OSE), University of Tokyo Edge Capital (UTEC), Lansdowne Partners, and OTIF, acted by manager Oxford Investment Consultants (OIC).

The ongoing round is the UK’s largest ever Series B in quantum computing enabling industry-leading R&D that paves the way to quantum advantage and furthers OQC’s ability to bring next generation platforms of hundreds of qubits to businesses globally. OQC’s announcements at the Global Investment Summit today, cement OQC and the UK as a global leader in quantum technology.

Commenting on the news, Ilana Wisby, Chief Executive Officer at OQC, said: “To solve the world’s most pressing challenges – from climate change to accelerated drug discovery – we need to put quantum computers in the hands of humanity and at the fingertips of our most brilliant minds. We’re proud to be pioneering enterprise ready quantum with our customers, partners and investors.”

Yoshitaka Kitao, Representative Director, Chairman, President & CEO of SBI Holdings, Inc., a wholly owning parent company of SBI Investment Co., Ltd., said: “Quantum computing is a game changer for financial services and many other sectors, unlocking unprecedented power, speed and accuracy that will redefine the industrial landscape. As Japan’s premier venture capital firm, SBI Investment is proud to lead a $100m Series B round of OQC, a global leader in quantum computing.”

Eugene Bergen President, EMEA at Equinix, said “As the world’s digital infrastructure company, Equinix continues to partner with the very best to accelerate innovation by facilitating secure, high-bandwidth access to cutting-edge technology such as quantum computing for thousands of organisations worldwide. The inclusion of OQC’s quantum computer into our global interconnection ecosystem on Platform Equinix® reinforces our dedication to fostering innovation and continues to push the boundaries of what is possible. We are thrilled by the great partnership with OQC that enables us to stay ahead in innovation to help organisations across the globe address some of the world’s most pressing challenges.”

“Addressing the grand challenges of tomorrow requires the seamless integration of quantum with the GPU-accelerated supercomputing of today,” said Tim Costa, director of HPC and quantum at NVIDIA. “By combining OQC Toshiko with the NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip through NVIDIA CUDA Quantum, a platform for integrated quantum-classical computing, OQC can better empower businesses and researchers to make breakthroughs across industries and in critical scientific domains.”

Mike Sewart, Chief Technology & Operating Officer, QinetiQ said: “QinetiQ is delighted to welcome the latest innovation from Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC). QinetiQ regularly conducts experimental studies on a range of problems including optimisation, chemistry and machine learning and we’ve seen great results from OQC’s technology to date. QinetiQ’s focus is very much on identifying the areas where quantum computing can add real value for our government and defence customers. This involves mapping complex customer requirements to currently available hardware and algorithms, as well as considering the practical elements of future solution design, including the validation and assurance of quantum applications in real-world operational scenarios. QinetiQ’s quantum team looks forward to working closely with OQC and their technology in order to drive future capability developments in this emerging but important field for defence.”

Science and Technology Secretary Michelle Donelan, UK Government said: “Oxford Quantum Circuits is leading the way in seizing the potential of quantum computing, which can help discover new drugs, boost cybersecurity and manage financial systems to improve our lives and drive growth. “Today’s news will support businesses to scale up by tapping into this technology and is another vote of confidence in the resounding strength of the UK’s quantum capability. “Our National Quantum Strategy will help us go even further, backed by £2.5 billion over the next 10 years to help unlock untold advances in healthcare, green tech and beyond.”

Minister for Investment Lord Johnson, UK Government said: “We are a global leader in quantum computing, and the levels of innovation from companies like Oxford Quantum Circuits is exactly why we are fast on the way to becoming a Science & Tech Superpower. The UK has a rapidly growing quantum sector which is no.1 in Europe for the number of start-ups and in attracting private investment – around $850m in the past 10 years. In March we published a National Quantum Strategy which more than doubles our public investment in quantum to £2.5 billion over the next 10 years, and already we are investing £100 million into new quantum research hubs to ensure the UK stays at the forefront of this vitally important technology.”

Prior to Series B, OQC raised £41 million including the largest Series A in quantum in the UK at that time. In 2023, OQC’s team grew to over 100, attracting talent from across the globe. The team has built and deployed OQC Toshiko platforms to colocation data centres expanding its operations in the UK, Japan and Spain.

Companies wanting to test this groundbreaking technology can join the private preview www.oxfordquantumcircuits.com/technology/toshiko, and mark a key moment of quantum computing entering the mainstream.

