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FROM THE EDITOR.

The news from Microsoft dominated the news in quantum — and in my inbox — this week.

For good reason. The Nature study released this week appears to be a critical step in the company’s nearly two-decade quest to master topological quantum computing. But it’s just a step.

However, if Microsoft is successful with the next steps in its bold roadmap, it might completely change the map of quantum computing — possibly even computing.

For my perspective, it’s important to let the scientific process roll on. There are a lot of questions and challenges remaining for this approach.

But, also, it’s important to celebrate this work. It says a lot about the heart of Microsoft’s culture that they would spend the time (17 years!) and money (it’s got to be a lot!) to allow this quantum team to pursue this line of research. Most corporations would have neither the courage, nor the commitment to continue this work, particularly after suffering stumbles in the past and facing considerable challenges in the future.

We will keep our eyes on this one.

Have a great weekend!

— Matt, Chief Content Officer at The Quantum Insider

INSIDER BRIEF.

• Microsoft’s Major(ana) News

• And A Major(ana) Debate

• Quantum Powered Ag

• Cool Cryogenic Work

• American Binary VPN

• Sorbonne Welcomes Startups

• Phasecraft-Quantinuum Partnership

• Shuqiu Wang Wins UKRI Award

• Vacuum Packaged

• Funding For Sherbrooke Booked

• Grover’s Algo Without QEC

• Cryogenic Advances

• Nobel Doubts

ANALYST NOTES.

The Research Rundown

This week’s quantum computing research is dominated by Microsoft’s latest work on measurement-based topological quantum computing, introducing a single-shot interferometric measurement of fermion parity in InAs–Al hybrid devices. This approach refines the detection of Majorana zero modes, which is a step towards the potential development of fault-tolerant topological qubits.

The development brings to mind a 2023 study from Quantinuum, which demonstrated non-Abelian anyon manipulation in a trapped-ion system. In separate research, Quantinuum now presents the first controlled realization of non-Abelian topological order on a 27-qubit trapped-ion processor, showcasing high-fidelity anyon braiding and fusion.

While Microsoft’s study advances measurement techniques for Majorana-based qubits, Quantinuum’s work is also part of the experimental foundation for non-Abelian anyons—two parallel efforts pushing topological quantum computing forward from different angles. — Cierra Choucair, Journalist & Analyst at The Quantum Insider

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INSIDER SPOTLIGHT: Microsoft’s Majorana Topological Chip — An Advance 17 Years in The Making

➡️ Microsoft has taken a step toward building more stable quantum computers by successfully measuring fermion parity in a system designed to host Majorana zero modes.

➡️ The experiment, published in Nature, demonstrates a single-shot interferometric measurement using an indium arsenide-aluminum hybrid device, which the researchers report marks progress in the pursuit of topological qubits.

➡️ This work aims to confirm the presence of Majorana zero modes, which could enable more error-resistant quantum computation, though further research is needed to rule out alternative explanations, such as Andreev bound states.

➡️ Microsoft has outlined a roadmap for scaling up its topological qubit approach, starting with single-qubit benchmarking, moving to two-qubit braiding experiments, and culminating in a fault-tolerant lattice of logical qubits.

➡️ While Microsoft’s progress is significant, scaling and real-world reliability remain open challenges, with unresolved questions about material imperfections and the practical feasibility of topological quantum computing.

Analyst Commentary

Microsoft’s commitment to topological quantum computing has been a long bet — one that has required both patience and deep investment. This latest experiment in measuring fermion parity is a tangible step forward, but it’s also a reminder of how methodical progress in quantum computing tends to be. Unlike some competitors racing toward near-term quantum advantage with superconducting or trapped-ion qubits, Microsoft continues to pursue multiple paths, including this topological route that promises long-term stability and intrinsic error resistance.

The single-shot interferometric measurement of fermion parity — essentially, this is a check to determine whether a system of fermions has an even or odd number — represents a crucial piece of the puzzle. If fully validated, it could establish a reliable foundation for Majorana-based quantum computing, potentially reducing the overhead required for error correction. However, the ambiguity surrounding whether the observed states are truly Majorana zero modes — or merely Andreev bound states — means that more experimental work is needed before Microsoft’s approach can be considered viable at scale.

Microsoft has laid out a structured roadmap, from single-qubit validation to multi-qubit error detection and, ultimately, to a scalable fault-tolerant architecture. Each of these steps will need to be rigorously demonstrated, and, trust us when we say the research community will need to be convinced.

