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FROM THE EDITOR.

This week, the U.S. quantum ecosystem delivered a coordinated message — not in headlines or press releases, but in formal testimony before Congress. Celia Merzbacher, Charina Chou, Pete Shadbolt, and Charles Tahan offered focused, substantive remarks to the House Science Committee as lawmakers reviewed the case for reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative.

It’s difficult to find another emerging technology field that draws this level of bipartisan attention, technical depth, and strategic alignment. The hearing struck a deliberate balance: acknowledging the scale and complexity of what lies ahead, while emphasizing the progress already made in building a competitive and collaborative national quantum infrastructure.

This moment marks a clear transition. The language of discovery is giving way to the language of delivery. Discussions are no longer centered on basic science alone, but on procurement pathways, workforce pipelines, and supply chain resilience. These are the signs of a sector moving from experimental to operational.

Elsewhere in the ecosystem, companies continued to make significant moves. IonQ announced its intent to acquire two firms — Lightsynq, a quantum networking startup with roots at Harvard, and Capella Space, a satellite imaging company. They are even talking about putting a quantum computer in space.

These deals suggest a broader strategy to integrate computing and sensing capabilities across domains.

Cisco, meanwhile, revealed its first quantum networking chip, designed to facilitate distributed entanglement between quantum systems. While early, the work reflects a growing corporate focus on the infrastructure layer needed to scale quantum applications over networks — a step toward what some are calling the “quantum internet.”

Have a great weekend!

— Matt, Chief Content Officer at The Quantum Insider

INSIDER BRIEF.

• Microsoft Backs U.S. Quantum Investment

• Qubits For Peace

• SEALSQ Direct Offering Price at $20 Million

• Oxford Ionic’s Roadmap

• Is Quantum Tech aLong Bet?

• Quantum Biology: Quantum Forces Shape Proton Transfer

• IonQ Flexes

• IonQ Acquires Lightsynq and Capella Space

• Xanadu, Applied Materials Collab

ANALYST NOTES.

The Noteworthy & Nuanced

In our allegorical quantum cave, everyone is aware of the promise, potential, and dangers of quantum computing. What about the real world outside? According to the latest global Quantum Computing Pulse Poll from ISACA, only 5% of respondents claim that quantum computing is a high priority for near-term planning. The poll further breaks down awareness for multiple categories, such as the post-quantum cryptography standards promoted by NIST. Only 7 percent of professionals report strong familiarity with them, while 44 percent have never heard of them!

Back to our cave (or should I say, Matrix), a recent study suggests that gravity may be an optimization process in the “computer” of our Universe. Rather than treating gravity as a fundamental force, Dr. Mopson from the University of Portsmouth derives Newton’s law of gravity from information theory, mirroring optimization routines seen in quantum computation. This framework suggests new ways for using quantum computers to study gravity and deepen our fundamental understanding of the Universe.

And just so that you don’t leave this week thinking practical quantum computing is still far off, it is now being used to create music! A British technology company has released the first commercially available music track created using quantum-powered generative AI. The track, titled RECURSE, was produced by MOTH in collaboration with electronic artist ILĀ using the Archaeo platform, which blends generative AI with quantum circuits. — Alan Kanapin, Analyst at The Quantum Insider

The Research Rundown

This week, The Quantum Insider and HorizonX Consulting launched the Life Sciences edition of the Quantum Innovation Index, a scorecard ranking more than 30 global pharmaceutical, chemical, and healthcare institutions on their quantum capabilities. It’s a formal acknowledgment that quantum is no longer experimental vapor; it’s being operationalized in the places that keep us alive.

To understand what set these companies apart on the Index, I took a closer look at the quantum research driving their position. Boehringer Ingelheim, the Index’s top performer, co-authored a simulation method with PsiQuantum for modeling cytochrome P450, an essential enzyme in how our bodies break down medication.

Cleveland Clinic, tied for second, applied IBM’s quantum systems to model the Zika virus’ catalytic loop, identifying which kinds of folding problems quantum might best solve. Merck and partners including QuEra and Amgen explored quantum reservoir computing for drug activity prediction. Unlike deep learning, this method performs even when you only have hundreds of data points, not millions.

What these stories collectively tell us is this: the quantum shift in life sciences is not one project, one device, or one development. It’s an ensemble. It’s modeling molecules, yes—but also predicting protein paths, decoding immune triggers, and spotting retinal lesions in grayscale. It’s quantum beginning to wrap around the contours of biology, not by replacing what we have, but by reaching where classical can’t. — Cierra Choucair, Journalist & Analyst at The Quantum Insider

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INSIDER SPOTLIGHT: U.S. Quantum Industry Leaders Press Congress to Expand Support

➡️ At a May 7 House Science Committee hearing, leaders from Google, PsiQuantum, Microsoft, and QED-C called for reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative, originally passed in 2018, to maintain U.S. competitiveness.

