C12 Partners with QC Design and Adopts Plaquette to Accelerate Toward Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing with Carbon Nanotubes
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Insider Brief C12, a Paris-based quantum computing company developing carbon nanotube spin-qubit architecture, has adopted QC Design’s Plaquette software to simulate and optimize fault-tolerant quantum computing designs under realistic noise models. C12 uses isotopically purified carbon-12 nanotubes suspended above silicon chips to achieve coherence times two orders of magnitude larger than previously measured in carbon-based quantum circuits, with the platform enabling evaluation of quantum low-density parity-check codes compatible with its high-connectivity architecture. Plaquette provides quantum design-automation tools that allow C12’s theory teams to benchmark different error-correcting codes and compare distinct strategies as the company’s hardware architecture evolves toward demonstrating logical qubits. PRESS RELEASE — C12, a Paris-based quantum computing company developing a unique carbon nanotube spin-qubit architecture for scalable, universal quantum computing, has announced the adoption of QC Design’s Plaquette software to accelerate the development of its fault tolerant quantum computing architecture. Plaquette is a quantum design-automation platform that enables theory teams to simulate, analyze, and optimize fault-tolerant designs under realistic noise models. This collaboration equips C12 with the tools to benchmark quantum error-correcting codes and refine its unique carbon nanotube architecture as the company scales toward practical fault tolerance. C12’s approach uses isotopically purified carbon-12 nanotubes to host spin qubits with exceptionally low noise. By suspending these nanotubes above silicon chips, C12 maximally isolates qubits from environmental perturbations, achieving coherence times two orders of magnitude larger than previously measured in carbon-based quantum circuits. Integrating Plaquette into C12’s R&D workflow provides the quantitative foundation to evaluate how realistic hardware imperfections impact logical qubit performance across different error correction codes, including the high-rate quantum low-density parity-check codes (QLDPC) that are compatible with C12’s high-connectivity architecture. As C12’s hardware architecture evolves, different system configurations might require distinct error-correction strategies. Plaquette enables the comparison of distinct error correction strategies, allowing to identify the best solution for C12’s scalable quantum processors. Pierre Desjardins, co-founder and CEO of C12, said: “As we scale our carbon nanotube quantum architecture, rigorous fault-tolerance analysis has become essential to our roadmap. Plaquette enables our team to quantitatively evaluate QLDPC codes and other error-correction strategies under realistic conditions, including the unique noise characteristics and hardware-specific parameters. This partnership with QC Design accelerates our path to demonstrating logical qubits and building toward universal fault tolerant quantum computing.” Dr. Ish Dhand, co-founder and CEO of QC Design, said: “We’re excited to partner with C12 as they pioneer one of the most innovative approaches in quantum computing. Carbon nanotubes offer exceptional material purity and coherence properties that position C12 uniquely for scalable fault tolerance. Their high-connectivity architecture is particularly well suited for advanced quantum error-correcting codes, and we’re proud to support their team as they translate record-breaking physics results into practical quantum computing systems.” Mohib Ur Rehman LinkedIn Mohib has been tech-savvy since his teens, always tearing things apart to see how they worked. His curiosity for cybersecurity and privacy evolved from tinkering with code and hardware to writing about the hidden layers of digital life. Now, he brings that same analytical curiosity to quantum technologies, exploring how they will shape the next frontier of computing. Share this article: