Quantum News Briefs: January 19, 2024: QuSecure Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract for Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Solutions; Multiverse Computing Wins ‘Future Unicorn’ Nomination; PASQAL Welcomes Roberto Mauro as General Manager to Spearhead Operations in South Korea; Quantum Computing Inc. Congratulates Achievement as its Engineers Receive Prestigious Edison Patent Award; ORNL’s Quantum Initiatives Flourish with Over $10M in New Funding Awards; and MORE!
Quantum News Briefs: January 19, 2024:
QuSecure Awarded U.S. Air Force Contract for Post-Quantum Cybersecurity Solutions
QuSecure™, Inc., a pioneering firm in post-quantum cryptography (PQC), announced its recent Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract award by AFWERX, an initiative of the Department of the Air Force (DAF). This contract addresses key challenges in DAF, utilizing QuSecure’s QuProtect™, a groundbreaking software solution offering quantum-resilient protection for encrypted communications and data. The award is part of the Air Force’s efforts to streamline the SBIR process, enhancing the small business experience and broadening applicant opportunities. This Air Force SBIR contract follows QuSecure’s previous awards from the U.S. Army and the U.S. Government, reflecting its ongoing commitment to cybersecurity advancements. QuProtect, designed to combat modern warfare’s cyber threats, is an integral part of the U.S. government’s strategy to transition to quantum-safe technologies, in line with recent legislative efforts such as the Endless Frontiers Act and the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act. QuProtect offers a comprehensive, end-to-end, quantum-security-as-a-service architecture, ensuring robust protection across various platforms including network, cloud, and IoT systems, thereby reinforcing the nation’s defense against emerging quantum cyberthreats.
Multiverse Computing Wins ‘Future Unicorn’ Nomination
Multiverse Computing, a leader in quantum computing solutions, has been nominated for the 2024 Future Unicorn Award by DIGITALEUROPE, a major European digital industry trade association. The award recognizes companies with the potential to reach a valuation of $1 billion, and Multiverse is among the top 10 tech scaleups in Europe, alongside firms specializing in artificial vision, large language models, and connected vehicles. The three finalists for the award will be announced in early February, with the winner being revealed by EU Commissioner Iliana Ivanova at the Masters of Digital conference in Brussels. Multiverse, known for its contributions in various sectors such as finance, energy, and defense, has made significant strides in 2023, including doubling its revenue and launching CompactifAI, an AI model efficiency compressor. The company has been active in filing patents and publishing scientific papers since its inception in 2019. Currently, Multiverse is developing benchmarks for CompactifAI and creating quantum-inspired software to enhance Large Language Models. The Future Unicorns program, now in its seventh year, aims to spotlight potential tech giants from Europe, with DIGITALEUROPE’s goal being to double the number of European unicorns by 2030.
PASQAL Welcomes Roberto Mauro as General Manager to Spearhead Operations in South Korea
PASQAL, a frontrunner in neutral atom quantum computing, has announced the appointment of Roberto Mauro as General Manager for South Korea, a key move in its international expansion. With Mauro’s appointment, PASQAL extended its global presence to six countries: France, the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea. This strategic expansion aligns with South Korea’s national focus on advancing quantum science and technology, which includes a comprehensive plan to develop the quantum ecosystem for research, development, and industrial applications. Mauro, who brings extensive international experience in deep tech across various cultural environments, especially in Asia and Korea, is set to lead PASQAL’s initiatives in the region. His expertise in fostering innovation and operational excellence will be instrumental in driving PASQAL’s growth in the Korean quantum ecosystem. This development is anticipated to significantly contribute to the Korean quantum landscape and align with PASQAL’s global mission of integrating cutting-edge quantum research with practical industrial applications. Joël Kremer, Chief Commercial Officer of PASQAL, has expressed confidence in Mauro’s leadership, anticipating new milestones in quantum computing technology and innovation under his guidance. Mauro, recognizing the importance of his role, aims to be a bridge for leading quantum technologies in Korea, intending to establish the country as a global hub for the quantum economy.
