Quantum computing

Chinese company SpinQ introduces portable quantum computers

Chinese company SpinQ introduces portable quantum computers for education and training purposes. The aim is to democratise access to physical quantum computing solutions that can be deployed and redeployed. The products have a minimal qubit count of 3, which allows developers to run and program quantum circuits and simple algorithms. The portable computers have a quantum computing system capable of operating at room temperature.

US researchers publish roadmap for the development of quantum information technologies

Q-NEXT, a US Department of Energy National Quantum Information Science Research Center led by Argonne National Laboratory, published a new report which outlines the research and scientific discoveries needed to develop the technologies for distributing quantum information on a 10- to 15-year timescale. Titled ‘A Roadmap for Quantum Interconnects’, the report focuses on quantum interconnects – devices that link and distribute quantum information between systems and across distances to enable quantum computing, communications and sensing.

The roadmap tackles quantum interconnect use in quantum computing, communication, and sensing. For each of these three areas, the document identifies the science and technology imperatives needed to advance the research area over the next decade; lays out the components and systems they use; poses questions that need to be addressed by the community; and outlines the developments necessary to turn the technology to practical advantage.

Thirty-nine experts from 15 institutions across the national labs, academia and industry contributed to the report.

US senate passes Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Act

The US senate has passed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act to strengthen national security by preparing the federal government’s defences against quantum-computing-enabled data breaches.

The Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act asks for:

  • The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritise the acquisition and migration of federal agencies’ information technology to post-quantum cryptography.
  • OMB to create guidance for federal agencies to assess critical systems following the publication of post-quantum cryptography standards by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST);
  • Direct OMB to send an annual report to Congress that includes a strategy on how to address post-quantum cryptography risks.

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US president Biden appoints members of National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee

US president Biden has appointed the co-chairs and members of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC). It is a federal advisory committee convened after the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act was passed. The committee is tasked with providing an independent assessment of the NQI programme and making recommendations for the President, Congress, and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on quantum information science.

NQIAC includes members from industry, academia, and federal laboratories. It will hold its first meeting on 16 December 2022.

First quantum computer hub for commercial use opens in Switzerland

The uptownBasel Group opens QuantumBasel, the Centre of Competence for Quantum and Artificial Intelligence and the first quantum computer hub in Switzerland. QuantumBasel is a joint collaboration between IBM, D-Wave and other national and international partners. The centre aims to provide organisations with access to quantum computers, training, workshops, and support for utilising them, while offering Quantum as a Service with access to some of the latest quantum processors.

uptownBasel is building a research and innovation site near Basel to create an international competence centre for advanced technologies of Industry 4.0.

US administration appoints science envoy for quantum information science and technology 

The US Department of State has recently announced its seven science envoys for 2023. The science envoy for quantum information science and technology will be Dr Prineha Narang. Narang will engage internationally to help the Department of State to explore new science and technology cooperation in the area of quantum technologies.

The USA has been appointing science envoys since 2010 with the goal of strengthening bilateral science and technology relationships.

Dr Narang is a renowned scholar in theoretical and computational quantum science and co-founded the Aliro Quantum company.

US Department of State and University of Maryland sign MoU to build capacity in the area of quantum technology

The US Department of State and the University of Maryland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build capacity in the area of quantum computing. The University of Maryland Quantum Technology Center (QTC) will supply the department with technical information and input regarding the latest developments in quantum technologies and related enabling technologies. This partnership aims to ensure that the US department’s international initiatives are informed by a sound technical understanding of quantum technologies.

EU-US Trade and Technology Council holds third ministerial meeting

The third ministerial meeting of the EU-US Trade and Technology Council (TTC) was held on 5 December 2022 in Washington, DC, USA. During the meeting, the two parties:

  • Reiterated the importance of cooperating on trust and security in the ICT ecosystem and noted that the TTC Working Group on ICTS security and competitiveness plans to discuss transatlantic subsea cables’ connectivity and security, including alternative routes, such as the transatlantic route to connect Europe, North America and Asia.
  • Reiterated their commitment to developing and implementing trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI), building on the Joint Roadmap on Evaluation and Measurement Tools for Trustworthy AI and Risk Management.
  • Announced plans to launch a pilot project to assess the use of privacy-enhancing technologies and synthetic data in health and medicine.
  • Announced plans to establish an expert task force to strengthen research and development cooperation on quantum information science, develop common frameworks for assessing technology readiness, discuss intellectual property, and export control-related issues as appropriate, and work together to advance international standards.
  • Announced progress on increasing standards cooperation, for instance through the Strategic Standards Information mechanism meant to enable the EU and the USA to share information about international standardisation activities and react to common strategic issues.
  • Announced that the US Department of Commerce and the European Commission are entering into an administrative arrangement to implement an early warning mechanism to address and mitigate semiconductor supply chain disruptions in a cooperative way.
  • Stressed the importance of eliminating the use of arbitrary and unlawful surveillance to target human rights defenders, and expressed concerns over government-imposed internet shutdowns.
  • Announced plans to enhance transatlantic trade, for instance through developing joint best practices for the use of digital tools to simplify or reduce the cost of commercial actors’ interactions with the governments in relation to trade-related policy, legal requirements, or regulatory requirements.
  • Announced the launch of a Talent for Growth Task Force to facilitate exchanges of experiences on training and capacity building and serve as a catalyst for innovative skills policies.

These and other commitments and initiatives are outlined in the joint statement issued at the end of the meeting.