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FROM THE EDITOR.

Some weeks in quantum feel incremental. But if you’re perceptive you can see that even these quiet weeks offer signs about where the industry is headed.

This week delivered a couple of those signals.

On the research front, a new study posted on arXiv reports that researchers at Quantinuum demonstrated quantum computations involving up to 94 logical qubits on a trapped-ion processor. Logical qubits are error-protected units of quantum information — widely seen as one of the key ingredients for practical quantum machines.

The notable detail: the team reported “beyond break-even” performance, meaning that the error-correction scheme improved the accuracy of the computation rather than degrading it. For a field long defined by fragile hardware and accumulating noise, that is a meaningful milestone.

Meanwhile, on the industrial side of the sector, Xanadu Quantum Technologies announced negotiations with the governments of Canada and Ontario to support Project OPTIMISM, an initiative aimed at building advanced semiconductor and photonic manufacturing capabilities for the quantum supply chain.

If finalized, the project could involve up to CAD $390 million in combined government support.

That kind of investment reflects a broader shift now taking shape. Governments are beginning to treat quantum manufacturing not simply as an academic pursuit, but as strategic infrastructure — part of the emerging deep-tech supply chain.

Taken together, the developments illustrate a pattern that has been quietly defining the sector for the past few years: progress is happening simultaneously in the laboratory and in the industrial ecosystem.

Stronger hardware.
Stronger supply chains.

And if recent momentum is any guide, the next few weeks may bring even more to talk about.

Have a great weekend.

— Matt, Chief Content Officer at The Quantum Insider

INSIDER BRIEF. 

• Scientists Propose Quantum Computers Generate Data to Train AI For Chemistry

• New Method Could Simplify Quantum Process Tomography in Large Quantum Systems

• Understanding Quantum Networking and It’s Industrial Potential

• Serendipity Capital Reports Group Valuation Hits $1.25 Billion, Eyes Next Phase of Growth

• IBM Works With Signal and Threema on Quantum-Safe Messaging Research

• Vanderbilt to Convene National Leaders for Quantum Forum in Nashville This April

• A Laser on a Chip Can Sketch The Mona Lisa — And Could Power Future LiDAR And Quantum Devices

• Durham University to Lead UK Quantum Simulation Research Program

• IBM Releases a New Blueprint for Quantum-Centric Supercomputing

• Riverlane Publishes Quantum Error Correction Roadmap to Speed Utility-Scale Quantum by 3–5 Years

The Noteworthy & Nuanced

The Special Competitive Studies Project has launched the Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy, a bipartisan group tasked with shaping a national strategy to preserve U.S. leadership in quantum technologies. The 14-member commission includes representatives from Congress, national laboratories, academia, and companies such as IonQ, IBM, and Google Quantum AI. Its work will focus on strengthening the domestic quantum industrial base, advancing secure quantum-enabled systems and algorithms, and integrating quantum and classical technologies.

Switzerland has released a national quantum strategy aimed at maintaining its global leadership in quantum technologies by improving coordination among research institutions, industry, and government. The plan proposes investments of 200-300 million CHF, the creation of a national quantum hub, and expanded infrastructure such as cleanrooms and specialized facilities for sensing, communication, and simulation. While Switzerland hosts more than 200 research groups in quantum science, the strategy emphasizes the need to translate academic strength into startups, commercial technologies, and private investment.

The RIKEN Center for Computational Science and Singapore’s National Quantum Computing Hub have signed a three-year memorandum of understanding to collaborate on hybrid quantum–HPC systems and applications. The partnership will focus on developing middleware and system software to integrate quantum and classical computing platforms, with shared access to resources including Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer. The agreement builds on a broader Japan–Singapore government partnership. — Alan Kanapin, Analyst at The Quantum Insider

The Research Rundown

Check out this week’s handpicked quantum research. These are studies headed for real-world impact: improving accuracy, reducing latency, using fewer resources, or solving problems that classical methods struggle with. These are early developments, but they hint at where quantum might earn its keep.

• Researchers from North Carolina State University demonstrate a hybrid quantum–classical method using VQE and quantum equation-of-motion techniques to predict electronic circular dichroism spectra of clinically relevant chiral drugs.

