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FROM THE EDITOR.

Just for fun — and also I’m weird — I went through the stories posted this week to get some sense of where the companies, universities and organizations featured in our stories are based.

U.S. UK and Canada, of course. But also Panama, China, France, Germany, India, the Netherlands, Japan, Korea, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden — and I could go on. This list does not include organizations that have remote workers spread out over the globe. Beyond global occupational connections, many of these stories are concerned with organizations that are establishing regional and worldwide collaborations.

The point is that we often hear of the quantum industry in terms of a competition among countries, but that may be a generalization that merely works because it fits today’s narrative. But tomorrow’s narrative might not follow this pattern. Because of the complexity of quantum science, it likely will not follow the nation/state-as-competitor plot line.

More likely, as this completely anecdotal study of mine suggests, global connections will outline national competitions and lead to deeper collaborations. If so, quantum is well-represented in what might be humankind’s most extensive research project: pulling quantum technology from textbooks and labs and bringing them in today’s homes and businesses.

Have a great weekend!

— Matt, Chief Content Officer at The Quantum Insider

INSIDER BRIEF.

• Panama Connects Quantum With Education

• What’s Quantum Biology?

• Quantum on Stage

• Nordic Alignment 

• AIST and Quantum Delta NL Sign MoU

• Quandela, BTQ Collaboration

• IonQ-KISTI’s Quantum-HPC Integration

• Fewer Qubits, Better Error Correction

• How Public Science Shaped Quantum

ANALYST NOTES.

The Noteworthy & Nuanced

Toning down the non-stop spotlight on quantum computing for this week. Quantum eMotion has finalized and validated its first-generation QRNG chip using quantum tunneling. Not only that, it’s already submitted to TSMC for fabrication! Using 65-nm CMOS technology, the chip incorporates components developed by ÉTS Montréal and Université de Sherbrooke and is capable of generating over 1 Gbit/sec of quantum randomness.

On the more theoretical side of QRNG, researchers at KAUST and KACST have developed the world’s fastest quantum random number generator, surpassing international NIST benchmarks for unpredictability and speed. The device employs micro-LEDs and quantum effects to produce randomness while its compact, energy-efficient design aligns with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambitions to lead in advanced technology.

And what’s a more perfect application for randomness than PQC. The Post-Quantum Cryptography Coalition (PQCC) has published a strategic roadmap to help organizations transition to quantum-resistant cryptography. Built on NIST standards and industry collaboration, the guide outlines a four-stage process: preparation, asset assessment, implementation of quantum-safe tools, and continuous evaluation. Designed for CIOs and CISOs, the roadmap supports proactive defense planning in anticipation of quantum computing threats. — Alan Kanapin, Analyst at The Quantum Insider

The Research Rundown

This week’s use cases highlight a growing theme: efficiency—not just in speed, but in how we handle complexity, resources, and scalability. From energy grids to language models to brain-computer interfaces, quantum methods are beginning to show that they can do more with less, especially when classical approaches hit computational ceilings.

In energy systems, for instance, researchers demonstrated that quantum and quantum-inspired annealers can optimize renewable-integrated power grids in real time, which is a task that often bogs down classical solvers due to nonlinearity and dimensionality. Here, efficiency is defined as decision-making under pressure, in systems that fluctuate moment to moment. If quantum annealing can help stabilize a grid before the lights flicker, that’s a compelling value proposition, especially as renewables scale.

In machine learning, a QD-LLM paper proposes a quantum student model trained via knowledge distillation from a classical LLM. The result is a neural network that's orders of magnitude smaller but maintains strong classification performance. While simulated for now, it shows where quantum models could bring LLM-level intelligence to edge devices, sidestepping energy costs and hardware constraints.

