Quantum News Briefs June 5: Strategic Collaboration Between Toshiba to Numana to Strengthen Capabilities of the Kirq Quantum Communication Testbed in Quebec • Montana State University Selects ORCA Computing to Advance Distributed Quantum Computing & Communications • Atom Computing Picks Denmark for European Headquarters, Receives Danish Funding • Meritalk’s”The Next AI Wave: Quantum AI”
News Releases June 5:
Strategic Collaboration Between Toshiba to Numana to Strengthen the Capabilities of the Kirq Quantum Communication Testbed in Quebec
Toshiba and Numana have announced a strategic collaboration to enhance the Kirq quantum communication testbed in the Province of Quebec as per the June 4 news release issued during f IQT Vancouver. . This evolving relationship will contribute to expand the characteristics of Kirq’s real-world telco-grade infrastructure in capacity and distance. It will further leverage cutting-edge quantum technologies like Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) technology to ensure secure communications. NOTE: Toshiba is a Platinum Sponsor of IQT Vancouver/Pacific Rim.
The Kirq testbed is already live in Sherbrooke with the two additional hubs to be launched in Montreal this summer and in Quebec City by early 2025. This multi-hub testbed utilizes Toshiba’s state-of-the-art QKD equipment in a multi-vendor open testbed network build-out, ensuring a robust and versatile infrastructure. Toshiba will play a strategic role to bring its world-wide credibility to Kirq. From a product evolution perspective, activities with Kirq are to accelerate Toshiba’s system development and testing in the field.
Montana State University Selects ORCA Computing to Advance Distributed Quantum Computing and Communications
ORCA Computing has been selected by Montana State University (MSU) to supply two PT-1 quantum photonics systems, advancing distributed quantum computing and critical quantum capabilities as per June 5 announcement from Orca.
Funded by the U.S Air Force as part of a new Applied Quantum CORE grant, the ORCA systems will be situated at the MSU Innovation Campus within the INDUSTRY Bozeman building. These systems will support MSU’s mission to move advanced quantum technology applications in security, communications sensing and computing from concept and testing to market.
This latest on-premises system deployment further highlights ORCA’s ongoing momentum in providing PT Series units to esteemed customers such as the UK Ministry of Defence and the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center. Additionally, the company has undertaken numerous initiatives for major government and enterprise clients in the energy, defense, and high-performance computing (HPC) sectors.
Atom Computing Picks Denmark for European Headquarters, Receives Danish Funding
The Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO) has announced an investment of 70 million DKK (~US$10.21 million) in Atom Computing, one of the world’s leading quantum technology businesses according to Jun 4 news release from Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO). On the basis of this investment, the California-based company has chosen Denmark as the location of its European headquarters.
EIFO’s investment is aligned with the national strategy of the Danish government to become a hub for international quantum technology, attracting international quantum businesses to Denmark. EIFO’s investment was made in close collaboration with Atom Computing and Invest in Denmark, the organization promoting national investments.
The partnership with Atom Computing also supports Denmark’s National Strategy for Quantum Technology, announced in 2023, and is an excellent example of the Quantum Information and Sciences Technology (QIST) cooperation agreement between Denmark and the USA. Signed in June 2022, the agreement commits both countries to fostering a vibrant QIST ecosystem through loyal cooperation, inclusive research communities and partnership sites.
In Other News:
In Other News: Meritalk’s”The Next AI Wave: Quantum AI”
Amid all of the (well-placed) excitement around artificial intelligence, quantum AI is an emerging field that combines the power of quantum computing with AI to create new and innovative solutions for an array of complex problems according to June 3 article by Meritalk staff. Quantum computing is a method of solving complex problems in ways that classical computing cannot. Similarly, quantum AI can perform certain types of machine learning tasks much more efficiently than classical AI. By combining them, we create new and powerful capabilities.
Early Quantum AI Use Cases Hold Insights for Sectors:
Finance: quantum and AI can be used to analyze financial data and identify trends, which leads to more accurate predictions and better investment decisions.
Cybersecurity: Quantum AI can create new and more secure encryption methods that are resistant to quantum computers. Quantum AI can also enhance network security.
Healthcare: quantum AI can be used to analyze medical images and identify patterns that may not be visible to the naked eye.
Transportation: quantum AI can be used to optimize traffic flow and reduce congestion, leading to faster travel times and improved air quality.