• Researchers from Riphah International University developed a hybrid quantum–classical neural network for crop disease classification, combining convolutional layers with a small quantum circuit to process image features.

• Researchers from KIIT University introduce a hybrid quantum–classical framework for Parkinson’s disease prediction that encodes speech, gait, and EEG features into variational quantum circuits before classification.
  
  — Cierra Choucair, Journalist & Analyst at The Quantum Insider

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INSIDER SPOTLIGHT: Quantinuum Researchers Demonstrate Quantum Computations With Dozens of Protected Logical Qubits

➡️ Quantinuum researchers report experiments with up to 94 logical qubits — qubits protected by error-detection codes — on a trapped-ion quantum processor, marking one of the largest demonstrations of error-protected quantum computation to date.

➡️ The study shows “beyond break-even” performance, meaning that encoded logical qubits produced more accurate computations than running the same operations directly on the underlying physical hardware.

➡️ The team used a compact error-protection scheme called iceberg codes, which allow many logical qubits to be protected using only a small number of additional physical qubits.

➡️ The results suggest modern quantum hardware may be approaching a stage where logical qubits — rather than raw physical qubits — begin to define the scale and capability of quantum computers.

Analyst Commentary

From fragile qubits to reliable computation. Not more qubits. Better qubits.

That’s where we’re headed — and that’s where this week’s spotlight is focused on.

Researchers in the field have long understood that raw qubit counts tell only part of the story. The real goal is not simply to build more qubits, but to build logical qubits — error-protected units of quantum information capable of performing reliable computation.

This week’s results from Quantinuum provide a glimpse of what that transition might look like.

In experiments conducted on the company’s Helios trapped-ion quantum processor, researchers demonstrated quantum calculations involving up to 94 logical qubits created using error-detection codes and up to 48 logical qubits protected with full error-correction techniques.

The significance of the work lies less in the raw numbers than in a milestone known as “break-even.”

Quantum error correction adds overhead. Protecting qubits requires extra operations and additional hardware, which themselves can introduce new errors. For years, many early experiments with quantum error correction produced the ironic outcome of making computations less accurate rather than more accurate.

The new study suggests that threshold has begun to shift, or, perhaps “lift”.

According to the researchers, encoded logical operations on the system produced lower error rates than the physical hardware performing them. In other words, the protective layer of quantum coding improved the accuracy of the computation rather than degrading it.

Why does this matter? Quantum computers derive their power from qubits — quantum bits that can exist in superpositions of states and become entangled with one another.

But these quantum states are extremely delicate. Small disturbances from the surrounding environment, anything from stray electromagnetic fields to imperfect hardware operations can introduce errors that accumulate quickly during a calculation.

Unlike classical bits, which can often tolerate occasional errors without catastrophic consequences, quantum computations require extremely precise operations across many qubits simultaneously.

This is where logical qubits come in.

Rather than storing information in a single physical qubit, quantum error-correction schemes distribute the information of a logical qubit across multiple physical qubits. If some of those qubits experience errors, the system can detect and sometimes correct the mistake without destroying the underlying quantum information.

In principle, the scientists say this means sufficiently robust logical qubits could allow quantum computers to run long, complex algorithms reliably — something today’s machines struggle to do.

But achieving that goal requires balancing protection with practicality.

The Iceberg Approach

In this study, the researchers used a family of error-correction methods known as iceberg codes.

While most scientific nicknames for processes tend to baffle the non-technical, this one is right on target. Just like the mass of ice in an iceberg lies below the waterline, the large set of logical qubits sits beneath a small error-checking layer.

Traditional quantum error-correction codes can require dozens or even hundreds of physical qubits to protect a single logical qubit. Iceberg codes take a different approach, protecting many logical qubits using only a small number of additional qubits that monitor the system for errors.

In its simplest form, the method can monitor a large block of qubits using just two extra qubits dedicated to error detection.

The researchers also used a technique called concatenation — stacking multiple error-correction codes on top of one another — to increase the system’s ability to detect and correct errors.

Using these methods, the team reported several benchmarks suggesting the encoded system outperformed the underlying hardware.

Logical gate operations showed error rates on the order of one error per ten thousand operations, lower than the error rates of the physical gates used to implement them.

The researchers also created large entangled states involving up to 94 logical qubits with fidelities of roughly 95%.

