Quantum computing Archives | Digital Watch Observatory

Saudi Arabia pilots global blueprint for quantum economy development

Saudi Arabia has become the first country to pilot the World Economic Forum’s Quantum Economy Blueprint, applying a global strategic framework to its national innovation agenda.

The initiative, led by the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution Saudi Arabia, aims to align emerging quantum technologies with the long-term development goals outlined in Vision 2030.

The pilot, based on analysis of 24 national quantum strategies and input from global organisations, translated theoretical guidance into practical policy workstreams.

It highlighted how quantum initiatives gain stronger traction when embedded within broader national priorities, such as economic diversification and technological leadership, rather than being treated as isolated research efforts.

Five key lessons emerged from the exercise. These include the importance of linking research to commercial applications, ensuring flexible access to quantum hardware through partnerships and cloud systems, and building strong collaboration between government, academia, and industry.

The findings also underline that talent development is central to competitiveness, extending beyond scientists to engineers, policymakers, and business specialists.

The experience suggests that countries do not need full ownership of quantum infrastructure to participate in the sector, but can instead rely on strategic access models and ecosystem cooperation.

Saudi Arabia’s pilot demonstrates how global frameworks can be adapted into national action, offering a model for other countries developing their quantum strategies.

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Canada boosts quantum research funding

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada has announced new funding to support the country’s quantum research ecosystem. The initiative aims to strengthen scientific capacity and innovation in the field.

According to the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the funding will support researchers, projects and collaboration across institutions. It is intended to advance both fundamental research and applied development.

The programme also focuses on developing talent and building expertise, ensuring that researchers and students can contribute to the development of quantum technologies. This reflects a broader effort to sustain long-term growth in the sector.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada positions the funding as part of ongoing efforts to reinforce quantum capabilities and research leadership in Canada.

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Quantum technologies tested to strengthen energy systems

Energy systems are under growing pressure from rising demand, geopolitical volatility and increasingly complex grid operations. Electrification, renewable integration and digital infrastructure growth are making power systems harder to optimise and secure with conventional tools.

The World Economic Forum’s white paper Quantum for Energy and Utilities: Key Opportunities for Energy Transition, developed with Aramco, highlights quantum technologies as complementary tools for specific high-value challenges.

Operational optimisation is one of the earliest use cases. Power networks must balance renewable generation, storage, flexible demand and grid limits in real time.

Hybrid quantum-classical approaches are being tested, including EDF and Pasqal’s electric-vehicle smart charging work, in which a neutral-atom quantum system enabled scheduling across more than 100 qubits to better align charging with grid conditions.

Quantum approaches are also being explored for materials and monitoring. Simulating batteries, hydrogen systems and carbon capture remains computationally heavy, slowing innovation.

Quantum sensing is also being trialled for emissions and infrastructure monitoring, including methane detection tests at the Flotta Oil Terminal in Scotland that captured intermittent emissions missed by periodic inspections.

Infrastructure security is another focus, especially long-term cyber risk. Trials such as Austria’s Verbund testing quantum-safe communications in live grid environments show early progress in post-quantum cryptography.

Despite advances, limitations in hardware, scalability and integration keep most applications in pilot phases, with wider adoption dependent on structured investment and clear use cases.

Why does it matter?

Energy systems are growing more complex as rising demand, renewable integration and digitalisation stretch traditional optimisation and security tools to their limits. Even in early pilots, quantum approaches could boost grid efficiency, accelerate the discovery of clean-energy materials and enhance long-term infrastructure security.

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Experts warn of potential quantum disruption to blockchain security

A survey by the Global Risk Institute has highlighted growing concern that quantum computing could undermine the cryptographic foundations of cryptocurrencies within the next decade.

Experts estimate a 28% to 49% probability that quantum machines capable of breaking current encryption standards could emerge within 10 years, with the probability rising further over a 15-year horizon.

Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin rely on public-key cryptography to secure transactions and verify ownership. Advanced quantum algorithms could reverse-engineer private keys from public data, exposing wallets and weakening blockchain security.

The risk is seen as particularly relevant for long-term stored assets and static addresses. Industry researchers and technology firms are already exploring post-quantum cryptography to mitigate potential disruption.

Efforts led by standards bodies such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology focus on developing encryption methods resistant to both classical and quantum attacks, although full migration across decentralised systems remains complex.

The findings place quantum readiness alongside broader digital security priorities, as financial systems, communications networks, and public infrastructure share similar cryptographic dependencies.

The evolving timeline is prompting early-stage preparation across the cryptocurrency ecosystem, where system upgrades must balance security, decentralisation, and continuity.

