Mohamed Abdel-Kareem

SandboxAQ has raised over $300 million in funding from prominent investors including Fred Alger Management, T. Rowe Price Associates, Mumtalakat, Parkway Venture Capital, Breyer Capital, Rizvi Traverse, S32, US Innovative Technology Fund, Ava Investments, In-Q-Tel (IQT), and individual contributors like Eric Schmidt, Marc Benioff, David Siegel, and Yann LeCun. The round values SandboxAQ at $5.3 billion pre-money and is aimed at accelerating the development of Large Quantitative Models (LQMs), quantum, and AI solutions in fields like drug discovery, materials science, cybersecurity, and navigation. SandboxAQ’s LQMs target computationally intensive scientific and business challenges across industries, complementing Large Language Models (LLMs) by focusing [...]

Israel has launched its first domestically built quantum computer, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s push to become a leader in quantum technologies. Developed with advanced superconducting technology, the 20-qubit quantum computer was created through a collaboration involving the Israel Innovation Authority, Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Hebrew University, and Yissum, the university’s technology transfer company. This new quantum computer will support both defense and civilian applications, positioning Israel as a significant participant for quantum advancements. The development of this superconductor-based quantum computer includes a robust infrastructure for design, simulation, and integration of practical applications. The Quantum QHIPU lab will focus [...]

Indian quantum technology startup Quanfluence has raised $2 million in seed funding to enhance its product offerings and develop its quantum computing solutions. The funding round was led by pi Ventures, with contributions from Golden Sparrow and Reena Dayal, founder of the Quantum Ecosystems and Technology Council of India. Founded in 2021, Quanfluence specializes in photonics-based quantum technologies and operates from the IITM Incubation Centre. The startup's groundbreaking approach utilizes Time-Multiplexed Optical Coherent Ising Machines (CIMs) to solve optimization problems much faster and more efficiently than classical and current quantum computers. By leveraging the physics of light, Quanfluence’s Optical Ising machines [...]

SEALSQ Corp (NASDAQ: LAES) has announced a strategic partnership with Hedera, a leading decentralized blockchain network, to create next-generation quantum-resistant semiconductors. This collaboration aims to integrate quantum-resistant security solutions into critical infrastructures, ensuring protection against the emerging risks posed by quantum computing. The partnership will focus on SEALSQ's QS7001 quantum-resistant hardware platform, which is currently undergoing testing and validation ahead of its production launch in 2025. The quantum-resistant chips developed through this collaboration will safeguard digital infrastructure, including blockchain and cryptographic systems, from the potential vulnerabilities introduced by quantum computing. As quantum computers advance, traditional cryptographic systems may become susceptible to [...]

Heriot-Watt University has secured funding for a groundbreaking project in quantum communications under the first round of awards from the Photonics and Quantum Accelerator (PQA). This £4.7 million ($5.94 million USD) initiative, backed by UKRI and EPSRC, seeks to advance Scotland's photonics and quantum technology sectors through collaboration among universities, industry, and civic partners. Dr. Natalia Herrera Valencia is leading a project to develop a cost-effective, easy-to-use quantum photonic system for creating entanglement links over telecom networks. This innovation enables ultra-secure encryption and interconnected quantum computers, addressing critical demands for secure and efficient communication infrastructure. The system, currently undergoing trials with [...]

Nokia and SK Broadband have deployed a quantum-secure leased line network for Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP) to enhance the protection of its critical IT infrastructure. Completed in August 2024, the project integrates Nokia's Quantum-Safe MACsec cryptographic technology to secure KHNP’s IP MPLS leased line network, ensuring robust protection against current and future cyber threats, including those posed by quantum computing. This collaboration leverages Nokia's advanced network equipment, such as transmission equipment, interconnect routers, and service access systems, along with its Network Services Platform (NSP) to simplify network management. The deployment enables KHNP to benefit from enhanced security without compromising [...]

AmpliTech Group, Inc. has introduced its proprietary cryogenic Low-Noise Amplifiers (LNAs) based on High Electron Mobility Transistor (HEMT) technology, specifically designed for quantum computing applications. These advanced amplifiers are essential for the operation of quantum computers at ultra-low temperatures of 4 Kelvin, which is crucial for achieving high-fidelity quantum operations. AmpliTech has successfully delivered these amplifiers to leading Fortune 50 companies and research institutions, establishing itself as a key player in the quantum computing sector. The cryogenic HEMT-based LNAs are instrumental in minimizing noise within quantum systems, enabling accurate detection of quantum signals. This technology directly supports the development of scalable, [...]

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has added six new pilot projects to its National Quantum Virtual Laboratory (NQVL) initiative. These projects, each funded with $1 million over 12 months, aim to accelerate the development of quantum technologies by providing U.S. researchers with access to advanced tools and real-world testing environments. They join five previously announced projects, collectively advancing quantum science as envisioned in the National Quantum Initiative Act. The six new projects focus on diverse areas of quantum research: Q-BLUE (Iowa State University): Developing analog quantum hardware for applications in chemistry and physics. ASPEN-Net (University of Oregon): Creating a quantum networking [...]

Banco Sabadell has collaborated with Accenture and QuSecure to implement post-quantum cryptography (PQC) technologies, enhancing the bank's infrastructure against future quantum threats. Using QuSecure's cryptographic agility software and open-source libraries, the project explored modernizing encryption systems to ensure resilience in the post-quantum era. The four-month initiative provided Banco Sabadell with a roadmap to achieve quantum resiliency, aligning with emerging NIST PQC standards. Accenture leveraged its expertise in quantum security and testing environments to guide the process, while QuSecure demonstrated its cryptographic agility solutions, enabling enterprises to upgrade security without overhauling existing infrastructure. Joan Puig, Banco Sabadell's Chief Information Security Officer, emphasized [...]

Q-CTRL and Accenture Federal Services have collaborated to enhance federal network security using quantum optimization techniques. By applying Q-CTRL’s Fire Opal software, the partnership has targeted the challenge of network anomaly detection events such as security threats or networking inefficiencies, that can arise due to the complexity of large-scale networks. These anomalies can be found by using a Max-Cut optimization approach in the analysis. Fire Opal improves the performance of quantum hardware over more classical methods, enabling more accurate identification of anomalies by addressing the Max-Cut optimization problem in network analysis. This collaboration leverages quantum computing’s potential to solve optimization problems more efficiently than classical methods, [...]