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Infineon and Oxford Ionics have announced a collaboration to develop a fully integrated quantum processing unit (QPU). The quantum computer is based on trapped-ion technology. The companies aim to offer hundreds of qubits within the next few years, in order to to transition the technology from research to industrial applications.

Building industrial applications requires qubits with low error levels that can be built at massive scale. To address these requirements, the companies tout that with the partnership they will be able to combine Oxford Ionics unique electronic qubit control (EQC) with Infineons expertise in engineering, manufacturing and quantum technology. The companies claim that the EQC technology offers a path to integrate trapped ion qubits into Infineons semiconductor processes.

Since trapped ions are the leading technology, as measured by low quantum error levels, and semiconductor processes solve the scaling problem, this could offer the best of both worlds, explained Chris Ballance, cofounder of Oxford Ionics.

The great challenge in quantum computing is scaling whilst improving performance. There are technologies that can be fabricated at scale but dont perform, and there are technologies that perform but dont scale. Our electronic control is uniquely placed to do both. Working with Infineon and its mature and flexible semiconductor process allows us to speed up the accessibility of a commercial QPU. Due to our market-leading low error rates, these processors need dramatically fewer qubits to solve useful problems than other technologies.

The first Oxford Ionics devices will be available in the cloud by the end of 2022. A fully integrated system with hundreds of qubits is planned within two years. Within five years, the companies aim to create a fully integrated QPU that can then be networked together into a quantum supercomputer using Oxford Ionicss quantum networking technology.

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Infineon and Trapped Ionics enter the quantum computing race - VentureBeat

Abu Dhabi: At the heart of Abu Dhabis science research hub in Masdar, a new era of computing is taking shape. With massive investments towards becoming a leader in the field, Abu Dhabi could well revolutionise quantum computing when a newly-developed foundry starts churning out quantum chips this summer.

With the world of computing still undecided on which platform works best to enable, and then scale up, quantum computing, chips manufactured at the laboratory will allow important experiments into the possibilities of various material and configurations.

Quantum foundry

The laboratory is part of the Quantum Research Centre, one of a number of research interests at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII), which focuses on applied research and is part of the over-arching Advanced Technology Research Council in Abu Dhabi.

TII Quantum Foundry will be the first quantum device fabrication facility in the UAE. At the moment, it is still under construction. We are installing the last of the tools needed to manufacture superconducting quantum chips. We are hoping that it will be ready soon, and hopefully by then, we can start manufacturing the first quantum chips in the UAE, Alvaro Orgaz, lead for the quantum computing control at the TIIs Quantum Research Centre, told Gulf News.

The design of quantum chips is an area of active research at the moment. We are also interested in this. So, we will manufacture our chips and install them into our quantum refrigerators, then test them and improve on each iteration of the chip, he explained.

What is quantum computing?

Classical computers process information in bits, tiny on and off switches that are encoded in zeroes and ones. In contrast, quantum computing uses qubits as the fundamental unit of information.

Unlike classical bits, qubits can take advantage of a quantum mechanical effect called superposition where they exist as 1 and 0 at the same time. One qubit cannot always be described independently of the state of the others either, in a phenomenon called entanglement. The capacity of a quantum computer increases exponentially with the number of qubits. The efficient usage of quantum entanglement drastically enhances the capacity of a quantum computer to be able to deal with challenging problems, explained Professor Dr Jos Ignacio Latorre, chief researcher at the Quantum Research Center.

Why quantum computing?

When quantum computers were first proposed in the 1980s and 1990s, the aim was to help computing for certain complex systems such as molecules that cannot be accurately depicted with classical algorithms.

Quantum effects translate well to complex computations in some fields like pharmaceuticals, material sciences, as well as optimisation processes that are important in aviation, oil and gas, the energy sector and the financial sector. In a classical computer, you can have one configuration of zeroes and ones or another. But in a quantum system, you can have many configurations of zeroes and ones processed simultaneously in a superposition state. This is the fundamental reason why quantum computers can solve some complex computational tasks more efficiently than classical computers, said Dr Leandro Aolita, executive director of quantum algorithms at the Quantum Research Centre.

Complementing classical computing

On a basic level, this means that quantum computers will not replace classical computers; they will complement them.

