Singapore research organisations and Quantinuum signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 23 July enabling access to Quantinuum’s advanced quantum computer, and to explore and collaborate on quantum computing use cases, focusing on computational biology. The signatories from Singapore are the National Quantum Office (NQO), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), National University of Singapore (NUS) and National Supercomputing Centre (NSCC). NUS signed for the Centre for Quantum Technologies (CQT) and Duke-NUS Medical School to be part of the collaboration.

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) recently announced that it has begun a new initiative to benchmark quantum computing algorithms and applications and assess the feasibility of building an industrial quantum computer. This Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) stemmed from two of the agency’s programs: Quantum Benchmarking and Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing. According to the agency, QBI will strengthen engagement with quantum computing hardware companies to validate whether their current quantum computing hardware has the potential to build an industrial quantum computer.

On Tuesday (July 16th) local time, JB Pritzker, the Governor of Illinois, announced that Illinois had signed a memorandum of agreement with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) to create a Quantum Proving Ground within the state's quantum computing campus. DARPA will use the proving ground to test quantum computing prototypes as part of its new Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. Pritzker also said that Illinois and the federal government would contribute up to an additional $140 million in funding for the proving ground.

According to Australian media reports, tech giant Microsoft has shut down its quantum computing research facility in Australia after seven years of collaboration with the University of Sydney. Microsoft also confirmed this week that it would close Microsoft Quantum Sydney, which it has been running in collaboration with the University of Sydney since 2017, and relocate its quantum research and commercialisation efforts to its headquarters in the United States. A source familiar with the matter at the University of Sydney has also confirmed the information and stated that the research team from the center will continue to conduct related research in Australia.

Quantum information company Infleqtion announced yesterday the installation of a cutting-edge neutral atom quantum computer at the National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC). This marks a significant milestone as Infleqtion becomes the first company to deploy hardware at the NQCC under their quantum computing testbed programme. 

Oxford Ionics, a quantum computing startup, recently announced that it has successfully developed the world's highest-performing quantum chip, with a fidelity of 99.97% for its two-qubit gates and a fidelity of 99.9992% for single-qubit operations, both setting new industry records. The company said that by developing a patented Electronic Qubit Control system, it has eliminated the scalability obstacle of traditional ion trap quantum computers that require lasers to control qubits. Because it has integrated the components required for ion trap quantum computing into a silicon chip, the chip can be mass-produced in standard semiconductor manufacturing plants.

IQM Quantum Computers, a developer of quantum computers, has achieved an important milestone in the field of superconducting quantum computing. The company has demonstrated improvements in two key metrics used to determine the quality of quantum computers. By demonstrating a fidelity of approximately 99.91% for the CZ gate between two qubits, the company achieved a record-low error rate for two-qubit operations. In addition, its qubit relaxation time T1 reached approximately 0.964 milliseconds, and the dephasing time T2 echo was approximately 1.155 milliseconds. These data indicate that IQM's qubit device has the most advanced coherence time lifetime and high-fidelity two-qubit gate quality.

The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) recently announced that it has signed a procurement contract with quantum computer supplier AQT to install a EuroHPC quantum computer named EuroQCS-Poland at the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC) in Poland. This computer is a digital, gate-based quantum computer with more than 20 physical qubits based on trapped ions, and it will be integrated into the local HPC infrastructure of PSNC. It is understood that the total procurement cost is 12.28 million euros, and EuroHPC JU will fund 50% of the cost, while the remaining 50% will be funded by the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland. The installation of the system will start in the middle of 2025.

Recently, Kipu Quantum, a German quantum software startup, announced the strategic acquisition of PlanQK, a commercially available quantum computing platform built by Anaqor. In addition to acquiring the platform, key members of the platform's expert team have also joined Kipu. The company said that this acquisition will accelerate the commercialization of its application and hardware-specific algorithms and provide services through the PlanQK platform, enabling frictionless access for organizations to integrate quantum solutions into their existing processes.

