Alliance members discuss how to use quantum technology to propel the development of the biochemistry industry at a roundtable meeting. [Photo/WeChat account: hefeigaoxinfabu]

An alliance aimed at promoting the application of quantum computing technology in the biochemistry industry was set up in Hefei, capital of East China's Anhui province on June 29.

The alliance, the first of its kind in China, was launched by Origin Quantum, a Hefei-based quantum computing company, and its domestic partners from the biochemistry industry.

"Quantum computing represents an important development direction for advanced computing in the future. We expect that this skill will provide a more powerful tool for the R&D of new-generation drugs, the design of new materials, intelligent manufacturing and other simulation designs," said a representative of Origin Quantum.

In the field of biochemistry, quantum computing can be used to predict protein structure, accelerate the search of drug candidate compounds, simulate carbon dioxide catalytic processes, and simulate lithium battery materials.

Origin Quantum was established in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone in 2017. The company uses the Key Laboratory of Quantum Information of the University of Science and Technology of China and the Chinese Academy of Sciences as its technology base.

The company has a number of achievements under its belt so far. These achievements include the superconducting quantum computer Wu Yuan, an all-physics system quantum learning machine, and Origin Pilot, the first domestic quantum computer operating system.