There are some computational problems in which quantum computers will offer no speed-up. There are only some problems where they will be superior. So, you would not use a quantum computer which is designed for high-performance computing to write an email, the researcher explained. This is why, in addition to research, the TII is also working with industry partners to see which computational problems may translate well to quantum computing and the speed-up this may provide, once the computers are mature enough to process them.

Quantum effect fragility

At this stage, the simplest quantum computer is already operational at the QRC laboratory in Masdar City. This includes two superconducting qubit chips mounted in refrigerators at the laboratory, even though quantum systems can be created on a number of different platforms.

Here, the super conducting qubit chip is in a cooler that takes the system down to a temperature that goes down to around 10 millikelvin, which is even cooler than the temperature of outer space. You have to isolate the system from the thermal environment, but you also need to be able to insert cables to control and read the qubits. This is the most difficult challenge from an engineering and a technological perspective, especially when you scale up to a million qubits because quantum effects are so fragile. No one knows exactly the exact geometric configurations to minimise the thermal fluctuations and the noise, [and this is one of the things that testing will look into once we manufacture different iterations of quantum chip], Dr Aolita explained.

Qubit quality

The quality of the qubit is also very important, which boils down to the manufacture of a chip with superconducting current that displays quantum effects. The chips at TII are barely 2x10 millimetres in size, and at their centre is a tiny circuit known as the Josephson junction that enables the control of quantum elements.

It is also not just a matter of how many qubits you have, as the quality of the qubits matters. So, you need to have particles that preserve their quantum superposition, you need to be able to control them, have them interact the way you want, and read their state, but you also have to isolate them from the noise of the environment, he said.

Optimistic timeline

Despite these massive challenges to perfect a minute chip, Dr Aolita was also quite hopeful about the work being accomplished at TII, including discussions with industry about the possible applications of quantum computing.

I think we could see some useful quantum advantages in terms of classical computing power in three to five years, he said. [Right now], we have ideas, theories, preliminary experiments and even some prototypes. Quantum computers even exist, but they are small and not still able to outperform classical supercomputers. But this was the case with classical computing too. In the 1950s and 1940s, a computer was like an entire gym or vault. Then the transistor arrived, which revolutionised the field and miniaturised computers to much smaller regions of space that were also faster. Something similar could happen here and it really is a matter of finding which kind of qubit to use and this could ease the process a lot. My prediction for a timeline is optimistic, but not exaggerated, the researcher added.

Science research

Apart from the techonological breakthroughs, the QRCs efforts are likely to also improve Abu Dhabis status as a hub for science and research.

The UAE has a long tradition of adopting technologies and incorporating technologies bought from abroad. This is now [different in] that the government is putting a serious stake in creating and producing this technology and this creates a multiplicative effect in that young people get more enthusiastic about scientific careers. This creates more demand for universities to start new careers in physics, engineering, computer science, mathematics. This [will essentially have] a long-term, multiplicative effect on development, independent of the concrete goal or technical result of the project on the scientific environment in the country, Dr Aolita added.

The QRC team currently includes 45 people, but this will grow to 60 by the end of 2022, and perhaps to 80 people in 2023. We also want to prioritise hiring the top talent from across the world, Dr Aolita added.

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Researchers talk to each other next to the IBM Q System One quantum computer at IBM's research facility in Yorktown Heights, New York. Quantum computing's speed and efficacy represent one of the biggest threat to data security in the future.

Photo: Misha Friedman/Getty Images

Quantum computing (QC) represents the biggest threat to data security in the medium term, since it can make attacks against cryptography much more efficient. With quantum computing capabilities having advanced from the realm of academic exploration to tangible commercial opportunities, now is the time to take steps to secure everything from power grids and IoT infrastructures to the burgeoning cloud-based information-sharing platforms that we are all increasingly dependent upon.

Despite encrypted data appearing random, encryption algorithms follow logical rules and can be vulnerable to some kinds of attacks. All algorithms are inherently vulnerable to brute-force attacks, in which all possible combinations of the encryption key are tried.

According to Verizons 2021 Data Breach report, 85% of breaches caused by hacking involve brute force or the use of credentials that have been lost or stolen. Moreover, cybercrime costs the U.S. economy $100 billion a year and costs the global economy $450 billion annually.

