Volume 02: Modularity is a Discipline
Quantum computing has been called revolutionary, disruptive, transformative. The potential is real, but delivery depends on one thing above all: scale.
Building a handful of qubits and running elegant algorithms is not enough. Publishing benchmark papers is not enough. To create machines that are useful in the real world, we must scale them to millions of qubits. That is the defining challenge of the field, and it is an engineering one.
Scaling demands discipline in every design choice, every subsystem, every decision about manufacturability and supply chain. This is where modularity enters the picture. For some, modularity is a vision. For us, it is the only viable path forward.
Why scale requires modularity
A single quantum processor cannot grow indefinitely. As chip size increases, yields drop, errors multiply, costs escalate and control systems collapse under complexity. Monolithic designs may suit small demonstrations but fail once scaled.
The answer is modularity. Systems must be broken into reliable building blocks, fabricated with precision, tested in isolation, then linked seamlessly into a larger whole.
Classical computing took the same route. Early supercomputers were monolithic, but modular networks of processors quickly outpaced them. The internet itself is the ultimate modular system, made resilient because individual nodes can fail without breaking the whole.
Quantum computing faces different physics but the same scaling constraints. Utility-scale machines will only be possible if individual modules are designed as part of an ecosystem, strong on their own and stronger together.
Beyond the qubit
Scaling qubits alone is not enough. The supporting systems must grow in step: control electronics, cryogenics, power delivery, vacuum systems, error correction. Each must be designed for manufacturability and repeatability.
Our Modularity Insight Report outlines the key requirements:
Consistent high yields for components.
Pre-integration testing to catch faults early.
Cost-effective fabrication to avoid bottlenecks.
Defined tolerances with defect mitigation strategies.
Control systems that scale with qubit count.
These are engineering disciplines. Modules must be manufacturable, testable, repeatable and connectable. Without this, the system cannot scale.
At Universal Quantum, this approach shapes every design. Control electronics are integrated directly into chips, removing reliance on forests of lasers. We operate at 70K, easing the demands of cryogenics. Our modules are designed for scalable fabrication, tested thoroughly before integration, and linked without performance loss.
Connections define success
A modular system is only as strong as its interconnects. If links between modules are slower or less reliable than operations within a module, the architecture fails.
Our report identifies three principles:
Multiple interconnects per module to maintain connectivity as systems grow.
Link speeds comparable to intra-module gate speeds to avoid bottlenecks.
Interconnects that scale with module size to keep architectures balanced.
The lesson is clear. Interconnects are not peripheral. They are central.
This is why we created UQConnect. Its purpose is to link modules with fidelity, speed and scalability, transforming modularity from aspiration into reality.
From lab to supply chain
Every component of a quantum computer must be manufactured and assembled at volume. Systems dependent on bespoke parts or fragile yields will not reach utility. Costs rise, yields collapse and suppliers cannot deliver at scale.
Modularity answers this challenge. It enables standard fabrication processes, automated testing and yield improvements through repetition. It provides the stability manufacturers need to become quantum-ready.
The parallel with aerospace is striking. Aviation scaled because engines and components became modular and reproducible. The same will be true for quantum computing.
End users will also benefit. Algorithms developed on small systems can migrate seamlessly to larger ones if architectures are modular, protecting investment and reducing risk. For sectors like pharmaceuticals or energy, this is critical. Nobody wants to rewrite algorithms from scratch once systems scale.
Discipline above all
Modularity only works when treated as discipline. Each module must be engineered to integrate into larger systems. Designs must remain consistent across generations. Teams must look beyond individual performance to focus on how their work connects to the whole.
This cultural discipline matters as much as the technical one. At Universal Quantum, teams work cross-functionally so electronics, fabrication, software and algorithms all align with the goal of scalability. What works once must still work when multiplied thousands of times. That is the test.
Looking ahead
The work is ongoing. Each experiment teaches something new. Each iteration brings us closer to proving that modularity is the only way.
History shows that revolutions scale when discipline takes root. Semiconductors scaled because of Moore’s law and supply chain integration. Aerospace scaled through modular engines and reproducible parts. The internet scaled through modular, fault-tolerant networks.
At Universal Quantum, we believe that quantum computing will scale when modularity is treated as discipline. Modularity is not a slogan. It is the backbone of our engineering.
Read more in our Modularity Insight Report.