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AI and 6G strategy drives South Korea’s digital transformation agenda

South Korea has outlined an ambitious national strategy to position itself among the world’s leading AI powers, linking technological advancement with broader economic and societal transformation.

Instead of isolated innovation efforts, the plan adopts a systemic approach, combining infrastructure development, data governance, and industrial policy to accelerate digital transition.

Central to South Korea’s strategy is the evolution of network infrastructure, with a shift from 5G to next-generation 6G technology targeted by 2030. The emphasis on connectivity and speed is complemented by efforts to strengthen cybersecurity frameworks and establish a national data integration platform.

Such measures aim to create a more resilient and competitive digital environment capable of supporting large-scale AI deployment.

The policy also prioritises the integration of AI across multiple sectors, including healthcare, manufacturing, agriculture, and disaster management.

By embedding intelligent systems into critical industries, South Korean authorities seek to enhance productivity, improve public service delivery, and strengthen national resilience.

Workforce development is positioned as a key pillar, with phased training initiatives designed to build expertise in advanced technologies such as semiconductors and quantum computing.

In parallel, the strategy incorporates digital inclusion measures to ensure broader societal participation. Expansion of AI learning centres and assistive technologies reflects an effort to reduce digital divides while supporting vulnerable groups.

Long-term success will depend on effective coordination across government bodies and to balancing rapid technological deployment with equitable access and robust governance frameworks, rather than purely growth-driven objectives.

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Global cyber stability conference set for May 2026 in Geneva

The Cyber Stability Conference 2026 will take place on 4–5 May at the Centre International de Conférences Genève in Geneva, bringing together global stakeholders to discuss the future of ICT security and cyber governance.

Organised by the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research, the event will run in a hybrid format during Geneva Cyber Week.

The conference comes amid growing international efforts to strengthen frameworks for responsible state behaviour in cyberspace and improve coordination on digital security challenges. It is positioned within a broader push to adapt governance systems to rapid technological change.

Discussions will focus on how cyber governance can respond to emerging technologies such as AI and quantum computing. Emphasis will be placed on aligning regulatory and security approaches with technological development to reinforce international stability.

Participants from government, academia, industry, and civil society will review past lessons, assess current risks, and explore future pathways for global ICT security governance.

Cyber stability is becoming a core pillar of global security as digital infrastructure underpins economies, governance systems, and critical services. Stronger coordination on cyber governance is essential to reducing systemic risks and ensuring technological progress does not outpace security frameworks.

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IBM and ETH Zurich announce partnership on AI and quantum algorithms

International Business Machines Corporation and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich have announced a decade-long partnership to develop algorithms that bridge classical computing, machine learning, and quantum systems.

The collaboration will focus on creating foundational algorithms to address complex business and scientific challenges as quantum computing becomes increasingly practical. IBM will support the establishment of new professorships and research initiatives at the institution.

The partnership will concentrate on four key areas: optimisation, differential equations, linear algebra and complex system modelling, strengthening the mathematical foundations required for AI and quantum progress.

This represents a significant commitment to shaping the algorithmic future of computing. Both institutions believe that algorithms, rather than hardware or software alone, will define the next computing revolution as quantum and AI technologies converge in Zurich.

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New quantum threat could weaken cryptocurrency encryption systems

A new warning from Google says advances in quantum computing could weaken widely used cryptographic systems protecting cryptocurrencies and digital infrastructure. A new whitepaper suggests future quantum machines may need fewer resources than previously estimated to break elliptic curve cryptography.

The research focuses on the elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem, which underpins much of today’s blockchain security. Findings suggest quantum algorithms like Shor’s could run with fewer qubits and gates, increasing concerns about cryptographic resilience.

To address the risk, the paper recommends a transition to post-quantum cryptography, which is designed to resist quantum attacks. It also outlines short-term blockchain measures, including avoiding reuse of vulnerable wallet addresses and preparing digital asset migration strategies.

Google also introduced a responsible disclosure approach using zero-knowledge proofs to communicate vulnerabilities without exposing exploitable details.

The company says this balances transparency and security, supporting coordinated efforts across crypto and research communities to prepare for quantum threats.

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UK backs quantum technology with £2 billion plan

The UK government has unveiled a £2 billion package to accelerate quantum technology development and deploy large-scale quantum computers. The plan aims to position the United Kingdom as a global leader in a field expected to rival AI.

Ministers said the programme will support research, skills and infrastructure while creating high-paid jobs. A new procurement scheme will invite companies to build prototype quantum systems, with the most advanced designs scaled for national use.

