Moderna and IBM have announced a partnership to use generative artificial intelligence and quantum computing to advance messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. This technology is at the core of Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccine, which has been highly effective in protecting against the virus. IBM’s quantum computing systems could help Moderna accelerate the discovery and creation of new mRNA vaccines and therapies, and IBM will provide experts to help Moderna scientists explore the use of quantum technologies in this area. Moderna will also have access to IBM’s generative AI model to design a new class of vaccines and therapies.
The agreement comes as Moderna looks to harness its mRNA technology to target other diseases beyond Covid. IBM is also investing in AI with new partnerships, including a deal with NASA to build AI foundation models to advance climate science.
The Indian government’s Union Cabinet has approved the National Quantum Mission (NQM) from 2023-24 to 2030-31. The mission aims to promote and scale up scientific and industrial R&D in Quantum Technology (QT) in India, with the goal of making India one of the leading nations in the development of Quantum Technologies & Applications (QTA). The mission targets the development of intermediate-scale quantum computers, secure quantum communications, quantum key distribution, quantum memories, and magnetometers with high sensitivity. Four Thematic Hubs (T-Hubs) will be established in top academic and national R&D institutes to focus on quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum sensing & metrology, and quantum materials & devices. The mission is expected to benefit various sectors, such as communication and health, as well as space applications. It will also support national priorities like Digital India, Make in India, Skill India, Stand-up India, Self-reliant India, and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
The Office of the Secretary of Defence is requesting $75 million in fiscal 2024 for a new project called Quantum Transition Acceleration, which aims to accelerate the commercialisation and operationalisation of quantum devices for Pentagon purposes and mature the US supply chain underpinning the making of emerging quantum technologies. The Pentagon recognises the risk of the slowdown of technological maturation affiliated with quantum applications for defence, and the Quantum Transition Acceleration project seeks to alleviate these issues. The majority of the budget – $45 million – would be used to mature, demonstrate, and transition specific technologies. The remaining $30 million would focus on identifying, developing, and maturing critical components supporting technology for atomic clocks, quantum sensors, and quantum computers, and help accelerate the transition of laboratory-scale systems to manufacturable commercial products.
The department also projects that it will request $100 million per year in the fiscal 2025-2028 timeframe to continue pushing the project forward. The investment is key to help the US stay competitive with other nations in quantum computing and other quantum-enabled technologies with key national security implications.
The Australian government has announced a $46 million investment to boost quantum education and collaboration in the country. The funding will support the development of quantum technology through partnerships between industry and academia, as well as the creation of a national network of quantum researchers. The initiative aims to train the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers, and help Australia become a world leader in quantum technology. The funding will be distributed through two grant programs, the Quantum Science Research Program and the Quantum Technology Commercialisation Program.
Florida State University (FSU) has announced a major investment in quantum science and engineering. The university will create a new Quantum Science and Engineering Centre, which will bring together faculty from various disciplines to advance quantum research and education. The centre will also collaborate with industry partners and government agencies to accelerate the development of quantum technologies. FSU plans to hire 25 new faculty members in quantum science and engineering over the next five years, as well as invest in new research infrastructure and educational programs. This initiative aims to position FSU as a leading institution in quantum science and engineering, and to prepare students for the emerging quantum workforce.
FSU researchers are already involved in the National Quantum Initiative, which is a strategic priority of the federal government of the United States aimed at expanding the knowledge of quantum information science and developing new technologies. This initiative involves various agencies, including the National Science Foundation, Department of Defense, Department of Commerce, Department of Energy, and others, with a total funding of $2.6 billion.
The US government has passed the Quantum Preparedness Act, requiring US government agencies protecting national security systems and related assets to adopt quantum-resistant cryptography algorithms by 2025. NIST is currently standardising quantum-resistant public-key cryptographic algorithms, and PQShield will provide insights into real-world implementation of quantum-resistant cryptography into software, hardware, and advanced protocols, and offer guidance on how organisations can identify which hardware, software, and services require upgrading. PQShield was also one of several firms that contributed to four quantum-resistant algorithms chosen by NIST for standardisation in May 2022.
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 Finnish startup Algorithmiq establishes new cooperation with IBM focused on leveraging the power of quantum computing for drug discovery and development.
On average, it currently takes around a decade and US$1 billion for a new drug to get to market. Algorithmiq’s advances in this area are considered to reduce the time-to-market of new drugs significantly, and allow for more cost efficiency and better medical treatments.
The EU moved to exclude the UK from Horizon Europe calls on sensitive quantum projects due to doubts over the UK`s eagerness to provide EU researchers with access to UK quantum programmes and to comply with intellectual property rules.
Initially, the European Commission decided to open up 2021–2022 calls to certain UK entities if they gave reassurances they would protect EU strategic interests, assets, autonomy and security, and respected reciprocity and intellectual property conditions. After assessing the proposals submitted by the UK, the EU has excluded quantum technologies companies that applied to take part.
‘Despite earlier statements from the UK side, when the moment of verification came, the EU realised that these reciprocity conditions were not on the table, and we got to the point where the Commission was not seeing enough evidence for an inclusion’, said Tommaso Calarco, director of the Institute for Quantum Control in Jülich, and one of the coordinators of the Quantum Flagship, a multi-billion EU Commission research initiative.
The new report ‘State of Quantum 2022‘ by IQM shares the latest insights and developments in the field of quantum computing and technologies. The report’s key takeaway is that there is a fundamental gap between the speed and direction of the development of quantum technologies and what industry customers are ready and planning for.
Furthermore, the report aims to show how business leaders’ readiness for quantum technology varies across key geographies and industries.