Although traditionally, a 128-bit encryption key establishes a secure theoretical limit against brute-force attacks, this is a bare-minimum requirement for Advanced Encryption Standard symmetric keys, which are currently the default symmetric encryption cipher used for public and commercial purposes.

These are considered to be computationally infeasible to crack, and most experts consider todays 128-bit and 256-bit encryption keys to be generally secure. However, within the next 20 years, sufficiently large quantum computers will be able to break essentially all public-key schemes currently in use in a matter of seconds.

Quantum computing speeds up prime number factorization, so computers with quantum computation can easily break cryptographic keys via quickly calculating and exhaustively searching secret keys. A task thought to be computationally impossible by conventional computer architectures becomes easy by compromising existing cryptographic algorithms, shortening the span of time needed to break public-key cryptography from years to hours.

Quantum computers outperform conventional computers for specific problems by leveraging complex phenomena such as quantum entanglement and the probabilities associated with superpositions (when quantum bits [qubits] exist in several states at the same time) to perform a series of operations in such a way that favorable probabilities are enhanced. When a quantum algorithm is applied, the probability of measuring the correct answer is maximized.

Algorithms such as RSA, AES, and Blowfish remain worldwide standards in cybersecurity. The cryptographic keys of these algorithms are based mainly on two mathematical procedures the integer factorization problem and the discrete logarithm problem that make it difficult to crack the key, preserving the systems security.

Two algorithms for quantum computers challenge current cryptography systems. Shors algorithm greatly speeds up the time required for solving the integer factorization problem. Grovers quantum search algorithm, while not as fast, still significantly increases the speed of decryption keys that, with traditional computing technologies, would take time on the order of quintillions of years.

All widely used public-key cryptographic algorithms are theoretically vulnerable to attacks based on Shors algorithm, but the algorithm depends on operations that can only be achieved by a large-scale quantum computer (>7000 qubits). Quantum computers are thus likely to make encryption systems based on RSA and discrete logarithm assumptions (DSA, ECDSA) obsolete. Companies like D-Wave Systems promise to deliver a 7000+ qubit solution by 2023-2024.

Quantum technologies are expected to bring about disruption in multiple sectors. Cybersecurity will be one of the main industries to feel this disruption; and although there are already several players preparing for and developing novel approaches to cybersecurity in a post-quantum world, it is vital for corporations, governments, and cybersecurity supply-chain stakeholders to understand the impact of quantum adoption and learn about some of the key players working on overcoming the challenges that this adoption brings about.

Businesses can implement quantum-safe cybersecurity solutions that range from developing risk management plans to harnessing quantum mechanics itself to fight the threats QC poses.

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The replacement of encryption algorithms generally requires steps including replacing cryptographic libraries, implementation of validation tools, deployment of hardware required by the algorithm, updating dependent operating systems and communications devices, and replacing security standards and protocols. Hence, post-quantum cryptography needs to be prepared for eventual threats as many years in advance as is practical, despite quantum algorithms not currently being available to cyberattackers.

Quantum computing has the potential for both disrupting and augmenting cybersecurity. There are techniques that leverage quantum physics to protect from quantum-computing related threats, and industries that adopt these technologies will find themselves significantly ahead of the curve as the gap between quantum-secure and quantum-vulnerable systems grows.

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[Editors note: 7 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy for the Next 10 Years was previously published in August 2020. It has since been updated to include the most relevant information available.]

Quantum computing has long been a concept stuck in the theory phase. Using quantum mechanics to create a class of next-generation quantum computers with nearly unlimited computing power remained out of reach.

But quantum computing is starting to hit its stride. Recent breakthroughs in this emerging field such as IBMs (IBM) progressive 100-qubit quantum chip are powering quantum computing forward. Over the next several years, this space will go from theory to reality. And this transition will spark huge growth in the global quantum computing market.

The investment implication?

Its time to buy quantum computing stocks.

At scale, quantum computing will disrupt every industry in the world, from finance to biotechnology, cybersecurity and everything in between.

It will improve the way medicines are developed by simulating molecular processes. It will reduce energy loss in batteries via optimized routing and design, thereby allowing for hyper-efficient electric car batteries. In finance, it will speed up and augment portfolio optimization, risk modeling and derivatives creation. In cybersecurity, it will disrupt the way we go about encryption. It will create superior weather forecasting models, unlock advancements in autonomous vehicle technology and help humans fight climate change.

