Quantum computing

Europe struggles to explain quantum to its citizens

Most Europeans remain unclear about quantum technology, despite increasing attention from EU leaders. A new survey, released on World Quantum Day, reveals that while 78 per cent of adults in France and Germany are aware of quantum, only a third truly understand what it is.

Nearly half admitted they had heard of the term but didn’t know what it means.

Quantum science studies the smallest building blocks of the universe, particles like electrons and atoms, that behave in ways classical physics can’t explain. Though invisible even to standard microscopes, they already power technologies such as GPS, MRI scanners and semiconductors.

Quantum tools could lead to breakthroughs in healthcare, cybersecurity, and climate change, by enabling ultra-precise imaging, improved encryption, and advanced environmental monitoring.

The survey showed that 47 per cent of respondents expect quantum to positively impact their country within five years, with many hopeful about its role in areas like energy, medicine and fraud prevention.

For example, quantum computers might help simulate complex molecules for drug development, while quantum encryption could secure communications better than current systems.

The EU has committed to developing a European quantum chip and is exploring a potential Quantum Act, backed by €65 million in funding under the EU Chips Act. The UK has pledged £121 million for quantum initiatives.

However, Europe still trails behind China and the US, mainly due to limited private investment and slower deployment. Former ECB president Mario Draghi warned that Europe must build a globally competitive quantum ecosystem instead of falling behind further.

Would you like to learn more about AI, tech and digital diplomacy? If so, ask our Diplo chatbot!

Quantum breakthrough could be just years away

Most quantum professionals believe that quantum utility — the point at which quantum computers outperform classical machines in solving real-world problems — could be reached within the next decade.

According to a new survey by Economist Impact, 83% of global experts expect quantum utility to arrive in ten years or less, with one-third predicting it will happen in as little as one to five years.

Optimism aligns with some industry roadmaps, such as Finnish startup IQM, which is targeting quantum utility as early as next year.

However, there’s still little consensus on the timeline. While Google’s CEO Sundar Pichai recently suggested practically useful quantum computers could be five to ten years away, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang believes it may take at least 15 years — a remark that briefly shook confidence in quantum stocks.

Industry confusion over terms like ‘quantum utility,’ ‘advantage,’ and ‘supremacy’ only adds to the uncertainty, highlighting the need for clearer communication and better public understanding.

Despite the buzz, major challenges remain. Over 80% of professionals cite technical barriers, especially error correction, as a major hurdle.

A further 75% point to a lack of skilled talent in the field. While misconceptions about quantum computing are seen as slowing progress, the real bottlenecks lie in engineering and workforce development.

If these can be overcome, quantum computing could revolutionise sectors from pharmaceuticals and materials science to finance and cybersecurity — with profound implications, both promising and perilous.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

IBM pushes towards quantum advantage in two years with breakthrough code

IBM’s Quantum CTO, Oliver Dial, predicts that quantum advantage, where quantum computers outperform classical ones on specific tasks, could be achieved within two years.

The milestone is seen as possible due to advances in error mitigation techniques, which enable quantum computers to provide reliable results despite their inherent noise. While full fault-tolerant quantum systems are still years away, IBM’s focus on error mitigation could bring real-world results soon.

A key part of IBM’s progress is the introduction of the ‘Gross code,’ a quantum error correction method that drastically reduces the number of physical qubits needed per logical qubit, making the engineering of quantum systems much more feasible.

Dial described this development as a game changer, improving both efficiency and practicality, making quantum systems easier to build and test. The Gross code reduces the need for large, cumbersome arrays of qubits, streamlining the path toward more powerful quantum computers.

Looking ahead, IBM’s roadmap outlines ambitious goals, including building a fully error-corrected system with 200 logical qubits by 2029. Dial stressed the importance of flexibility in the roadmap, acknowledging that the path to these goals could shift but would still lead to the achievement of quantum milestones.

The company’s commitment to these advancements reflects the dedication of the quantum team, many of whom have been working on the project for over a decade.

Despite the excitement and the challenges that remain, IBM’s vision for the future of quantum computing is clear: building the world’s first useful quantum computers.

The company’s ongoing work in quantum computing continues to capture imaginations, with significant steps being taken towards making these systems a reality in the near future.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Dutch researchers to face new security screenings

The Dutch government has proposed new legislation requiring background checks for thousands of researchers working with sensitive technologies. The plan, announced by Education Minister Eppo Bruins, aims to block foreign intelligence from accessing high-risk scientific work.

Around 8,000 people a year, including Dutch citizens, would undergo screenings involving criminal records, work history, and possible links to hostile regimes.

Intelligence services would support the process, which targets sectors like AI, quantum computing, and biotech.

Universities worry the checks may deter global talent due to delays and bureaucracy. Critics also highlight a loophole: screenings occur only once, meaning researchers could still be approached by foreign governments after being cleared.

While other countries are introducing similar measures, the Netherlands will attempt to avoid unnecessary delays. Officials admit, however, that no system can eliminate all risks.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Scientists achieve breakthrough in quantum computing stability

A new study by researchers from the University of Oxford, Delft University of Technology, Eindhoven University of Technology, and Quantum Machines has made a major step forward in quantum computing.

The team has found a way to make Majorana zero modes (MZMs)—special particles crucial for quantum computers—far more stable, bringing us closer to building error-free, scalable machines.

Quantum computers are incredibly powerful but face a key challenge: their basic units, qubits, are highly fragile and easily disrupted by environmental noise.

MZMs have long been seen as a potential solution because they are predicted to resist such disturbances, but stabilising them for practical use has been difficult until now.

The researchers created a structure called a three-site Kitaev chain, which is a simplified version of a topological superconductor.

