Australian-German startup Quantum Brilliance has raised $20mn in Series A funding as it looks to deploy small, portable quantum accelerators that promise to supercharge the computational power of everything from data centres and robots to satellites.A quantum accelerator is a specialised hardware unit that speeds up specific quantum algorithms, or tasks. They act as co-processors to classical computers, such as CPUs or GPUs, taking on specific quantum calculations.Austrian deep tech fund Main Sequence, In-Q-Tel (IQT) in the US, and Japans Intervalley Ventures led the funding round. It represents a significant step forward as we advance the design, performance, and manufacturability of diamond quantum devices, said Quantum Brilliance CEO Mark Luo.Founded in 2019, Quantum Brilliance uses diamonds in its accelerators, allowing them to operate at room temperature, unlike most quantum systems that need super-cooling. The result is quantum devices that are portable and energy-efficient, making them particularly useful for large-scale deployment in edge devices.Price increase on Friday - Book NowDiamond quantum technology holds immense promise for developing compact and ruggedised quantum sensors and accelerators, said Nat Puffer, managing director at IQT. We believe this technology will play a pivotal role in addressing strategic challenges across industries and critical national priorities.Last year, Quantum Brilliance announced a strategic partnership with Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the United States, home to Frontier, the worlds first exascale supercomputer. The startup will install its diamond accelerators alongside the laboratorys high-performance computing (HPC) systems to explore the potential of combining quantum computing with classical computing.In addition, Germanys cybersecurity agency awarded Quantum Brilliance a $15mn contract in September to deliver the worlds first mobile quantum computer by 2027. A mobile quantum computer could perform complex calculations on-site instead of relying on data centres or cloud access.Quantum computers are rewriting the rules of computing, tapping into the mind-boggling magic of quantum physics to tackle problems regular machines cant touch. Powered by qubits that can juggle multiple states at once, theyre built to crack optimisation puzzles, simulate complex systems, and revolutionise encryption at blistering speeds.Interest in quantum computing has been abuzz since Google unveiled an experimental machine that was able to solve a mathematical equation in five minutes that a traditional supercomputer could not master in 10 septillion years. The breakthrough brought the dream of quantum computing a step closer to reality. Nevertheless, Nvidias CEO Jensen Huang was quick to pour cold water on the hype, cautioning at CES 2025 that practical quantum applications are still 15-30 years away. Story by Sin Geschwindt Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecos (show all) Sin is a climate and energy reporter at TNW. From nuclear fusion to escooters, he covers the length and breadth of Europe's clean tech ecosystem. He's happiest sourcing a scoop, investigating the impact of emerging technologies, and even putting them to the test. Sin has five years journalism experience and holds a dual degree in media and environmental science from the University of Cape Town, South Africa. Get the TNW newsletterGet the most important tech news in your inbox each week.Also tagged with