Emergence Quantum, AirTrunk Partner on Cryogenic Data Centers
Emergence Quantum and hyperscale operator AirTrunk have announced a partnership to develop cryogenic cooling solutions for next-generation data centers. The companies clarified that this agreement is for assessing cryogenic designs, not for the construction of a facility or the operation of a quantum computer. Details such as a specific location, timeline, cost, potential customers, or funding figures were not included in the announcements.
The Companies’ Announcement
The two firms describe their arrangement as a partnership. However, its legal structure remains unclear from both the University of Sydney’s release and the AirTrunk announcement. The stated objective is to investigate cryogenic systems for their potential benefits in silicon chip performance, reduced cooling water consumption, and large-scale energy storage.
The companies suggest that cryo-cooling could accelerate current silicon chips, decrease water usage, enable gigawatt-scale energy storage, and aid in carbon capture. Professor David Reilly, Co-founder and CEO of Emergence Quantum, stated in the release:
“It’s been understood for decades that computers run significantly faster and more efficiently in the cold, but there are challenges and costs to cooling that have so-far limited this approach to niche applications. The scale of data centres and tiny size of transistors today changes all that — the cryo-computing epoch has arrived.”
Jose Castaneda, AirTrunk’s Vice President for Innovation, characterized the agreement as part of a wider effort to explore new data center technologies.
Emergence Quantum originated from the University of Sydney in 2025. The university also received a $100 million donation from a foundation established by AirTrunk Founder and CEO Robin Khuda, according to the release.
Implications of Cryogenic Cooling
Certain quantum computing systems require cooling to millikelvin temperatures to maintain qubit stability. IBM and others have identified the cooling infrastructure itself as a limiting factor for scaling, as Futurum Group has reported. The mere presence of cryogenic infrastructure does not, by itself, indicate successful quantum computation.
Many details remain unknown, including a specific site, capacity figures, cooling architecture, qubit technology, commissioning date, customer, or any commitment to construction. Emergence Quantum’s specific contribution, whether it involves cooling hardware, control electronics, or integration, is not specified.
This announcement comes amidst increasing government focus on quantum industrial policy, such as a proposed EU Quantum Act expected in 2026. Without a primary technical or commercial milestone, this appears to be solely an intention to conduct research.