But the real question we should start asking is how do we measure quantum efficiency in context? A quantum model may be faster or smaller, but if the cost of running it on quantum hardware outweighs the classical baseline, where's the inflection point? The answer likely depends on the domain. For brain-computer interfaces, as in the QSVM-QNN hybrid model, where real-time signal decoding is critical, even marginal quantum gains in accuracy could justify the overhead. In other areas, efficiency may only become meaningful when hardware matures. What we’re seeing now is a refining of what “efficient” means and how to measure it. — Cierra Choucair, Journalist & Analyst at The Quantum Insider

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INSIDER SPOTLIGHT: IBM, Lockheed Martin Team Reports Quantum Simulation is Closing Gap Between Theory and Experiment in Modeling Methylene

➡️ IBM and Lockheed Martin have used a 52-qubit quantum processor to simulate the singlet and triplet states of the methylene (CH₂) molecule, marking the first successful application of sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) to an open-shell system.

➡️ Their hybrid quantum-classical method closely matched experimental and classical benchmarks, with a singlet-triplet energy gap of 19 milli-Hartree — nearer to the experimental value of 14 mHa than many traditional methods.

➡️ The ability to model open-shell systems could aid aerospace, defense, and materials sectors where radicals like methylene play a role in combustion, sensing, and high-performance chemistry.

➡️ While limitations remain, particularly in modeling high-correlation states, the study signals growing utility in quantum chemistry and strengthens the case for near-term advantage in hybrid simulatio

Analyst Commentary

IBM and Lockheed Martin’s latest quantum chemistry experiment may not dominate headlines — but it adds to the growing amount of evidence that we are nearing a turning point in the race toward practical quantum computing.

In a field often defined by simulations of "toy models," this study steps into more stubborn terrain: open-shell molecules. These are systems with unpaired electrons and complex interactions that typically defy classical shortcuts. Methylene — small, reactive, and highly relevant to both combustion and astrochemistry — fits that bill. By using a 52-qubit processor to simulate its electronic states with surprising accuracy, the IBM–Lockheed team just proved that quantum hardware is inching closer to useful application.

The method at the center of this study — sample-based quantum diagonalization — is designed for today’s imperfect machines. It captures the wavefunction of a molecule not by brute force but through smart sampling of bitstrings and hybrid processing. In doing so, we could say it bridges quantum and classical strengths — a necessary move in the NISQ era.

What makes this study stand out is the problem selection. Methylene may be basic in structure, but it’s complex in computation. That matters because its behavior underlies scenarios from rocket plume dynamics to transient material behavior in hypersonics and sensors. In other words, there are applications for this work right now.Accurate simulations could feed into safer propulsion models, cleaner combustion diagnostics and even chemical detection systems with better predictive power. Looking further ahead, the same quantum tools could eventually extend to transition metals, radiation shielding materials, or what’s called energetic reaction intermediates that are relevant to defense.

Zooming out… The study also reflects the maturity of the field. Quantum computing isn’t just the domain of startups and academic labs anymore. When two giants like IBM and Lockheed Martin align behind a real-world problem, it suggests growing confidence that today’s systems — not just future fault-tolerant machines — can begin delivering value.

Still, caveats remain. The method struggled with accuracy as the system moved into higher-correlation territory, a reminder that noisy quantum hardware still leans heavily on smart algorithms and error mitigation to stay on track. The researchers point to ways forward, including improving the diversity of spin-state samples and refining post-processing routines.

But even with limitations, this is progress. The singlet-triplet energy gap result — just 5 milli-Hartree off from experimental data — beats many classical shortcuts and hints that quantum methods may be better attuned to physical reality in some edge cases. That’s not supremacy. It’s utility. And in a field looking to graduate from feasibility demos to industrial relevance, that distinction is critical.

The real test, as always, will be whether similar methods can scale to systems that matter in business and engineering — not just chemistry. But if they can, quantum won’t just simulate molecules. It will start shaping the materials, fuels, and sensors we build next.

In that sense, IBM and Lockheed Martin aren’t just proving what’s possible in the lab. They’re laying the groundwork for what’s next in industry.

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.

🇮🇳 India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation has inaugurated a new Quantum Technology Research Centre in Delhi to advance indigenous quantum technologies for defense, including secure communications, sensing, and post-quantum cryptography.

🇸🇦 Researchers from KAUST and KACST have developed the world’s fastest quantum random number generator, using micro-LEDs and quantum principles to generate truly unpredictable numbers at record speeds.

