Equal1, a quantum semiconductor company, has raised $60 million to accelerate the development and deployment of its silicon-based Bell·1 quantum server. The funding round was led by the Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF), with participation from Atlantic Bridge, the European Innovation Council Fund, Matterwave Ventures, Enterprise Ireland, Elkstone, and TNO Ventures. The investment marks a significant step in making quantum computing practical, cost-effective, and scalable for high-performance computing (HPC) and AI workloads.
Scaling Quantum with Silicon
Unlike traditional quantum computers, Equal1’s approach uses standard silicon semiconductor manufacturing, reducing the need for custom fabrication and complex infrastructure. This strategy lowers costs, decreases power consumption, and simplifies deployment compared with bespoke quantum systems. By building quantum processors on existing manufacturing platforms, Equal1 aims to make quantum computing a seamless extension of classical datacenter technology.
The Bell·1 Quantum Server
The company’s first product, the Bell·1 Quantum Server, is a rack-mounted unit designed to operate in standard HPC environments without requiring exotic cooling or specialized facilities. Installation is straightforward: the server can be rolled in, plugged in, and used immediately. Bell·1 is already being deployed, including at the European Space Agency’s Space HPC Centre in Italy, demonstrating its readiness for operational workloads.
UnityQ Processor and CMOS Advantage
At the heart of Bell·1 is the UnityQ processor, a hybrid quantum-classical silicon-on-chip design integrating all quantum components on a single chip. Built using CMOS-compatible fabrication, the processor can scale using existing semiconductor foundries, avoiding the high costs and delays of dedicated quantum facilities. This positions Equal1 ahead of competitors using superconducting or trapped-ion technologies, offering both practical deployment and commercial scalability.
Integrating Quantum into Real Workloads
Equal1’s funding will support expansion into leading HPC centers, embedding quantum systems into real-world AI and scientific workloads. The company plans to scale manufacturing through existing foundries and grow its workforce to deliver production quantum at scale. Additionally, the roadmap includes systems with millions of on-chip qubits, advancing toward fully integrated, datacenter-ready quantum computing.
Addressing Industry Challenges
Quantum computing is predicted to unlock up to $100 billion in value by 2035, but adoption has been limited by cost, infrastructure, and production challenges. Equal1’s silicon-based approach addresses these barriers by leveraging mass-manufacturing economies and energy-efficient designs. This enables quantum computing to complement, rather than replace, existing HPC and AI infrastructure, improving performance while reducing power constraints.
Investor Perspectives
Jason Lynch, CEO of Equal1, said the $60 million funding marks the transition from development to deployment. Investors highlighted the strategic value of supporting scalable, silicon-based quantum computing that aligns with European and global semiconductor ambitions. Representatives from ISIF, Atlantic Bridge, the EIC Fund, and Enterprise Ireland emphasized the importance of backing innovative Irish companies for international expansion and commercial success.
Equal1 is turning quantum computing from a research-focused, bespoke technology into deployable infrastructure compatible with standard datacenters. The Bell·1 Quantum Server, backed by $60 million in funding, demonstrates how quantum systems can be practical, scalable, and integrated with HPC and AI workloads. With manufacturing-ready technology, early customer adoption, and a roadmap toward millions of qubits, Equal1 is positioned to make quantum computing accessible, sustainable, and commercially viable.