Im not kidding when I say quantum computing will change everything.

And as this next-gen computing transforms the world, quantum computing stocks will be big winners over the next decade.

So, with that in mind, here are seven of those stocks to buy for the next 10 years:

Among the various quantum computing stocks to buy for the next 10 years, the best is probably Alphabet (GOOG, GOOGL) stock.

Source: IgorGolovniov / Shutterstock.com

Its Google AI Quantum is built on the back of a state-of-the-art 54-qubit processor dubbed Sycamore. And many consider this to be the leading quantum computing project in the world. Why? This thinking is bolstered mostly by the fact that, in late 2019, Sycamore performed a calculation in 200 seconds that would have taken the worlds most powerful supercomputers 10,000 years to perform.

This achievement led Alphabet to claim that Sycamore had reached quantum supremacy. What does this mean? Well, thats the point when a quantum computer can perform a task in a relatively short amount of time that no other supercomputer could in any reasonable amount of time.

Many have since debated whether or not Alphabet has indeed reached quantum supremacy.

But thats somewhat of a moot point.

The reality is that Alphabet has built the worlds leading quantum computer. The engineering surrounding it will only get better. And so will Sycamores computing power. And through its Google Cloud business, Alphabet can turn Sycamore into a market-leading quantum-computing-as-a-service business with huge revenues at scale.

To that end, GOOG stock is one of the best quantum computing stocks to buy today for the next 10 years.

Source: shutterstock.com/LCV

The other big dog that closely rivals Alphabet in the quantum computing space is IBM.

IBM has been big in the quantum computing space for years. But Big Blue has attacked this space in a fundamentally different way than its peers.

That is, other quantum computing players like Alphabet have chased quantum supremacy. But IBM has shunned that idea in favor of building on something the company calls the quantum advantage.

Ostensibly, the quantum advantage really isnt too different from quantum supremacy. The former deals with a continuum focused on making quantum computers perform certain tasks faster than traditional computers. The latter deals with a moment focused on making quantum computers permanently faster at all things than traditional computers.

But its a philosophical difference with huge implications. By focusing on building the quantum advantage, IBM is specializing its efforts into making quantum computing measurably useful and economic in certain industry verticals for certain tasks.

In so doing, IBM is creating a fairly straightforward go-to-market strategy for its quantum computing services in the long run.

IBMs realizable, simple, tangible approach makes it one of the most sure-fire quantum computing stocks to buy today for the next 10 years.

Another big tech player in the quantum computing space with promising long-term potential is Microsoft (MSFT).

Source: Asif Islam / Shutterstock.com

Microsoft already has a huge infrastructure cloud business, Azure. Building on that foundation, Microsoft has launched Azure Quantum. Its a quantum computing business with potential to turn into a huge QCaaS business at scale.

Azure Quantum is a secure, stable and open ecosystem, serving as a one-stop shop for quantum computing software and hardware.

The bull thesis here is that Microsoft will lean into its already-huge Azure customer base to cross-sell Azure Quantum. Doing so will give Azure Quantum a big and long runway for widespread early adoption. And thats the first step in turning Azure Quantum into a huge QCaaS business.

And it helps that Microsofts core Azure business is absolutely on fire right now.

Putting it all together, quantum computing is simply one facet of the much broader Microsoft enterprise cloud growth narrative. That narrative will remain robust for the next several years. And it will continue to support further gains in MSFT stock.

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

The most interesting, smallest and potentially most explosive quantum computing stock on this list is Quantum Computing (QUBT).

And the bull thesis is fairly simple.

Quantum computing will change everything over the next several years. But the hardware is expensive. It likely wont be ready to deliver measurable benefits at reasonable costs to average customers for several years. So, Quantum Computing is building a portfolio of affordable quantum computing software and apps that deliver quantum computing power. And they can be run on traditional legacy supercomputers.

In so doing, Quantum Computing is hoping to fill the affordability gaps. It aims to become the widespread, low-cost provider of accessible quantum computing software for companies that cant afford full-scale hardware.

Quantum Computing has begun to commercialize this software, namely with QAmplify, its suite of powerful QPU-expansion software technologies. through three products currently in beta mode. According to William McGann, the companys chief operating and technology officer:

The use of our QAmplify algorithm in the 2021 BMW Group Quantum Computing Challenge for vehicle sensor optimization provided proof of performance by expanding the effective capability of the annealer by 20-fold, to 2,888 qubits.

