dougfinke

There has been a lot of recent political action in the United States to provide support for the advancement of quantum tech. We cover them here. The Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act has been introduced in both the U.S. Senate (S.1344) by Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Ben Luján (D-TN) as well as in the U.S. House (H.R.3220) by Representatives Jay Obernolte (R-CA), Haley Stevens (D-MI), Randy Weber (R-TX), and Richard Hudson (R-NC). The bill aims to increase quantum technology commercial advancement through the creation of a quantum sandbox program. This program allows government and industry partners to come together through the [...]

Celebrating Scientific Discovery with Music, Art and Poetry Overview During its annual March meeting, APS celebrated the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology with a week-long Quantum Fest. The two directors of the event combined their scientific expertise with their love for art to tell stories of quantum physics. Smitha Vishveshwara, PhD and Marilena Longobardi, PhD, brought acrobats, musicians and scientists together on stage to display the wonder and power of nature from a subatomic to a cosmic scale. In this episode, host Veronica Combs and the two physicists discuss how the event came together and how hands-on experiences reveal [...]

D-Wave Quantum Inc. has announced its Q1 2025 financial results. A quick summary of some key financial metrics comparing Q1 2025 versus Q4 2024 and the year ago quarter of Q1 2024 is shown in the chart below. D-Wave reached a record level of revenue of $15 million in Q1 2025 helped substantially by completion of the first Advantage processor installation at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ). And their Net Loss also came in substantially improved at $5.4 million versus $17.3 million in the year ago quarter. This was helped by the increased revenue as well as beneficial change in the fair value of [...]

First Quarter Financial Results IonQ has announced its Q1 2025 financial results. A quick summary of some key financial metrics comparing Q1 2025 versus Q4 2024 and the year ago quarter of Q1 2024 is shown in the chart below. Revenue for the first quarter of 2025 was essentially flat with the revenue achieved in the year ago quarter. However, the companies cash balance increased significantly to almost $700 million due to the raise of $700 million through an At-the-Market offering. Although the Net Loss came in about $7.3 million lower than the year ago quarter, this quarters report benefitted from a [...]

IonQ has completed the acquisition of a controlling stake in ID Quantique (IDQ), a leader in quantum-safe networking and quantum detection systems. This strategic acquisition enhances IonQ's position in quantum networking, enabling the company to build a Quantum Internet and accelerate industry applications. The acquisition adds IDQ's quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, quantum random number generators (QRNGs), and single-photon detectors to IonQ's product portfolio. It also brings nearly 300 patents, boosting IonQ's intellectual property holdings to over 900 patents, solidifying its leadership in quantum technologies. For additional details, read the full press release available on the IonQ website here as well [...]

IBM has introduced the Quantum Flex Plan, a new access and pricing model aimed at supporting project-based quantum computing research with greater flexibility, simplicity, and lower cost. The Flex Plan is designed for researchers and organizations whose quantum workloads don’t follow a steady monthly cadence. Instead of committing to long-term subscriptions or managing usage caps, users pre-purchase quantum compute minutes that can be used as needed over the contract term. Ideal for startups, academic researchers, enterprise R&D teams, and educators, Flex Plan supports bursty, time-sensitive workloads — such as experiments ahead of major conference deadlines, classroom-scale learning initiatives, and targeted use-case [...]

At the Intersection of Quantum Tech and Health Overview Human biology is complex and doctors can always use a new tool to understand everyday illnesses, diagnose rare diseases and personalize treatment. Dr. Frederik F. Flöther, Chief Quantum Officer, QuantumBasel, is working with pharma companies and quantum startups to build new data tools for physicians and researchers that use the power of quantum technology. In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, Frederik and Veronica Combs discuss the collaborations that are developing these new tools as well as the ethics that should guide this work. 00:00 Introduction to Quantum Spin Podcast00:34 [...]

Qubit-Neutral: Qblox Builds Quantum Control Stack Overview Recorded live at the APS Global Quantum Summit in Anaheim, California in March 2025 Quantum hardware isn’t quite ready for server racks in data centers, but that is the vision driving engineers at Qblox. This Dutch company builds control electronics for all qubit modalities. In this episode of The Quantum Spin by HKA, Niels Bultink, co-founder and CEO of Qblox, explains how he built a team that helps researchers and entrepreneurs get the highest performance out of quantum hardware. He also describes how the quantum ecosystem in the Netherlands grew out of strong academic [...]

Finland-based IQM Quantum Computers will deploy Poland’s first superconducting quantum computer at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology (WUST) in Q2 2025. The installation of the 5-qubit IQM Spark system marks a pivotal step in expanding Poland’s quantum computing infrastructure and research capacity. The deployment positions Poland as a new entrant in the global landscape of quantum-ready nations. As the first of its kind in the country and the broader Eastern European region, the Spark system uses low-temperature superconducting qubit technology and delivers a full-stack quantum computing experience. Professor Wojciech Bożejko of WUST remarks. “This system will provide students with [...]

Keyfactor has unveiled major upgrades to its cryptographic solutions — Keyfactor Command, EJBCA, and Bouncy Castle — enhancing its product offerings to include post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and helping organizations prepare for NIST’s 2030–2035 deprecation timeline for classical encryption. The updates mark a clear shift from theoretical preparation to actionable execution as enterprises begin the long migration to quantum-safe systems. Preparing for the Inevitable With NIST setting 2030 as the year to begin phasing out traditional cryptographic algorithms, Keyfactor is enabling businesses to start that transition now. Its latest enhancements empower customers to inventory, automate, and test the deployment of hybrid and [...]