It’s completely different from today’s transistor-based computing models and is capable of solving much more complex problems, including intricate simulations like large-scale financial analysis and drug development.

The ultimate aim of the collaboration between TU Delft and Intel is to speed up the development of quantum computing, something that promises a vast improvement over the performance of the world’s current high-performance computers for certain tasks.

The quantum computers are not similar to digital computers they use quantum bits that have the ability to exist in multiple states at the same time. Given quantum computing would also require high stores of battery, Intel’s investment in Qnovo’s battery optimizing software could serve Intel very well in the future.

Chip giant Intel Corp. on Thursday revealed that it is joining the race to develop quantum computers joining the ranks of IBM, Google and Lockheed Martin.

Intel Labs Vice President and Managing Director Mike Mayberry believes a fully-functional quantum computer is still many years away but that the “practical and theoretical” efforts the company has announced will go a long way in making this technology a reality.

It’s unclear what the state of the art is for quantum computers, as the first ones to make a breakthrough will have a huge advantage over the others.

For example, it is simply impossible for standard super computers to calculate the properties of promising new materials, but not for a quantum computer.

“Expertise in specialized electronics combined with advanced physics is required to move quantum computing closer to being a reality”, said Mayberry.

While qubit development has been the focus of quantum computing research to date, low-temperature electronics will be required to connect, control and measure multiple qubits, and this is where we can contribute. Intel and Qu-Tech are in particular interested to apply quantum technology to problems that include the likes of simulating the behavior and structures of molecules that are not now feasible.

QuTech lead scientist Lieven Vandersypen pegs this partnership as scientific expertise meeting the best engineering expertise in the computer industry.

According to Intel Corporation (NASDAQ:INTC)’s CEO, Brian Krzanich, the dream of quantum computing technology will be achieved faster if the tech industry can contribute to the effort in a major way.