Xanadu Quantum Technologies Inc. and Thorlabs have entered into a strategic partnership to jointly develop customized optical fiber components that are critical for advancing large-scale photonic quantum computing, aiming to overcome key technical hurdles such as optical loss and stability in practical systems. The collaboration combines Xanadu’s photonic quantum computing hardware expertise with Thorlabs’ advanced optical component manufacturing capabilities, enabling the rapid transition of novel designs from proof-of-concept to high-volume manufacturing for scalable hardware platforms. A central objective is to address phase and polarization stability challenges that can distort information encoded in photonic qubits and lead to computational errors by producing components that meet stringent stability criteria while minimizing optical loss, which in turn is expected to reduce physical qubit overhead and the burden of quantum error correction, thus enhancing overall system scalability. “We are pleased to work with Thorlabs on addressing this challenge. Their deep expertise and ability to manufacture with high precision, at a high volume, and at a competitive cost makes them an invaluable partner,” said Christian Weedbrook, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of Xanadu. From Thorlabs’ side, Peter Fendel, Chief Technology Officer, emphasized that “The Thorlabs team is proud to support Xanadu’s mission to advance the frontiers of quantum computing technology. This partnership combines Xanadu’s deep expertise in scalable quantum computing with Thorlabs’ decades of experience in designing and manufacturing photonic components, and subsystems at scale.” Together, both companies are driven by a shared vision to push the boundaries of photonics technology and help ensure that the essential optical components are ready to satisfy the demanding production needs of future quantum data centers.
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In parallel with this collaboration announcement, Xanadu also disclosed its business combination agreement with Crane Harbor Acquisition Corp., which is expected to create a publicly listed entity, Xanadu Quantum Technologies Limited, with approximately US$500 million in gross proceeds and dual listings on the Nasdaq and Toronto Stock Exchange, positioning the company for further growth and innovation in the quantum computing landscape.