About OQC

OQC is the globally leading enterprise-ready quantum compute company. We bring quantum to our customers’ fingertips and enable them to make breakthrough discoveries. OQC Toshiko, a powerful and secure 32-qubit quantum computing platform, is now in private preview and coming soon on public cloud and data centre fabric. For more information: For more information: www.oxfordquantumcircuits.com

About SBI Investment Co., Ltd.

SBI Investment Co., Ltd. is one of Japan’s leading venture capital firms, focusing on the creation and cultivation of key industries for the 21st century. SBI’s investment portfolio has expanded to include core technologies such as Fintech, AI, Block chain, 5G, IoT, big data and now Quantum Computing, Metaverse and Web 3.0.

Video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAYx9-tNDDc
Logo – https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2285831/OQC_Logo.jpg

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SOURCE OQC

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TTA and O-RAN ALLIANCE Signed Agreement to Cooperate on Standardization of Open RAN Technology

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WASHINGTON and BONN, Germany, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — TTA and O-RAN ALLIANCE have officially announced the signing of a Cooperation Agreement (CA) that enables the adoption of O-RAN ALLIANCE specifications to TTA standards.

The agreement establishes a collaborative process through which individual O-RAN specifications will be selected and adopted by TTA, strengthening the framework for Open RAN development and deployment in the Republic of Korea. By enabling O-RAN ALLIANCE specifications to be adopted as TTA standards, the agreement provides the basis for accelerated progress in mobile network innovation and supports the creation of a more competitive and diverse telecommunications ecosystem.

This agreement aligns with the shared vision of TTA and the O-RAN ALLIANCE to drive the industry towards the development of more intelligent, open, and virtualized mobile networks that comply with global standards. Both organizations are committed to fostering a robust framework that facilitates the adoption of Open RAN technology, ensuring that mobile networks meet evolving technical and architectural requirements in the future.

“TTA and O-RAN ALLIANCE share a commitment to the advancement of Open RAN and recognize the important role it plays in fostering an ecosystem of trusted vendors capable of delivering cost-effective, high-performance mobile network platforms.” said Seung-Hyun Son, President of TTA. “The Cooperation Agreement we have signed will combine the expertise and influence of both organizations to ensure interoperability in the open RAN market and the deployment of systems based on integrated, standards-based technologies.”

“O-RAN ALLIANCE specifications set the global foundation for open, intelligent, virtualized and interoperable Radio Access Networks, building on common RAN standards,” said Abdurazak Mudesir, Chair of the Board of O-RAN ALLIANCE and Group CTO, Deutsche Telekom. “O-RAN ALLIANCE welcomes TTA’s transposition of O-RAN specifications to TTA standards. As with other national SDO’s, this MoU ensures technical alignment and supports mutual efforts to enable truly open RAN ecosystem.”

About TTA

The Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) is a leading organization in the Republic of Korea dedicated to develop ICT standardization and provide testing and certification services. It plays a key role in setting and promoting high-quality ICT standards that enable the development and adoption of innovative communication technologies, ICT convergence, security, software, broadcasting, radio/wireless communications, 5G/B5G, etc. TTA’s extensive range of services includes testing and certification for software and network systems, ensuring that they meet global industry standards. By supporting international cooperation and developing specialized training programs, TTA contributes to the growth and competitiveness of Korea’s digital and telecommunications industries.

For more information, visit www.tta.or.kr

About O-RAN ALLIANCE

The O-RAN ALLIANCE is a worldwide community of more than 300 mobile operators, vendors, and research & academic institutions operating in the Radio Access Network (RAN) industry. As the RAN is an essential part of any mobile network, the O-RAN ALLIANCE’s mission is to re-shape the industry towards more intelligent, open, virtualized and fully interoperable mobile networks. The new O-RAN specifications enable a more competitive and vibrant RAN supplier ecosystem with faster innovation to improve user experience. O-RAN based mobile networks at the same time improve the efficiency of RAN deployments as well as operations by the mobile operators. To achieve this, the O-RAN ALLIANCE publishes new RAN specifications, releases open software for the RAN, and supports its members in integration and testing of their implementations.

For more information, please visit www.o-ran.org.

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SOURCE O-RAN Alliance

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The vegetable greenhouse at the foot of the Turpan Flame Mountain ushered in a new era of electrification

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TURPAN, China, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — On November 20, in the 10,000-mu vegetable greenhouse base in Sanbao Township, under Huoshan Mountain, Turpan City, Xinjiang, there was a busy and warm scene. Power supply personnel are shuttling between greenhouses, helping growers to debug electric heaters and other electrical equipment to ensure a stable supply of vegetables this winter. Despite the cold wind, the greenhouses are full of greenery, and growers are busy planting fruits and vegetables such as peppers and bok choy in preparation for the upcoming harvest season.