Quantum Computings products will likely start signing up automaker, financial, healthcare and government customers to long-term contracts. Those early signups could be the beginning of thousands for Quantums services over the next five to 10 years.

You could really see this company go from zero to several hundred million dollars in revenue in the foreseeable future.

If that happens, QUBT stock which has a market capitalization of $78 million today could soar.

Like others in this space, Alibabas (BABA) focused on creating a robust QCaaS arm to complement its already-huge infrastructure-as-a-service business.

Source: zhu difeng / Shutterstock.com

In short, Alibaba is the leading public cloud provider in China. Indeed, Alibaba Cloud owns about 10% of the global IaaS market. Alibaba intends to leverage this leadership position to cross-sell quantum computing services to its huge existing client base. And eventually, it hopes to become the largest QCaaS player in China, too.

Will it work?

Probably.

The Great Tech Wall of China will prevent many on this list from participating in or reaching scale in China. Alibaba does have some in-country quantum computing competition. But this isnt a winner-take-all market. And given Alibabas enormous resource advantages, its highly likely that it becomes a top player in Chinas quantum computing market.

Thats just another reason to buy and hold BABA stock for the long haul.

Source: StreetVJ / Shutterstock.com

The other big Chinese tech company diving head-first into quantum computing is Baidu (BIDU).

The company launched its own quantum computing research center in 2018. According to its website, the goal of this research center is to integrate quantum computing into Baidus core businesses.

If so, that means Baidus goal for quantum computing diverges from the norm. Others in this space want to build out quantum computing power to sell it as a service to third parties. Baidu wants to build out quantum computing power to, at least initially, improve its own operations.

Doing so will pay off in a big way for the company.

Baidus core search and advertising businesses could markedly improve with quantum computing. Advancements in computing power could dramatically improve its search algorithms and ad-targeting techniques and power its profits higher.

And thanks to its early research into quantum computing, BIDU stock does have healthy upside.

Last but not least on this list of quantum computing stocks to buy is Intel (INTC).

Source: Intel

Intel may be falling behind competitors namely Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) on the traditional CPU front. But the semiconductor giant is on the cutting edge of creating potential quantum CPU candidates.

Intels newly announced Horse Ridge cryogenic control chip is widely considered the markets best quantum CPU candidate out there today. The chip includes four radio frequency channels that can control 128 qubits. Thats more than double Tangle Lake, Intels predecessor quantum CPU.

The big idea, of course, is that when quantum computers are built at scale, they will likely be built on Intels quantum CPUs.

Therefore, potentially explosive growth in the quantum computing hardware market over the next five to 10 years represents a huge, albeit speculative, growth catalyst for both Intel and INTC stock.

On the date of publication, Luke Lango did not have (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article.

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7 Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy for the Next 10 Years - InvestorPlace

Two More Quantum Network Testbeds Being Installed in Quebec, Canada and The Netherlands

The first quantum network is being set up by Numana, a non-profit organization located in Quebec, Canada with a mission to be a catalyst for technological ecosystems, and Bell Canada. With a budget of $3.75 million CAD ($2.89M USD) it will belaunched initially in Sherbrooke in early fall 2022 with subsequent extensions planned for Montreal and Quebec City. Quebecs Minister of Economy and Innovation will contribute $2.5 million CAD to help fund this project. Additional information about this project is available in a press release issued by Numana and located here. In addition, commercial company ID Quantique will also be participating in the project and has issued their own press release here.

The second quantum network testbed will be established in The Netherlands by QuTech,Eurofiberand Juniper Networks. This network will connect several datacenter locations in The Netherlands. It will test out the integration of a quantum networking concept called MDI-QKD (Measurement Device Independent Quantum Key Distribution) with a commercial optical fiber network from Eurofiber along withrouting, switching and security solutions from Juniper Networks. This program will test out the key technologies that will eventually be used in a National Quantum Network that will be developed and deployed for the next generation of digital infrastructure in the Netherlands. This project is co-funded by TKI (Topconsortium voor Kennis en Innovatie) High Tech Systems and Materials. A press release announcing this project has been posted on the QuTech website here.

July 9, 2022

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