Nord Quantique Says Error-Correction Discovery Could Make Quantum Computing Data Centres Practical

Source: Jon Fingas| · BETAKIT · |May 29, 2025

Québec company claims approach could use a fraction of the space and power of existing methods.

Nord Quantique is touting another breakthrough in error correction that could make quantum computing more viable.

“Our machines will also consume a fraction of the energy, which makes them appealing to [high-performance computing] centres where energy costs are top of mind.” Julien Camirand Lemyre, CEO, Nord Quantique

The Sherbrooke, Qué.-based company says it has developed quantum error correction that uses “multimode” encoding to produce quantum bits (qubits) instead of the conventional single-mode approach. Multiple modes in aluminum cavities (pictured above) represent different resonance frequencies, or those frequencies where quantum systems absorb or emit energy. Nord Quantique says that provides the redundancy needed for error correction without resorting to more physical qubits.

Nord Quantique claims this method not only keeps the size of a quantum system compact as it scales up, but draws much less energy.

In solving a difficult task like RSA-830 encryption (that is, RSA algorithm-based encryption with an 830-bit key length), the firm claims it needs 120 kilowatts (kW) of power to get the solution in the space of an hour. A photonic quantum computer is estimated to need 1,400 kW and 10 hours of processing time, while a classical computer would reportedly need 1,300 kW and nine days.