Quantum Delta NL (QDNL), announced yesterday that it has secured a €273 million investment from The National Growth Fund (NGF) as part of the third phase of the QDNL programme. This brings the total amount of funding awarded to QDNL to €615 million. The Dutch government's decision to support this initiative highlights their commitment to a shared vision: driving quantum innovation forward and creating sustainable economic growth. 

The Institute for Quantum Physics at Universität Hamburg is collaborating with Lufthansa Industry Solutions to develop quantum optimization algorithms aimed at enhancing airport operational efficiency, targeting the Airport Gate Assignment Problem (AGAP) faced by airports worldwide. They are researching a scalable quantum algorithm that takes into account all realistic boundary conditions at airports. Upon successful development, Lufthansa will become the first company in the world to leverage quantum computers to solve AGAP computational tasks.

The CMA CGM Group of French announced yesterday that it has established a strategic partnership with Pasqal, a French neutral atom quantum computing developer. According to the cooperation agreement, CMA-CGM will introduce Pasqal's quantum computing technologies into its shipping and logistics operations and has made an investment in Pasqal. Additionally, both parties will establish a Quantum Computing Center of Excellence at the TANGRAM innovation center in Marseille, France, equipped with Pasqal's quantum processors. Pasqal will also provide quantum computing training to employees of the CMA-CGM staff members.

According to a report by TASS, Rosatom said yesterday that the Russian and Indian specialists are actively studying the prospects for cooperation in the field of quantum computing, including the creation of quantum computers.

India’s Department of Telecommunications (DoT) recently launched a proposal solicitation, urging the country's telecoms sector to submit research and development proposals to accelerate development of technologies for quantum communications networks. According to a newly released statement, the DoT plans to establish "Quantum Standardization and Testing Labs" that will serve as innovation hubs for quantum technology developers, test equipment manufacturers, and academic researchers. 

Europe's neutral atom quantum computing startup, planqc, announced yesterday that it had secured €50 million in Series A funding. The round was led by CATRON Holding and DeepTech & Climate Fonds (DTCF). The company said that the new financing will be utilized to establish a quantum computing cloud service and to develop quantum software for applications in industries such as chemistry, healthcare, climate-tech, automotive, and finance. 

Elevate Quantum recently announced that it has received a Tech Hub Phase 2 Implementation award from the Department of Commerce. Leading the Elevate Quantum Tech Hub in the Mountain West of the United States, the nonprofit organization secured an initial EDA funding of $40.5 million from the Department of Commerce, supplemented by $77 million from Colorado and $10 million from New Mexico. These combined government subsidies exceed $127 million and are expected to attract over $2 billion in additional private capital to the region.

Recently, at the 23rd Foundation Day of the Society for Electronic Transactions and Security (SETS) in Chennai, India, Professor Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, inaugurated the newly established Quantum Security Research Lab. The research lab will strengthen the country's cybersecurity and provide impetus to the field of quantum information science in India. The focus areas of the lab will include post-quantum cryptography, quantum key distribution, and quantum random number generator.

According to reports from South Korean media, the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) of South Korea plans to launch QINSA (Quantum Information Standard Association), a Korea-led global de facto standardization organization, in the second half of this year, aiming to lead the standardization efforts in the global quantum technology market.

LG Uplus, a South Korean mobile operator, announced yesterday that the standard for the application of Quantum-Resistant Cryptography (PQC) in optical transmission networks, proposed jointly with the National Information Society Agency (NIA), has been adopted as the first domestic standard by the Telecommunications Technology Association (TTA) in Korea. It marks South Korea's first domestic group standard for telecommunication equipment applied with Quantum-Resistant Cryptography. The NIA plans to apply this standard to the open quantum testbed, which will be built this year.

Danish quantum software start-up Kvantify has completed a EUR 10 million seed round. The round was led by Danish VC Dreamcraft, together with biotech investor Lundbeckfonden BioCapital and the private investment company 2degrees, with participation from multiple institutions. Kvantify said that these funds will initially be used to develop quantum applications focused on the life sciences sector, as well as to boost the further development of quantum algorithms for chemical simulation.