Insider Brief

• QuEra Computing announced it added another building and doubled its space in Boston.
• The company said the move is to address the growth of its business and increased demand for on-premises quantum computers.
• The state-of-the-art facilities will support the research, development and production of multiple quantum computers and provide the office space.

PRESS RELEASE — QuEra Computing, a global leader in neutral-atom quantum computing technology, today announced it added another building and doubled its space to address the explosive growth of its business and to meet the growing demand for its quantum computers in the United States, Europe, and Asia. QuEra’s locations at 1284 and 1380 Soldiers Field Rd in Boston are state-of-the-art facilities that will support the research, development, and production of multiple quantum computers and provide the office space for the growing QuEra team required to optimally manage QuEra’s expanding customer base. In the first three months of 2024, QuEra signed deals with the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC) and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) to deliver the most advanced quantum computers on the market and continues to work on additional on-premises deals.

QuEra has achieved a number of significant milestones that have increased the capabilities of its quantum computers, accelerating customer interest usage. These advancements include:

• QuEra’s flagship 256-qubit Aquila system, available globally on a major cloud platform, has expanded its public availability from 10 to over 100 hours per week. Both commercial and academic customers are utilizing this increased availability, leading to a number of breakthroughs.

• QuEra has increased its team to over 50 highly skilled scientists and engineers and added several experienced and accomplished executives to its management team, positioning itself for accelerated growth and innovation.

• In December 2023, QuEra announced that in research led by Harvard University, it performed complex, error-corrected quantum algorithms on 48 logical qubits, a major breakthrough for the quantum industry. This was followed by an ambitious but realistic roadmap to deliver a series of error-corrected quantum computers in 2024 through 2026.

The new headquarters represents a doubling of size relative to QuEra’s current location and will accommodate further growth and expansion over the next few years. The office is ideally located near MIT and Harvard University, two key partners of QuEra that have collaborated on important research and development since the company was founded by Harvard and MIT physicists who have conducted pioneering research in quantum computing.

“We are fortunate to call Boston our corporate home. The close proximity to the world-class labs of Harvard and MIT, and the outstanding local talent, are both recipes for success,” said Alex Keesling, CEO of QuEra. “With our rapid expansion, we are looking to add other outstanding team players to our team.”

QuEra’s neutral atom-based quantum computers feature a unique combination of system size, coherence, and processing modes. Neutral atom computers are a highly promising quantum modality, offering a clear path to large-scale, fault-tolerant computers. Since November 2022, QuEra’s first-generation, neutral-atom quantum computers have been available for public use on a large public cloud service and remain the only neutral-atom platform that is publicly accessible. QuEra leads the neutral atom market, offering dynamic qubit manipulation (qubit shuttling), enabling flexible and efficient quantum computations. QuEra’s computers operate at room temperature and can readily integrate with classical computing infrastructure.

QuEra is actively seeking outstanding candidates in all areas of its growing business: science, engineering, production, support, and business. Visit quera.com/careers to explore open opportunities.

BOSTON – Tuesday, May 14, 2024 – Today, the City of Boston was joined by Olympic swimmers Cullen Jones and Janelle Atkinson to kick off a series of events to raise awareness of International Water Safety Day, an annual day of recognition to bring global awareness about drowning prevention. The morning reception kicks off two days of events that will include visits to two Boston Public Schools, a technique clinic for youth at the BCYF Flaherty Pool in Roslindale, and a water safety festival and swim lesson at the BCYF Mattahunt Community Center in Mattapan. This series of events is the latest in the City of Boston’s Swim Safe campaign that strives to improve water safety by making swim lessons and water access top priorities.

Learning to swim is one part of Mayor Wu’s Connect, Learn, Explore, her commitment to the city’s youth to ensure they have the resources and opportunities to thrive and explore their passions. This is an important step to make Boston a home for everyone.

“With summer approaching, our children should be able to experience the joy of being in our water and pools, with their families knowing that they are doing so safely,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “I am grateful for our community partners that are emphasizing the importance of water safety to ensure that Boston is the most family-friendly city.”

During the event, Olympic swimmers Cullen Jones and Janelle Atkinson McClave shared their experiences of learning to swim and rising to the highest levels of competitive swimming.

“USA Swimming is proud to help raise awareness of water safety and swimming programs across the country by expanding our community support of International Water Safety Day to four locations,” USA Swimming Managing Director of Sport Development Joel Shinofield said. “As we prepare to name our next Olympic team in June, we are reminded that every athlete starts by first putting their goggles on and learning how to swim.”

Chief of Human Services José F. Massó unveiled a new City-run water safety public information campaign that will be posted on social media, city billboards, and MBTA bus shelters this summer with the goal of encouraging residents, and especially caregivers of young children, to take steps to keep their children safe around water this summer. The City also announced a new round of grant awards totalling $150,000 to support free lessons at the YMCA of Greater Boston, Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, West End House, and Dot House Health.

“We want all families in Boston to have a safe, fun summer,” said José F. Massó, Chief of Human Services. “With the help of our partners, we’re spreading the word about water safety and giving residents the tools they need to keep themselves and their kids safe around water this summer.”

The City’s efforts to expand swim lessons is a public health issue. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in children and that the risk of drowning is higher for children of color. Black children are more than twice as likely as white children to die of drowning. For every child who dies of drowning, there are seven non-fatal drownings, which are traumatic and can lead to health issues later in life. Swim Safe Boston seeks to improve water safety in Boston, address the public health threat posed by drowning, and increase access to swimming for Boston families.

“As summer approaches, we are thrilled to partner with the City of Boston and Swim Safe to bring the joy of swimming to every child,” said Jeff Bellows, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship and Public Affairs at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. “By investing in water safety education, we’re promoting fun and healthy activities, addressing systemic inequities and ensuring all community members have the opportunity to safely enjoy Boston’s pools and beaches.”

Boston Centers for Youth & Families also offer free lessons at their pools. There is currently no charge for membership or programming but visitors need to create a membership at Boston.gov/BCYF-Registration.

“It’s such a unique opportunity and incredible honor to partner with elite swimmers and institutions on Boston’s effort to promote swim safety throughout our city,” said Marta E. Rivera, Commissioner of Boston Centers for Youth & Families. “In a waterfront city like Boston, it’s imperative that all youth have the tools to safely enjoy all that Boston has to offer in the summer- including our pools and beaches.”

“We are incredibly proud to host Olympic swimmers at a number of our schools this week to share their important message about water safety with our kids,” said Superintendent Mary Skipper. “Learning to swim and having access to pools is so important for Boston’s young people, and hearing this message from elite athletes who are spending quality time with our students has a powerful impact. We are proud of our ongoing collaboration with BCYF, City Hall, and others to ensure that our kids can safely enjoy our pools all summer long.”

The Mayor’s commitment to swim access is seen in many neighborhoods across the city. Because of a collaboration between Boston Public Schools, Boston Centers for Youth & Families, the Public Facilities Department, and the Property Management Department, investments of City funding, and improved facilities assessment, the City is on track to have more pools open this year than in previous summers, including the BCYF Clougherty, Draper, Hennigan, Marshall, and Perkins pools. BCYF Marshall Community Center pool opened in fall 2023 and the BCYF Mattahunt opened recently. The Draper, Hennigan, and Perkins are expected to be open this summer as is the Clougherty Pool, which is undergoing a two-year renovation. This fiscal year, Mayor Wu allocated $34.3 million in the FY24-FY28 capital plan for repairing and renovating the city’s pools.