by Om Nalamasu, Prineha Narang and Alan Ho

The 2025 Nobel Prize^® in Physics was awarded to Dr. John Martinis, Dr. John Clarke and Dr. Michel H. Devoret for demonstrating macroscopic quantum tunneling and energy quantization in electric circuits. This achievement, decades in the making, couldn’t be timelier. The quantum computing field is experiencing what many are calling its “ChatGPT moment”: a surge in public awareness, investment, and technological breakthroughs. In 2025 alone, we have seen the demonstration of robust experimental and theoretical advances in practical quantum error correction, as well as prototype quantum systems transitioning from experimental stages to real-world deployment. The United Nations has declared 2025 the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, further underscoring the global significance of this moment.

The groundbreaking research of Dr. Martinis, Dr. Clarke and Dr. Devoret has laid the foundation for superconducting quantum computing as we know it today. Their pioneering work with Josephson junctions – superconducting circuits that exhibit quantum behavior on a macroscopic scale – proved that quantum mechanics isn’t just confined to the atomic realm. It can be engineered into devices we can hold in our hands, opening the door to quantum computers, sensors, and cryptographic systems.

The Path Toward Scalable Quantum Computing

Dr. Martinis, now CTO and co-founder of Qolab, and his team at the company are collaborating with Applied Materials to tackle one of quantum computing’s biggest challenges: scaling superconducting qubits with high coherence and low error rates. Along with many others, they authored a technical roadmap titled “How to Build a Quantum Supercomputer: Scaling from Hundreds to Millions of Qubits”¹, which outlines strategies for scalable quantum architectures.

Dr. Martinis has described this collaboration as an inflection point for America's future in quantum computing, highlighting how Applied’s expertise in materials engineering is essential to bridging the gap between quantum research and commercial-scale systems.

“Our collaboration seeks to answer one of the most profound questions in computing: can a quantum system large enough to see and touch be engineered into a scalable quantum computer that is exponentially more powerful than today's classical computer,” he said.

Applied and Qolab are working to solve two scaling problems:

Fabrication uniformity of qubits: Today’s superconducting qantum hardware is limited by quantum quality, uniformity, and scalability. The fabrication of superconducting qubits, much like modern semiconductor technology, requires precise defect control. Leveraging Applied's modern CMOS equipment and know-how in the semiconductor industry, Qolab is concentrating on reducing error rates, increasing coherence times, and increasing uniformity to enable efficient quantum error correction.

Building integrated cryogenic circuits: In the 1960s, Dr. Robert Noyce and Jack Kilby pioneered integrated circuits, solving three critical challenges in electronics scaling: device integration, wiring connectivity, and electrical isolation. This breakthrough accelerated the semiconductor industry and laid the foundation for the IT revolution. Today, Applied and Qolab are adapting advanced CMOS manufacturing techniques for superconducting qubit chips with advanced packaging, targeting an order-of-magnitude improvement in interconnect density and scaling efficiency while minimizing crosstalk.

A Pivotal Moment for American Leadership

The pioneering work of Dr. Martinis, Dr. Clarke, and Dr. Devoret represents more than personal achievement; it’s a symbol of American innovation. With deep roots in UC Berkeley, Yale, and UC Santa Barbara, and now with industry leaders like Applied Materials stepping in, the United States is poised to lead the next wave of quantum breakthroughs.

With its unmatched capabilities in materials engineering, Applied is uniquely positioned to play a critical role in the charter, working together with academia, startups, and global partners to make quantum computing a reality.

Realizing fault-tolerant quantum computation, where millions of physical qubits work together to perform fault-tolerant calculations, is a grand challenge for the field. Materials science will continue to play a crucial role. Atomic-scale control of interfaces and state-of-the-art fabrication techniques that maintain quantum coherence are all essential towards this challenge.

Academic-Industry-Startup Synergy: A Thriving Quantum Ecosystem

The momentum in quantum computing is being fueled by an industry-academia model that’s proving essential for solving foundational challenges and scaling quantum technologies. A prime example of this is the collaboration between Applied Materials, Qolab, and Professor Prineha Narang of UCLA, which demonstrates how materials engineering, quantum hardware innovation, and academic research can converge to address critical issues like qubit coherence, manufacturability, and system scalability.

Across the country, institutions like UCLA, MIT, Stanford, Caltech, University of Chicago, and Purdue are working alongside companies such as AWS, Google Quantum AI, IBM, Microsoft, PsiQuantum, and Quantinuum. These collaborations are supported by national initiatives like Q-NEXT, SQMS, and the Quantum Science Center, which unite hundreds of researchers across dozens of institutions to accelerate quantum innovation.

Building on these initiatives, we also envision the need for a national quantum facility, one that can serve institutions across the country and strengthen U.S. leadership in this field.

Together, these efforts can not only solve technical challenges, but also nurture the quantum workforce, drive innovation, and shape the future of quantum commercialization.

As we celebrate Dr. Martinis and his co-laureates, we also recognize the inflection point we’ve reached in quantum computing. The convergence of scientific recognition, industrial momentum, and strategic collaboration signals a new era and one where quantum technologies will reshape industries, economies, and societies. Applied Materials is proud to be part of this journey.

References

1. How to build a quantum supercomputer: scaling from hundreds to millions of qubits https://arxiv.org/html/2411.10406v1

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