➡️ Witnesses emphasized the need for the federal government to go beyond R&D grants — acting instead as a strategic buyer, infrastructure partner, and workforce builder for domestic quantum ecosystems.

➡️ Panelists said future progress depends on scaling hardware, building fabrication facilities, and securing supply chains — warning that delays could force the U.S. to reshore quantum manufacturing later at higher cost.

➡️ Committee members expressed bipartisan support but flagged funding constraints, while industry leaders urged early investment to prevent adversaries from gaining the upper hand in encryption, sensing, and computing.

➡️ Companies showcased new quantum chips and manufacturing milestones, but warned that without reauthorization, U.S. leadership could erode in the face of aggressive moves by China, the UK, and other nations.

Analyst Commentary

Listening into the conference, there was a palpable feeling that this session was more than a pulse check on U.S. quantum policy. While the original National Quantum Initiative created a foundation, the message from both industry and lawmakers is that the next chapter will require more assertive federal action.

Leaders like Google, Microsoft and PsiQuantum are already building chips and planning facilities. It’s happening. But the infrastructure — from talent pipelines to cleanroom fabs — isn’t keeping pace.

The hearing also clarified an emerging theme: that public funding needs to be smarter, not just bigger. Several witnesses called for tools like advance market commitments and expanded SBIR support to help startups cross the chasm from lab work to commercial delivery. That’s especially critical for companies building large-scale systems, where timelines are long and capital requirements are steep.

China’s satellite milestones and growing investments added urgency to the discussion. And while the U.S. still leads on patents and venture capital, witnesses made clear that position isn’t guaranteed. Much of what gives the U.S. an edge — international talent, academic research, open innovation — depends on stable and sustained support.

So, overall, the hearing was a success, in that, it delivered a clear message: quantum remains a national priority with broad, bipartisan support. Both lawmakers and industry leaders voiced alignment on the need to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative — not just to sustain current momentum, but to prepare the U.S. for the next stage of development.

In an era where bipartisanship has become a rarity, the tone of cooperation and respect was welcomed. Rather than disagreement, the session focused on how best to move forward — whether through expanded R&D, early-stage commercialization tools, or scaling up domestic infrastructure. There was shared recognition that success will require coordination across sectors and a sustained federal role.

Equally important was the subtle, but consistent, acknowledgment of quantum’s global nature. While the hearing centered on American competitiveness, several speakers emphasized the international talent pipeline and the importance of open scientific exchange. The implication was that strong national programs can complement — not contradict — global collaboration.

In that sense, the path ahead may not be about choosing between national and international priorities. Instead, the opportunity lies in building robust domestic ecosystems that can partner confidently on the world stage. The committee’s support for reauthorization reflects that ambition — and signals that quantum remains a space where the U.S. intends to lead, with openness and intent.

We hope they get it done.

DATA SPOTLIGHT.

Quantinuum has achieved a major milestone in quantum computing, becoming the first commercial system to reach a 2-qubit gate fidelity of 99.914(3)%, surpassing the “three nines” threshold of 99.9% fidelity. Additionally, its Quantum Volume—a key performance benchmark—has reached 1,048,576 (2²⁰), setting a new high in the industry and significantly outpacing competitors. These advances place Quantinuum at the forefront of scalable, high-fidelity quantum computing technology. Will the company also be the first to breach the “four nines” (99.99%)? That remains to be seen.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS.

🤝 Xanadu and Applied Materials are co-developing the first 300 mm fabrication process for superconducting transition edge sensors to build toward scalable photonic quantum computing.

🖥️ Qoro Quantum and CESGA successfully demonstrated distributed quantum circuit simulations using high-performance computing infrastructure, running VQE and QAOA workloads across 10 nodes with minimal code and high throughput.

💭 Google Quantum AI researchers say building a fault-tolerant quantum computer with superconducting qubits is possible, but only through major advances in materials, fabrication, and large-scale integration.

💰️ SEALSQ has announced a $20 million direct offering to institutional investors, with proceeds earmarked for its Quantix EdgeS joint venture, the acquisition of IC ALPS, and development of post-quantum semiconductor and ASIC technologies in the U.S.

🔗 QphoX, Rigetti, and the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre have received a multinational grant to scale optical readout of superconducting qubits via fiber-optic links.