What can be verified is the persistence of Microsoft’s quantum research team. Many companies would have abandoned such a long research arc, especially given the uncertainties in topological quantum computing. Instead, Microsoft continues to invest heavily, betting that its approach will ultimately prove more scalable and stable than other architectures. If that bet pays off, it could mark a turning point—not just for Microsoft, but for the entire field.

The road ahead remains challenging. And that’s part of the fun of changing the world.

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DATA SPOTLIGHT.

QuTech released updated versions of their cloud QPU's, namely, Spin-2+ and Starmon-7. Spin-2+ enables universal quantum logic through novel microwave control methods that simplify operations while maintaining 99.5%+ single-qubit and two-qubit gate fidelities. It also demonstrates coherent operations between spin qubits separated by 250 μm on the same chip, addressing scalability challenges. Starmon-7 expands on the 5-qubit Starmon-5 architecture with 7 transmon qubits in a star configuration, with 99.9% single-qubit gate fidelity (DRAG pulses), 97% two-qubit CZ gate fidelity, and 60 ns two-qubit gate duration. Both platforms are accessible through Quantum Inspire's cloud platform. While Spin-2+ focuses on long-term scalability through semiconductor compatibility, Starmon-7 provides immediate performance benefits for algorithm development with its higher qubit count and faster gates

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS.

💻️ QuTech researchers demonstrated progress in germanium-based quantum computing by successfully controlling a four-qubit system with eight quantum dots, achieving high single-qubit fidelities above 99.49% and demonstrating entanglement swapping between non-adjacent qubits with 75% fidelity.

✨ Infleqtion has demonstrated the UK's largest 16×16 neutral atom array as part of the SQALE project, working with partners like Riverlane and QinetiQ to advance toward the UK's goal of a 100+ qubit system by 2025, while focusing on improving quantum gate fidelity and real-world applications.

🤝 Telefónica España and the Government of Biscay have formed a partnership to advance quantum technology, featuring the installation of the first Fujitsu Digital Annealer outside Japan and providing access to multiple quantum platforms from providers like AWS and IBM, positioning Biscay as a significant quantum technology hub in Europe.

👨‍🌾 D-Wave and Staque have developed a quantum annealing application that optimizes autonomous agricultural vehicle routing, enabling more efficient farm operations through real-time decision-making for self-driving tractors and harvesters.

🚀 IonQ has developed a miniaturized ion trap vacuum package that enables room-temperature quantum systems without cryogenic cooling, reducing energy consumption and system complexity.

🤝 Phasecraft and Quantinuum have partnered to integrate Phasecraft’s compact encoding technology with Quantinuum’s high-fidelity System Model H2 quantum computer. The collaboration focuses on materials science simulations and optimizing quantum algorithms for real-world applications.

🔍️ Silicon Quantum Computing successfully executed Grover’s algorithm on a four-qubit silicon processor with 93.46% accuracy, reaching 98.87% of the ideal theoretical probability without error correction.

❌ The USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board overturned a rejection of a patent application from Zapata Computing, clearing legal hurdles for a hybrid quantum-classical method that helps solve linear equations. The ruling affirms that the approach provides a practical technological improvement rather than being a mere mathematical abstraction, setting a precedent for the patentability of hybrid quantum algorithms.

💼 IQT Nordics 2025, held May 20-22 in Gothenburg, Sweden, will bring together quantum researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers to discuss real-world applications in quantum computing, sensing, and communication.

EVENTS.

Feb. 25-27 -- The Quantum Innovation Summit returns for its second edition from February 25-27 at The H Hotel, with additional virtual participation via the QIS Event APP.

March 20 -- NVIDIA's GTC 2025 featuring the inaugural Quantum Day event.

March 25-27 -- Quantum Australia Conference will be held in Brisbane. The conference will explore the theme The Translation of Quantum – how current and future industries can leverage the power of quantum.

March 31-April 1 -- Qubits 2025, D-Wave’s annual user conference is themed “Quantum Realized” and will spotlight customer success stories, technical roadmap updates, scientific achievements, and advancements in quantum AI. The event takes place at the Phoenician Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona.

April 2-4 -- NQCC’s Scalability in Quantum Computing Conference from 2nd-4th April 2025 in Oxford, UK.

May 14-15 -- Q2B Tokyo 2025

May 20-22 -- Join us for the 3rd annual IQT Nordics, May 20-22, 2025 in Gothenburg, Sweden, and contribute to scaling quantum computers towards real world applications.

June 18-19 -- Quantum Now|ICI Quantique will be held in Montréal, Québec, Canada.

Dec. 1-4 -- QUEST-IS 2025 Quantum Engineering Sciences and Technologies for Industry and Services From Quantum Engineering to Applications for Citizens. EDF Lab, Paris-Saclay, France