The initiative will integrate research, manufacturing and investment to speed up commercial applications in the UK. Officials believe quantum technology could transform sectors such as healthcare, energy and cybersecurity while boosting long-term economic growth.

Industry partnerships and university collaborations will play a central role in delivering the strategy. Experts say the approach could unlock major breakthroughs, though success will depend on sustained investment and global competition.

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UK-backed SPOQC mission launches to test space-based quantum communications

A UK-led research mission aimed at advancing space-based quantum communications has launched aboard a SpaceX Transporter-16 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. The Satellite Platform for Optical Quantum Communications, or SPOQC, was developed under the Integrated Quantum Networks (IQN) Hub led by Heriot-Watt University and was launched on 30 March 2026.

The mission builds on research and development carried out first through the Quantum Communications Hub and later through the IQN Hub, both funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. Five UK research institutions are involved in the collaboration, which is intended to strengthen UK capabilities in space-based quantum communications as governments and researchers prepare for the cybersecurity implications of more powerful quantum computing systems.

SPOQC is now in the final stages of commissioning before it begins transmitting quantum signals to receivers at the Hub Optical Ground Station at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh. The CubeSat is operating in a low Earth, Sun-synchronous orbit and passes over the UK about twice a day, with most measurements expected to take place during night-time passes, when experimental conditions are more favourable.

The mission’s wider policy relevance lies in its connection to the UK’s National Quantum Strategy, which views quantum technologies as important to national resilience, digital infrastructure, and long-term competitiveness. The project presents satellite-based systems as the most practical route towards resilient international quantum communication, since terrestrial fibre links face distance-related limitations that can degrade quantum signals over time.

A distinctive feature of the mission is its dual quantum source payload. One source uses discrete quantum signals at the single-photon level and was developed by the University of Bristol team, while the other uses continuous-variable signals and was developed by researchers at the University of York. Both connect to dedicated receivers at the optical ground station, allowing researchers to compare two established but technically different communication methods under varying atmospheric and orbital conditions.

‘The SPOQC mission is the culmination of outstanding collaborations between leading UK Universities, STFC RAL Space, and external industry partners. It offers a world-first platform to critically compare different quantum communication modalities, including the first use of continuous variable approaches from space. Through the IQN Hub, the SPOQC mission is a vital enabler towards truly global quantum communication via integration into terrestrial UK networks.’, said Professor Gerald Buller, Director of the IQN Hub.

The collaboration brings together the Universities of Bristol, Heriot-Watt, Strathclyde and York, alongside the Science and Technology Facilities Council’s RAL Space. STFC RAL Space contributed engineering, systems integration and mission support, while Heriot-Watt is operating the optical ground station. ISISPACE provided the satellite and technical support.

Researchers say the mission will also test whether quantum technologies can be scaled down to a 12U CubeSat, roughly the size of a microwave oven, as a proof of concept for future compact and lower-cost satellite quantum networks. SPOQC follows the November 2025 launch of SpeQtre, a UK-Singapore collaboration led by STFC RAL Space and SpeQtral, making it the second quantum mission supported by UK research to launch within six months.

Full quantum communication experiments are expected to begin in the second half of 2026 once commissioning is complete. Professor Tim Spiller from the University of York said: ‘As Director of the preceding Quantum Communications Hub, it is very pleasing to see six years of R&D by that Hub team to develop SPOQC and HOGS finally be rewarded with the launch of SPOQC. However, this will add a crucial link to the UK’s expanding quantum networking capability. I look forward to the first quantum demonstrations from SPOQC and HOGS later this year.’

Andy Vick, Disruptive Technology Programme Lead at STFC RAL Space, said: ‘The launch of two quantum CubeSats in close succession highlights the UK’s growing leadership in quantum technology. While both missions share a common satellite platform, SPOQC has united new partners to address new challenges. The RAL Space team is proud to have contributed from the outset, working closely with the Quantum Communications Hub, whose initial work laid strong foundations for the mission, and now supporting its delivery under the leadership of the IQN Hub. SPOQC is a big step for all the teams involved, one that we hope will pave the way for the UK’s national quantum network mission.’

Dr Kedar Pandya, Executive Director of EPSRC’s Strategy Directorate, said: ‘The SPOQC mission is a powerful example of how UK research leadership is shaping the future of secure global communications. By uniting world-class expertise across our quantum research hubs, we’re demonstrating not only scientific excellence but real technological ambition. This launch marks a major step toward quantum-secure networks that will help safeguard the UK’s digital infrastructure for decades to come.’

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