By using quantum dots to trap electrons and connecting them with superconducting wires, they created a stable ‘sweet spot’ where MZMs could be farther apart, reducing interference and enhancing their stability.

Lead author Dr. Greg Mazur believes this breakthrough shows that it is possible to keep MZMs stable as quantum systems grow. With further research, the team aims to build longer chains to improve stability even more, potentially opening the door to reliable, next-generation quantum materials and devices.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

SandboxAQ attracts major investors for AI expansion

SandboxAQ has secured a further $150 million in funding, bringing its Series E total to over $450 million.

The quantum-AI firm, which originated at Alphabet in 2016 and spun out in 2022, continues to draw backing from tech heavyweights and financial leaders, including Google, Nvidia, Ray Dalio, and BNP Paribas.

The funding is set to accelerate development in large quantitative models (LQMs), which lie at the heart of SandboxAQ’s enterprise solutions.

The models are already being applied across sectors such as life sciences, finance, and navigation. BNP Paribas described the partnership as a key move at the intersection of AI and quantum technology, while Ray Dalio cited his confidence in the company’s team and approach.

Recent collaborations have also strengthened SandboxAQ’s position in the field. In early 2025, it partnered with Google Cloud to deliver its LQMs via the Google Cloud Marketplace, easing deployment for enterprise users.

Previous deals include a November 2023 alliance with Nvidia to simulate chemical reactions for new material development. In total, SandboxAQ has now raised more than $950 million, achieving a pre-money valuation of $5.3 billion in late 2024.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

MIT uses photons to link quantum processors directly

MIT researchers have created a new device that could transform the way quantum computers communicate.

By enabling quantum processors to send data directly using microwave photons, the system eliminates the need for complex, error-prone point-to-point connections.

Two modules, each containing four qubits, were linked via a superconducting waveguide, allowing them to exchange information without a physical link.

Key to the breakthrough was the creation of remote entanglement — a quantum effect that synchronises two particles across a distance. Instead of firing full photons, the researchers halted photon emission halfway, placing the system in a strange quantum state.

The receiving module then absorbed the ‘half-photon,’ successfully entangling the processors. To improve photon capture, an algorithm reshaped the photons, achieving a 60-percent success rate.

Unlike current quantum computing setups, the MIT system supports ‘all-to-all’ connectivity, allowing any number of processors to communicate.

The architecture is potentially expandable to different types of quantum computers and future quantum internet systems. The research was funded by several United States agencies and published in Nature Physics.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Advanced quantum computing could transform particle physics research

Scientists have made a major breakthrough in understanding the fundamental particles and forces that shape the universe.

A team from the University of Innsbruck in Austria and the Institute for Quantum Computing in Canada has successfully used quantum computers to simulate particle interactions more effectively than ever before.

The research introduces a new approach using qudits, which can store more information than traditional qubits.

With this technology, the team built a quantum computer capable of simulating a full quantum field theory in two dimensions, a significant improvement over previous efforts.

The simulations even revealed the formation of magnetic fields between particles, something not seen in earlier one-dimensional studies.

Researchers believe this advancement could lead to even more complex simulations, including three-dimensional particle interactions and insights into the strong nuclear force.

Physicist Martin Ringbauer describes the development as just the beginning, highlighting the potential of quantum computers to answer some of the biggest mysteries in physics.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

Scientists make progress in bridging quantum computers with optical networks

Researchers at Caltech have developed a groundbreaking silicon device that could help quantum computers communicate over long distances.

The innovation, created by a team led by Professor Mohammad Mirhosseini, successfully converts microwave photons into optical photons, overcoming a major challenge in quantum networking. Their findings were recently published in Nature Nanotechnology.

Quantum computers rely on microwave photons to store and process information, but these particles require near-zero temperatures and lose data when travelling through standard internet cables.

Optical photons, however, can move efficiently over long distances at room temperature. The new device acts as a bridge between the two, using a vibrating silicon beam to convert microwave signals into optical ones with remarkable efficiency.

Built from silicon to minimise noise, the transducer outperforms older systems by 100 times while maintaining the same level of signal clarity.

The breakthrough brings the concept of a quantum internet closer to reality, offering a scalable way to link quantum computers across vast networks in the future.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.

US tightens controls on China’s tech sector amid security fears

The United States has added six subsidiaries of China’s leading cloud computing firm, Inspur Group, along with dozens of other Chinese entities, to its export restriction list.

Washington accuses the companies of aiding China’s military by developing supercomputers and advanced AI technologies. The move is part of a broader strategy to curb China’s progress in high-performance computing, quantum technology, and hypersonic weapons development.

Other companies from Taiwan, Iran, Pakistan, South Africa, and the UAE were also included in the latest restrictions. China has strongly condemned the US decision, calling it an attempt to ‘weaponise trade and technology.’

The Chinese foreign ministry has vowed to take necessary measures to protect its firms, while the Beijing Academy of Artificial Intelligence, which was also targeted, called for the restrictions to be withdrawn.

Companies added to the US Entity List require special licences to access American technology, which are unlikely to be granted. The restrictions could impact major Chinese tech firms linked to AI and computing, such as Huawei and Sugon.

The United States Commerce Department argues that these measures are necessary to prevent China and other countries from using American technology for military applications. Officials insist they will not allow adversaries to strengthen their military capabilities with US-made components.

The latest crackdown follows a 2023 decision to blacklist Inspur Group, which led to scrutiny of its business ties with major US chipmakers such as Nvidia and AMD. Washington also aims to block Iran’s procurement of drone and missile technology as part of its broader national security efforts.

For more information on these topics, visit diplomacy.edu.