Quantum Computing Inc. Congratulates Achievement as its Engineers Receive Prestigious Edison Patent Award for Groundbreaking Quantum Cybersecurity Invention
Quantum Computing Inc. (QCi) has announced that two of its engineers, Dr. Yuping Huang, Chief Quantum Officer, and Dr. Lac Thi Thanh Nguyen, Quantum Technology Lead for the company’s Cybersecurity platform, have received the prestigious 44th Edison Patent Award. This honor recognizes their groundbreaking work in quantum-secured privacy-preserving computations, particularly a novel method of quantum authentication and private-data computing. The awarded patent, approved in the United States and over 40 other countries, outlines a method for quantum authentication and zero-knowledge proof for network security, using entangled photons for secure communications without disclosing private data. This technology differs from quantum key distribution by providing a more comprehensive solution for secure networking, including identity authentication and data protection in untrusted environments. The patented approach, compatible with existing communication infrastructures, offers a unique combination of quantum authentication and encryption in one step. QCi, which exclusively licensed the patent, has developed a two-node quantum authentication system for rapid commercialization, building on Huang and Nguyen’s previous experience creating a three-node quantum network system. Robert Liscouski, CEO of Quantum Computing Inc., praised the engineers’ contributions, emphasizing the significance of their work in advancing cybersecurity solutions in the face of emerging threats from AI and quantum computing. QCi remains committed to leading in quantum technology advancements and addressing global cybersecurity challenges.
ORNL’s Quantum Initiatives Flourish with Over $10M in New Funding Awards
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) showcased its Quantum Roadmap at the Quantum on the Quad event, highlighting its strategy to align the lab’s quantum facilities and expertise with the DOE’s mission. This roadmap draws from ORNL’s 20-plus years of quantum R&D experience, its dedicated team of over 30 full-time quantum staff, and the resources of its Quantum Science Center. The roadmap aims to exploit quantum information science (QIS) for diverse applications, from supercomputers to sensors detecting dark matter and securing energy grids. ORNL’s efforts in QIS have been acknowledged with three funding awards, ensuring its continued leadership in quantum computing and networks. Notably, ORNL is collaborating with several universities on a project called PiQSci, which has received $6 million over three years to develop a scalable quantum internet architecture. This builds on ORNL’s deployment of the longest dark fiber testbed for quantum networking. Another project, GRID-Q, funded with $3.75 million, focuses on applying quantum technology to the power grid to establish quantum-based grid testing facilities. Additionally, with a $1 million budget over four years, the AQUEDUCT project is developing benchmarks to evaluate the practical utility of quantum computers. These initiatives underscore ORNL’s role in advancing quantum technologies for real-world applications and addressing complex scientific challenges.
Quantum Corporation Announces Update on Plan to Regain Nasdaq Compliance and Delayed Form 10-Q Filing
Quantum Corporation (Nasdaq: QMCO) has announced its plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rules by submitting a proposal on January 16, 2024. The company seeks to address delays in filing its quarterly financial reports. Quantum’s delay originated from re-evaluating its application of the standalone selling price under Accounting Standards Codification Topic 606, which affected its ability to timely file the quarterly report for the period ending September 30, 2023 (the second fiscal quarter 10-Q). The company aims to complete this re-evaluation by March 31, 2024. If Nasdaq accepts Quantum’s compliance plan, the company anticipates receiving an extension of up to 180 calendar days, until May 7, 2024, to file the delayed second fiscal quarter 10-Q. Additionally, the report for the period ending December 31, 2023 (the third fiscal quarter 10-Q) is also expected to be delayed, but Quantum plans to file it by the same May 7, 2024 deadline.
In Other News: Qiskit video: “Inside the IBM Quantum Lab with Olivia Lanes”
In a new YouTube video, Olivia Lanes, Global Lead and Manager for IBM Quantum Learning, takes you through the ins and outs of what a quantum computing laboratory looks like.
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry is the Managing Editor at Inside Quantum Technology and the Science Communicator at JILA (a partnership between the University of Colorado Boulder and NIST). Her writing beats include deep tech, quantum computing, and AI. Her work has been featured in Scientific American, Discover Magazine, New Scientist, Ars Technica, and more.