And in a quantum simulation experiment modeling magnetic materials, the encoded circuits reduced effective error rates by roughly 30% compared with unprotected calculations.

In practical terms, the results suggest that logical quantum computation may be beginning to scale beyond small laboratory demonstrations.

Still early days

Despite the progress, the work does not yet represent fully fault-tolerant quantum computing. There are still lots of work left.

Having said that, the direction of travel appears increasingly clear.

As hardware improves and error-correction methods mature, logical qubits are likely to become the primary metric for evaluating quantum computers — much as clock speed eventually gave way to core counts and specialized architectures in classical computing.

This advance — and others — point toward a future in which quantum computers are defined less by experimental demonstrations and more by reliable logical computation.

The transition from physical qubits to logical qubits may ultimately represent the moment when quantum computing begins to resemble a practical computing technology rather than a delicate laboratory instrument.

And if this week’s results are any indication, the move is underway.

DATA SPOTLIGHT.

PacketLight Networks and NEC demonstrated quantum key distribution over a 400G dense wavelength division multiplexing (DWDM) network using a dual-fiber setup. They integrated NEC’s QKD system with PacketLight’s PL-4000M 600G Muxponder, achieving 100% data throughput and low latency, verified via a 100GbE tester. The QKD ran over a dedicated parallel fiber, maintaining quantum signal integrity. The result: a cost-effective, scalable quantum-safe model with zero performance tradeoffs on existing high-capacity infrastructure.

INDUSTRY HIGHLIGHTS.

📚️ QURECA, EdenBase, and QCentroid have partnered to deliver executive-level quantum training through the QBase ecosystem in London. The program will offer a four-hour in-person workshop for senior decision-makers, combining strategic education with hands-on exercises.

📰 DARPA has opened a new Stage A solicitation under its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative to invite additional organizations with novel architectures to demonstrate pathways toward utility-scale quantum computers by 2033. Selected participants will undergo a six-month evaluation to present system designs and feasibility evidence.

🛡️ IonQ and Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) are collaborating on the SEQCURE program to study how Zero Trust security principles could be applied to future quantum computing systems. Sponsored by the U.S. Air Force Concepts, Development, and Management Office, the initiative will analyze current quantum security practices.

🔋 Xanadu Quantum Technologies has received about $2 million in funding from Advanced Research Projects Agency‑Energy to develop quantum algorithms for simulating defect formation in battery materials under the QC3 program. Working with the University of Chicago, the project aims to significantly improve simulation efficiency.

💼 IonQ and the University of Cambridge are establishing the IonQ Quantum Innovation Centre to accelerate commercialization of quantum research and workforce development in the UK. The initiative will deploy IonQ’s 256-qubit system on campus and provide cloud access to support research across quantum computing, networking, sensing, security, and applications.

🖥️ IQM Quantum Computers has deployed its fourth on-premises 20-qubit quantum computer, Aalto Q20, at Aalto University in Finland to support research, quantum engineering education, and integration with the LUMI pre-exascale supercomputer.

🇨🇦 Xanadu Quantum Technologies is negotiating with the governments of Canada and Ontario for up to $390 million in support for Project OPTIMISM, an initiative to build domestic photonic and semiconductor manufacturing capabilities for the quantum technology supply chain. If finalized, the project would support large-scale photonic quantum systems.

👩‍💻 Xanadu Quantum Technologies and Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) have launched a two-year research collaboration to develop software tools for fault-tolerant quantum computing, focusing on improved resource estimation in the PennyLane library and Catalyst compiler.

🔗 QphoX has launched a quantum transducer that converts quantum states between microwave and optical signals, enabling microwave-based qubits to communicate over optical fiber networks for long-distance quantum information transfer. IBM will be the first partner to test the device using its Quantum Networking Unit hardware to explore distributed quantum computing architectures.

🇸🇬 Quantinuum has opened a new R&D and Operations Centre in Singapore and plans to deploy its Helios quantum computer there later this year to support collaboration with local researchers and industry.

❌ Riverlane has released a roadmap showing how advances in quantum error correction could bring utility-scale quantum computing 3–5 years sooner by enabling real-time correction of billions of errors. The plan outlines milestones from MegaQuOp to TeraQuOp systems and centers on Riverlane’s Deltaflow QEC system and Deltakit SDK.