In recent years, with the in-depth promotion of smart greenhouse technology, the electrification of greenhouses has become a common trend in Turpan. Growers have adopted modern equipment such as electric roller shutters, electric heating equipment, temperature and humidity control devices, which not only improve production efficiency, but also greatly improve the quality of fruits and vegetables.

In view of the concentrated area of greenhouse planting, the State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company carried out a survey on electricity demand in advance and vigorously implemented the upgrading and transformation project of the rural power grid. By upgrading transformers and rural power lines in a timely manner, the power supply company has effectively improved the stability and reliability of power supply. At the same time, the company also regularly carries out door-to-door services to help growers check the hidden dangers of electricity, ensure the stable operation of greenhouse equipment, and protect the growers’ “money bags”.

Turpan City has 24,000 greenhouses, and the planting area of fruits and vegetables reaches 36,000 mu, forming 15 relatively concentrated development areas. In November this year, the planting of off-season fruits and vegetables in winter has been in full swing, and it is expected that they will be available from January to April next year. These products are mainly shipped to Urumqi and other medium-sized cities, becoming a veritable “vegetable basket” in Xinjiang.

Electrification not only brings about productivity gains, but also significant environmental benefits. Traditional coal-fired heating methods not only pollute the environment, but also have potential safety hazards. Electric heating equipment is not only environmentally friendly, but also easy to control, which can accurately adjust the temperature in the greenhouse and provide the best growing environment for fruit and vegetable growth.

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SOURCE State Grid Turfan Power Supply Company

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Special Envoy of Indonesia, Hashim Djojohadikusumo Attracts EUR 1.2 Billion of Green Financing in Electricity Sector at COP29

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, Nov. 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The Government of Indonesia, represented by the Special Envoy of the President of the Republic of Indonesia, Hashim Djojohadikusumo, has attracted EUR 1.2 billion in green financing for the power sector from Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW). This agreement was finalized during the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, on Wednesday (11/13). The funding will be allocated to the development of various green power infrastructures, supporting the nation’s sustainable energy transition.

The partnership was formalized by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between PT PLN (Persero) and KfW. This partnership focuses on developing clean energy projects, specifically Pumped Storage Hydropower Plants and transmission network to connect green power plants.

Hashim Djojohadikusumo emphasized that the government of Indonesia is committed to reducing carbon emissions through energy transition by fostering collaborations at the global level, the shift towards renewable energy is expected to support energy self-sufficiency and drive national economic growth. He affirmed, “We have developed a new strategy over the next five years to achieve a minimum of 8% sustainable economic growth.”

He underscored that the development of clean energy sources is crucial for enhancing Indonesia’s industrial competitiveness. Over the next 15 years, the country targets a 75 percent increase in renewable energy generation capacity, contributing to the planned addition of 100 gigawatts (GW) of electricity capacity. “As a major nation, we are committed to fulfilling our responsibility to protect the future of our environment. We deeply appreciate the established international cooperation, which is a testament of our collective efforts in achieving the Net Zero Emissions (NZE) target,”

Darmawan Prasodjo, President Director of PT PLN (Persero) (“PLN”), expressed the corporation’s firm support towards the government’s initiatives in advancing energy transition. Various collaborations and initiatives have been implemented by PLN to ensure the success of sustainable electricity projects.

He noted that KfW’s involvement in PLN’s green projects is expected to drive more international partners to collaborate, cultivating a synergy of sustainable strategic, technical, and investment collaboration to accelerate global climate action. “This collaboration signifies PLN’s proactive steps in expanding international partnerships to enhance national energy self-sufficiency in line with global climate actions.”

Jürgen Kern, Sustainability Officer of KfW Group, explained that KfW’s support for Indonesia demonstrates Germany’s commitment to international cooperation for green transformation. Furthermore, Jürgen highlighted that PLN is at the center of Indonesia’s energy transition, underscoring the company’s unwavering support to greening the energy sector, while maintaining reliable energy access.

“Therefore, we believe that Indonesia and Germany can continue to strengthen partnership in the energy sector, moreover, in clean energy projects, like renewable energy and transmission. Achieving the NZE target requires robust collaboration and partnership,” he concluded.

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SOURCE PT PLN (Persero)

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