🪙 BTQ Technologies and Quandela have signed an MOU to evaluate BTQ’s Quantum Sampling Proof-of-Work, a quantum-secure and energy-efficient blockchain validation method, using Quandela’s photonic quantum computing platform.

🇵🇦 Panama has installed its first quantum computer, a two-qubit SpinQ Gemini Mini Pro, through a partnership between TR Consultores and SpinQ Technology, to advance quantum education and local capacity building.

⚠️ The U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency’s 2025 threat assessment warns that quantum technologies, particularly sensing and communications, are approaching military readiness, with China and Russia expanding real-world capabilities that could undermine U.S. strategic advantages. While quantum computing remains longer-term, the report urges integration of quantum readiness into defense planning.

♾️ Japan’s AIST and the Netherlands’ Quantum Delta NL have partnered to jointly advance the societal deployment of quantum technologies through research collaboration, talent exchange, and field lab development.

🤝 The Nordic countries have issued a joint declaration to coordinate quantum technology development across education, regulation, funding, infrastructure, and security, aiming to reduce fragmentation and accelerate innovation through regional alignment.

🇰🇷 IonQ and South Korea’s KISTI have signed an MoU to integrate quantum systems with high-performance computing infrastructure, advancing hybrid research capabilities and supporting South Korea’s national quantum strategy.

🖥️ Quantum eMotion has completed and validated its first-generation quantum random number generator chip based on quantum tunneling, now submitted to TSMC for fabrication using 65-nm CMOS technology.

🤖 Sygaldry Technologies, founded by quantum veterans Chad Rigetti and Idalia Friedson, is developing hybrid quantum-accelerated AI servers to tackle AI’s rising energy and compute demands.

🇨🇦 LexRock AI and PINQ² have partnered to build a sovereign, secure, and sustainable digital ecosystem for Canadian businesses, centered on responsible AI and cloud infrastructure.

🔬 Oxford researchers have developed a scanning technique, Andreev STM, to identify intrinsic topological superconductors—materials key to building stable, fault-tolerant quantum computers. Using this method, they confirmed uranium ditelluride (UTe₂) as a topological superconductor.

🧊 Nord Quantique has demonstrated a multimode bosonic qubit system using the Tesseract code, enabling robust quantum error correction without increasing physical qubit count.

🖥️ QuEra Computing has installed its first quantum computer outside its labs at Japan’s AIST, supporting the new G-QuAT quantum-AI research center and marking a major step in Japan’s national quantum strategy.

🗺️ The Post-Quantum Cryptography Coalition has released a detailed migration roadmap to help organizations prepare for quantum-era cybersecurity threats. Built on NIST standards and industry input, the guide outlines steps for identifying vulnerabilities, transitioning to quantum-safe solutions, and maintaining strong cryptographic defenses.

🏅 Q-CTRL has set new records in quantum performance by demonstrating high-fidelity long-range CNOT gates and a 75-qubit GHZ state using a resource-efficient combination of error suppression and error detection, without full logical encoding.

🇪🇺 VanEck has launched Europe’s first quantum computing ETF, offering early-stage exposure to 30 companies across quantum hardware, software, and IP leadership.

EVENTS.

Jun 2-30 Jul -- Womanium & WISER QUANTUM PROGRAM 2025. The 2025 Theme: Quantum solvers: algorithms for the world's hardest problems will be held Mondays & Wednesdays from 10:30 -12:00 ET. Register here.

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. Where strategic leaders secure their quantum future!

Aug. 31– Sept. 5 -- IEEE Quantum Week 2025 will be held in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

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.

Sept. 24-25 -- 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.

Oct. 13-17 -- Quantum Reference Frames 2025 will bring together leading experts on quantum reference frames and the many related subjects in the first focused event in the new era of quantum frame covariance. QRF 2025 is co-funded by the Quantum Information Structure of Spacetime consortium.

Oct. 19-21 -- Q+AI will be held in New York City. Uncovering the coming wave of Quantum + AI, including 50+ speakers, daily mentoring sessions and 16 sessions, one continuous track.

Nov. 10-12 -- European Quantum Technologies Conference 2025 will be held at Øksnehallen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

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