🌐 IonQ has acquired a controlling stake in ID Quantique, adding quantum key distribution, random number generation, and single-photon detection to its portfolio.

🇨🇳 Origin Quantum has launched Tianji 4.0, a fourth-generation quantum control system designed to support over 500 qubits and enable scalable, standardized quantum computing in China.

🆕 Cisco has released a prototype quantum entanglement chip and opened a dedicated quantum lab, marking its formal entry into quantum networking infrastructure.

🤖 ParTec AG and ORCA Computing have partnered to deliver quantum-accelerated AI and HPC infrastructure, integrating ORCA’s room-temperature photonic systems into enterprise-ready AI Factories and European supercomputers.

🛰️ IonQ has announced plans to launch a global satellite-based quantum key distribution network, following its acquisition of Capella Space and expanding its footprint in secure quantum communications.

💡 IonQ has announced its intent to acquire Lightsynq Technologies, a startup specializing in photonic interconnects and quantum memory, to accelerate the development of data-center-scale quantum computers and the quantum internet.

💵 IonQ reported $7.6M in Q1 revenue and nearly $700M in cash, using its strong financial position to accelerate acquisitions—including Lightsynq and Capella—and expand globally across quantum computing and networking.

🪨 Q-CTRL, in partnership with QuantWare and TreQ, has launched Boulder Opal Scale Up, the first autonomous calibration software for quantum processors, enabling plug-and-play startup and dramatically reducing tuning time.

🌙 Maybell Quantum has secured a long-term supply of helium-3 from Interlune, making it the first commercial agreement for the lunar resource startup and ensuring cryogenic scalability for future quantum computing systems.

🤠 The Texas House has passed a bill to establish the Texas Quantum Initiative, intending to make the state a national leader in quantum technology by developing a statewide strategy, funding ecosystem, and workforce pipeline.

🥼 Alice & Bob is building a $50 million quantum lab in Paris to accelerate the commercialization of its cat qubit-based processors, with plans to host a 100-logical-qubit system by 2030. .

💸 D-Wave reported record Q1 2025 revenue of $15 million, up 509% year-over-year, driven by its first Advantage™ system sale and growing commercial adoption in manufacturing, pharma, and defense.

🇮🇪 Equal1 and CeADAR have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to build out Ireland’s national quantum-AI infrastructure, intending to accelerate adoption in both business and academia.

🇺🇸 A bipartisan group in the U.S. House has introduced the Quantum Sandbox for Near-Term Applications Act, a bill that would create public-private testbeds to accelerate the development of practical quantum and hybrid applications.

❄️ Linde Engineering will build a large-scale cryogenic cooling plant in Brisbane to support PsiQuantum’s utility-scale quantum computer.

EVENTS.

May 13-14 -- The Economist Impact's 4th Annual Commercialising Quantum Global 2025 at London UK. Be among 1000+ leading quantum professionals, global leaders, policy makers, business executives and more to attend this in-person event in London.

May 14-15 -- Q2B Tokyo 2025 The conference will cover a broad range of quantum technology themes including QC Computing, Communications & Sensing, Quantum AI, Error Correction, & Quantum in HPC.

May 16 -- Future Leaders in Quantum Hackathon The virtual hackathon invites students, researchers, creatives, and early-career professionals to develop real-world quantum solutions across science, education, art, and innovation tracks.

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.

May 26 -- Grand Opening: QAI Ventures Accelerator Batch III Switzerland. Join us at uptownBasel to celebrate the launch of our third startup cohort and kick off the QAI Ventures Accelerator in true QAI style: Come for the vision. Stay for the rooftop vibes.

June 9-12 -- Adiabatic Quantum Computing (AQC) 2025 Conference will be held at the campus of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada from June 9-12, 2025. The AQC conference series, now in its 14th year, is an annual international gathering of researchers working on diverse aspects of quantum computing.

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

Sept. 16-18 -- Quantum World Congress 2025 will be held at Capital One Hall in Greater Washington. The event is a chance for the world’s quantum ecosystem comes together to bring a quantum-ready future into focus.

September 24-25, 2025 -- Q2B25 Paris at Cité des Sciences et de l’Industrie, Paris, France.

Sept. 29-Oct. 1 -- Quantum.Tech Europe is taking place in Rotterdam, Netherlands. The event will bring together the whole quantum supply chain to drive forward the commercial applications of Quantum Technologies.

Oct. 8 -- The Fifth Anniversary of The City Quantum & AI Summit at the Mansion House in the City of London takes place this year with the subtitle Race for Growth.

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