Mohamed Abdel-Kareem

Innovate UK has awarded over £12 million ($15.5 million USD) to 10 projects as part of its Quantum Missions pilot competition, aimed at accelerating the commercialization and adoption of quantum computing (QC) and quantum networks (QN). The funding supports advancements in QC and QN technologies, addressing key barriers to scalability and real-world application. These projects align with the UK’s goal to deploy the world’s most advanced quantum network by 2035, ensuring leadership in quantum technologies. The winning projects include: QUDITS2: Led by Vector Photonics, to develop a quantum communication platform using qudits for enhanced information storage and processing. PAGNet: Led by Alter Technology TUV Nord UK, to create a plug-and-play packaging solution for quantum photonic integrated [...]

Alice & Bob, a leader in fault-tolerant quantum computing, has announced a significant advancement in cat qubit technology, achieving a 160x improvement in bit-flip error protection through a technique called “squeezing.” This innovation, detailed in a recent preprint, optimizes error suppression by compressing the quantum state of cat qubits, reducing the need for resource-intensive error correction. Cat qubits, a type of superconducting qubit, are designed to minimize bit-flip errors by increasing the separation between quantum states. However, this typically comes at the cost of increased phase-flip errors. By squeezing cat qubits, Alice & Bob has demonstrated a method to enhance bit-flip protection without compromising phase-flip performance. In experiments, squeezed cat [...]

Fermioniq, QuiX Quantum, and Deltares have been awarded the Purple Nectar Quantum Challenge, organized and funded by the Dutch Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management. The collaboration aims to develop quantum modeling solutions for improved water management and infrastructure, leveraging the unique expertise of each partner. Fermioniq, a quantum and quantum-inspired software company, will apply its expertise in quantum algorithms to create scalable solutions. QuiX Quantum, a leading photonic quantum computing firm, will provide hardware support to test and optimize these algorithms for hydrodynamic simulations. Deltares, an independent water and subsurface research institute, will ensure real-world applicability by contributing domain expertise in water management. The [...]

Xanadu, a global leader in photonic quantum computing, has joined the National Quantum Laboratory (QLab) at the University of Maryland (UMD) as part of a three-year strategic partnership. The collaboration aims to drive innovation, workforce development, and commercialization in quantum technologies across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region. Xanadu will provide QLab users with priority access to its PennyLane quantum programming tool and advanced photonic quantum computing technologies, enhancing research and education opportunities. The partnership will support UMD’s quantum initiatives, including the Quantum Machine Learning First-Year Immersive Research Experience (QML FIRE) and the Quantum Startup Foundry. These programs aim to grow the Capital of Quantum ecosystem by fostering interdisciplinary research, workforce development, and the [...]

The German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the German Federal Office for Information Security (BSI) have launched the QUANTITY project, a strategic collaboration focused on quantum cryptanalysis. The initiative addresses the growing threat posed by quantum computers to current cryptographic systems, as highlighted in the BSI’s recent report, Status of Quantum Computer Development, which predicts cryptographic relevance within 16 years—or potentially sooner. QUANTITY investigates the impact of quantum algorithms on cryptosystems, extending beyond the known threats posed by Shor’s and Grover’s algorithms. The project explores how classical cryptanalysis methods can be accelerated using quantum algorithms and evaluates the cryptographic relevance of emerging quantum computing technologies. By analyzing the performance of these algorithms on hardware [...]

Quantum Brilliance, a leader in room-temperature diamond quantum computing, and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre have developed a hybrid quantum-classical workflow that integrates GPU, CPU, and quantum processing units (QPUs). Powered by NVIDIA GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, the workflow enables seamless communication between virtual and physical quantum computers, simplifying integration with high-performance computing (HPC) environments. This breakthrough demonstrates a practical path toward real-world quantum computing applications, including radio astronomy, AI, and bioinformatics. The workflow leverages Quantum Brilliance’s virtual Quantum Processing Unit (vQPU), which emulates the behavior of physical quantum processors with tens of qubits. The vQPU, combined with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing, provides scalable, high-performance quantum simulations with realistic noise modeling. This hardware-agnostic approach allows researchers to [...]

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with ORCA Computing and Universal Quantum to advance scalable quantum computing technologies. These collaborations aim to address critical challenges in photonic and trapped-ion quantum computing, focusing on industrialization and integration into hybrid quantum-classical systems. The partnership with ORCA Computing leverages ORCA’s expertise in photonic quantum systems and AIST’s Global Research and Development Center for Business by Quantum-AI Technology (G-QuAT). Key areas of collaboration include reliability, availability, and maintainability (RAS) characterization, hardware-level integration with classical computing, and optimization of system software for hybrid quantum-classical performance. With Universal Quantum, AIST will focus on developing scalable trapped-ion quantum computing solutions. The collaboration aims to advance subsystems necessary [...]

Jij Inc., a Tokyo-based provider of quantum optimization technologies, has established its first overseas subsidiary, Jij Europe Ltd., in the United Kingdom. Located within the Harwell Science and Innovation Campus in Oxfordshire, the new office will serve as a hub for expanding Jij’s global presence and fostering collaboration with the UK’s quantum ecosystem. Additionally, Jij has been accepted as a member of UKQuantum, a leading UK consortium dedicated to advancing quantum technologies. The establishment of Jij Europe Ltd. aligns with growing bilateral cooperation between Japan and the UK in quantum technologies. This collaboration is supported by initiatives such as the Economic 2+2 dialogue framework and the APAC UK [...]

Empa, the Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, has inaugurated a new laboratory dedicated to exploring quantum effects in carbon-based materials. The CarboQuant project, supported by the Werner Siemens Foundation and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF), aims to develop sustainable quantum technologies, including components for quantum computers. The lab, opened on January 30, 2025, focuses on nanographenes and graphene nanoribbons, carbon nanostructures whose atomic precision allows targeted manipulation of quantum effects. At the heart of the lab are two state-of-the-art scanning tunneling microscopes (STMs), equipped with high-frequency microwave radiation to control quantum states such as electron spins. These spins, which can exist in superposition states of “up” and “down,” are [...]

NanoQT, a quantum hardware startup, has opened a new office in College Park, Maryland, to enhance its R&D capabilities and accelerate commercialization efforts in the U.S. The expansion is supported by a partnership with the Quantum Startup Foundry (QSF) and funding from the Maryland Department of Commerce’s Global Gateway Program. Additionally, NanoQT has initiated a collaboration with Professor Mario Dagenais at the University of Maryland, focusing on the development of CMOS-compatible Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs) for integration into its cavity quantum electrodynamics (QED) systems. The collaboration, funded through the Maryland Industrial Partnerships (MIPS) program, aims to advance innovations in cavity engineering and explore fault-tolerant quantum computing architectures for modular quantum systems. NanoQT’s presence in Maryland leverages [...]