China Mobile has joined forces with Origin Quantum, a Chinese startup, to focus on quantum computing and solving the computational bottlenecks facing 5G and 6G. Under the agreement, Origin Quantum will provide quantum communication algorithms based on real machine verification.
The goal is to explore the possibility of applying quantum computing to achieve network optimization, network autonomy, network security and a metaverse.
The US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awarded the University of Rochester a $1.6 million contract to work on a quantum-inspired solver system within the Quantum-Inspired Classical Computing (QuICC) programme. The aim is to develop quantum-inspired solver systems to solve real problems for military missions.
Quantum-inspired solvers are hybrid: they are classical mixed signal systems that consist of analogue hardware and digital logic.
The governments of France, Germany, and the Netherlands have signed a statement outlining plans to strengthen collaboration on quantum technology. Through the Joint Statement on Cooperation in Quantum Technologies, the three countries have committed to increasing synergies between their quantum technology ecosystems and working together to enable the development of European leaders and attract the best international talents in the field.
Through information exchanges and regular meetings, the parties intend to exchange views on developments in the field of research, education, policy, implementation, and use case development in quantum technologies. They will also explore possibilities for improving alignment across policy and funding priorities.
The Russian government announced that it would allocate 4.5 billion rubles (US$ 69.4 million) to Russian Railways in 2023 and 2024 to develop its quantum communication network. This is part of an overall investment of 9.4 billion rubles (US$ 144.9 million) that the government is allocating to the development of the Russian Railway’s quantum communication network between 2021 and 2024.
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
