The US Office of Science and Technology Policy and France’s Ministry of Higher Education and Research signed a joint statement on cooperation in quantum information science and technology (QIST).
The statement builds on several other USA-France agreements, including a 2018 Agreement on Science and Technology Cooperation and a 2021 Joint Statement on Science and Technology Cooperation which identified QIS as a focus. Both countries have recognised the potential for QIST to transform many areas of science and technology through the development of quantum computers, quantum networks, and quantum sensors which will offer new capabilities over traditional devices.
On 1 December, the French Embassy in the USA announced that the statement was transmitted to Paris in the form of the embassy’s first post-quantum encrypted diplomatic message.
New research on quantum entanglement, conducted by Heriot-Watt University in the UK and the University of Geneva in Switzerland, could help deliver communication networks difficult to target in the post-quantum era. Researchers found a way for quantum entanglement to handle noise and loss over long distances, opening the door to ‘practical quantum networks with the highest form of security’.
Quantum entanglement is when two particles – such as photons – remain connected and operate in tandem, even when they are separated over a vast distance. The research claims that this could provide the potential for truly secure communications in the future, even if a communication device is unsafe or in criminal hands.
Indian Minister for Education and Skill Development, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, held a meeting with the Finnish Minister of Education, Science and Culture Mr. Petri Honkonen, in New Delhi. The meeting aimed at reinforcing and further strengthening the cooperation between the two countries in the area of Future ICT.
Both sides have initiated cooperation on quantum technologies and are working on a detailed plan to establish the Indo-Finnish Virtual Network Centre on Quantum Computing. The ambition is to develop 20 qubits superconducting based Quantum Computer in 1st phase and further scale it up to 54 qubits in the second phase.
A team from ParityQC and the University of Innsbruck have developed a new method of universal quantum computing based on the ParityQC architecture. The approach proposes a universal gate, where the architecture can perform operations between two or more qubits on a single qubit, for quantum computing with all-in-all connectivity and a robust system to avoid bit-flip (an unintentional state switch from 0 to 1) errors. This method seems to overcome some of the limitations quantum computers face today and could enable the development of a universal quantum computer.
Kim Young, the US representative for California’s 39th congressional district, proposed the Quantum in Practice Act. The Quantum in Practice Act would amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to include quantum molecular simulations and modelling in federal scientific research. The bill would enable US companies to take further advantage of emerging technologies such as quantum computing.
Scientists from the University of Science and Technology in Moscow implemented a four-qubit quantum processor in Russia for the first time. A two-qubit experiment was conducted by Russian scientists earlier this year. Superconducting qubits are efficient and promising quantum objects for developing and implementing quantum computations. The next objective of the joint project will be focused on the development and testing of 8-qubit quantum simulators and processors.
The US Air Force has contracted the quantum company SandboxAQ to analyse its existing encryption capabilities and to protect Air Force data networks against quantum attacks of the future. The company will implement an end-to-end, crypto-agile framework to protect Air Force and Space Force data networks from quantum attacks.
Dell is creating the building blocks to incorporate quantum computers into conventional IT infrastructures as it opens data centres to new types of accelerated computers.
Together with IonQ quantum technology, the solution integrates quantum computing into existing classical computational infrastructure. Fully integrated Qiskit Dell Runtime and IonQ Aria software allow quantum workloads to run with on-premises or cloud-based quantum acceleration.
The hybrid classical-quantum computing model includes an adjusted hierarchy with conventional servers acting as hosts and managers of attached quantum computers, which compute differently.
The UK’s Institute of Physics (IOP) published this report in support of a UK quantum strategy.
The report gives 10 recommendations on how to ensure UK quantum sector growth. The recommendations revolve around the elaboration of roadmaps for the commercialisation of quantum goods and services; the development of a supporting ecosystem and the capacity for scale; the creation of a strong skills base to support quantum industries; and wider enablers including partnerships and communications.
According to the IOP, a UK quantum strategy needs to outline forms of support for each stage of the journey towards commercialised quantum-based products and services, through the provision of direct and indirect support, coordination and planning, and aligned policies addressing skills and other enabling factors.
An Australian Quantum Software Network (AQSN) was launched at the University of Technology Sydney with the aim of fostering cooperation between experts working on quantum software and information theory research and development across Australia. At the time of launch, AQSN includes 110 members across 30 academic groups at nine universities and two Australian-based quantum software startups. The aim in the coming years is to further the growth of quantum computing expertise and talent within Australia.