🤖 Qrypt has integrated its BLAST encryption protocol and quantum-entropy key generation with the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform, enabling quantum-secure encryption for devices such as Jetson Orin Nano and Jetson Thor used in robotics and autonomous systems.

✨ IBM has released the industry’s first quantum-centric supercomputing reference architecture, outlining how quantum processors can be integrated with classical HPC systems to support hybrid workflows for complex scientific problems.

🧊 Maybell Quantum has introduced ColdCloud, a modular cryogenic cooling architecture designed to support scalable quantum computing infrastructure by centralizing cooling and distributing it to nodes operating below 10 millikelvin. The system aims to improve efficiency, reliability, and scalability compared with traditional dilution refrigerators.

🗾 PsiQuantum and the National Cancer Center Japan have launched a research collaboration to explore how utility-scale quantum computing could support oncology and healthcare, including drug discovery and cancer research. The project will focus on developing fault-tolerant quantum algorithms and evaluating clinical applications using PsiQuantum’s Construct software platform.

🔒️ SEALSQ and Parrot have expanded their partnership to integrate PQC into Parrot’s next generation of professional drones, aiming to secure authentication, communications, and device identity against future quantum-enabled cyber threats.

EVENTS.

March 16-20 -- Quantum Resources will be held in Tokyo, Japan. The conference brings together leading experts and emerging voices in the field to explore the latest theoretical insights, operational applications, and future directions of quantum resource theories.

March 17 – Boosting U.S. Quantum Supply Chains will be held virtually by the CNAS, examining vulnerabilities and policy strategies to strengthen the U.S. quantum industrial base.

March 24 -- Quantum Security & Defence -- Taking place at the Palais des Congrès de Paris, this half-day event convenes industry, government, and research leaders to address quantum security and defence challenges, including quantum-secure communications, certification paths, and practical deployment strategies amid the rising Quantum-AI era.

March 24 -- Convergence Quantum II (CQII) hosted by The Convergence Center for Applied Quantum Computing at The Engine in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA, defines the next generation of drug discovery through applied quantum use cases, biopharma insights and investor perspectives,

April 6-8 -- International Conference on Quantum Communications, Networking, and Computing (QCNC 2026) -- Taking place in Kobe, Japan, this IEEE-hosted conference covers advances in quantum communications, networking, computing, cryptography, and related systems, featuring research presentations and industry discussions across key tracks in the field.

April 9 -- The Vanderbilt Quantum Forum will be held at the Grand Hyatt Nashville in Nashville, Tennessee, co-hosted by Quantum Coast Capital and presented by The Quantum Insider.

April 9-11 -- TQCEBT 2026 -- Hosted at CHRIST University’s Pune Lavasa Campus in India, this interdisciplinary event explores quantum computing advancements alongside emerging business technology applications, bringing together researchers, practitioners, and business leaders.

Apr 22-23 -- Mathematics & Physics Frontiers 2026 in Frankfurt, Germany is an international forum uniting mathematicians, physicists, engineers, data scientists, and technology innovators from across the globe to explore groundbreaking advances at the intersection of theory and application.

April 27-30 -- The Quantum Matter International Conference & Expo (QUANTUMatter2026) will take place at the Barceló Sants Hotel in Barcelona.

June 4-5 -- Q2B Tokyo 2026 will be held exclusively in-person and presented in Japanese and English, with real-time interpretation.

June 16 -- France Quantum -- the premier event showcasing the French Quantum ecosystem to the world.

June 22-24 -- IQT Nordics: Oslo, Norway

June 24-26 -- Quantum. Tech World: Boston, Mass

June 25-26 -- Quantum.Tech World -- Empowering Quantum, AI & HPC at Enterprise -- Scale, co-located with Quantum.Tech World will be held at Encore Boston Harbor in Boston, United States.

June 25-26 -- Quantum.Tech World -- Empowering Quantum, AI & HPC at Enterprise – Scale, co-located with Quantum.Tech World will be held at Encore Boston Harbor in Boston, United States.

July 1-3 – The 2026 IEEE International Conference on Quantum Control, Computing, and Learning (IEEE qCCL 2026) will take place from Wednesday to Friday, July 1-3, 2026