By By James Walker Nov 29, 2017 in Technology Accenture has announced an undisclosed minority investment and strategic alliance with quantum computing company 1QBit through its Ventures arm. It expects the partnership to help it "expand its capabilities" in quantum computing analytics. "Strong interest" 1QBit is a Canadian provider of quantum computing resources that's selling the tech to several different industries. Companies operating inside finance and energy are amongst its current partners. Earlier this year, it completed a significant research project with Accenture to develop a quantum molecular-comparison app to speed up drug discovery for neurological medical conditions. In "By strengthening our relationship with 1QBit, Accenture has a significant opportunity to extend our first-mover advantage in applying quantum computing to create breakthrough innovations that help clients solve their most complex business challenges," said Quantum early-mover The alliance will give Accenture the opportunity to become a leading provider of quantum-powered analytics services. Development of quantum computers is now a rapidly growing sector of systems technology. As it matures, it will be applied to new industries and fields, particularly those reliant on pure computing power to crunch data and generate insights. Partnering early with a pioneering provider will help Accenture prepare for the next phase of analytics. READ NEXT: Demand for automation to trigger workforce changes in 2018 In return, 1QBit will get to work closely with Accenture. It will "Establishing a strategic relationship with Accenture enables us to tap their vast capabilities, and bring 1QBit's expertise in quantum computing to a much broader base of clients," said 1QBit CEO and co-founder 1QBit is a Canadian provider of quantum computing resources that's selling the tech to several different industries. Companies operating inside finance and energy are amongst its current partners. Earlier this year, it completed a significant research project with Accenture to develop a quantum molecular-comparison app to speed up drug discovery for neurological medical conditions.In a press release this week, Accenture said it's making 1QBit its "preferred systems integrator" for quantum computers. It will use the company's platform to build and test its upcoming suite of quantum-inspired analytics tools. These use the unique properties of quantum computers to crunch business data at far higher speeds than regular computing systems allow."By strengthening our relationship with 1QBit, Accenture has a significant opportunity to extend our first-mover advantage in applying quantum computing to create breakthrough innovations that help clients solve their most complex business challenges," said Paul Daugherty , Accenture's chief technology and innovation officer. "The potential applications and benefits of quantum-inspired analytics is generating strong interest across numerous industries including financial services, life sciences, and oil and gas."The alliance will give Accenture the opportunity to become a leading provider of quantum-powered analytics services. Development of quantum computers is now a rapidly growing sector of systems technology. As it matures, it will be applied to new industries and fields, particularly those reliant on pure computing power to crunch data and generate insights. Partnering early with a pioneering provider will help Accenture prepare for the next phase of analytics.In return, 1QBit will get to work closely with Accenture. It will utilise the company's resources and capabilities to expand its own research. The initiative could help to make quantum computing more widely available, extending its reach into organisations from a broader diverse range of industries."Establishing a strategic relationship with Accenture enables us to tap their vast capabilities, and bring 1QBit's expertise in quantum computing to a much broader base of clients," said 1QBit CEO and co-founder Andrew Fursman . "We are incredibly excited about the new opportunities that our new relationship provides to help organizations take advantage of the benefits created by quantum-inspired analytics." More about Accenture, 1qbit, Quantum, quantum computing, Analytics Accenture 1qbit Quantum quantum computing Analytics Data big data