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Category: QFrontline

  • Terra Quantum and Apex.AI Bring Post-Quantum Security to Cloud-Connected Machines

    Terra Quantum and Apex.AI Bring Post-Quantum Security to Cloud-Connected Machines

    The transition to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is an urgent issue within the quantum industry without a simple solution. While the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its initial PQC standards, there is a notable (and concerning) disconnect between establishing those standards and origanizations implementing them. PQC migration will also need to reach vehicles, robots, industrial equipment, and defense systems that increasingly depend on continuous communication between edge devices and the cloud.

    Post-quantum cryptography consists of classical cryptographic algorithms designed to resist attacks from both conventional and quantum computers. Its immediate advantage is that it can be deployed through existing computing and networking infrastructure, making it one of the most accessible paths toward quantum-safe security.

    Terra Quantum and Apex.AI have demonstrated how that transition could take place without a need to redesign the applications and software architectures already supporting these systems. Anything to reduce the technical and operational barriers to migration is important in order to promote adoption and ensure that as many systems as possible are protected.

    The recently announced joint implementation uses PQC standardized by NIST to secure communication between a robotic software environment built on Apex.OS and a cloud-based control system. The companies describe the project as a practical blueprint for introducing quantum-resistant security into connected, software-defined systems while preserving their existing communication patterns and application logic.

    Replacing cryptographic infrastructure can become an expensive undertaking when it requires organizations to modify application internal development processes. Terra Quantum and Apex.AI were able to replace vulnerable cryptographic components while maintaining the broader architecture surrounding them.

    This could allow organizations to migrate incrementally and strengthen their security layer without abandoning their existing software investments.

    The demonstration is especially relevant to systems with long operational lives. Vehicles, industrial machines, aerospace platforms, and defense assets introduced today may remain active for decades. During that time, sufficiently capable quantum computers could threaten widely used public-key cryptographic methods that currently protect authentication, data exchange, and remote access.

    At the same time, these systems are becoming more dependent on cloud connectivity. Monitoring, diagnostics, fleet coordination, remote operation, and software updates all require information to travel securely between distributed machines and centralized services. Cryptographic migration must therefore protect not just data at rest but the communication infrastructure connecting physical assets to the systems that manage them.

    “Organizations cannot afford to wait until that moment arrives,” said Markus Pflitsch, CEO, founder and chairman of Terra Quantum. He said the implementation demonstrates that standardized post-quantum cryptography can protect cloud-connected systems using technology available today and without disrupting their underlying software architectures.

    Apex.OS provided the software-defined foundation for the implementation. The platform is designed for software-defined vehicles and intelligent machines operating across distributed environments. Terra Quantum contributed the post-quantum cryptographic capabilities used to secure communication between the Apex.AI-based edge environment and the cloud.

    The project also highlights the broader systems challenge. Connected machines rarely operate in isolation. Autonomous vehicles, robots, sensors, cloud platforms, and command systems increasingly function as interconnected systems-of-systems. A weakness in one communication layer can affect the resilience of the wider operational network.

    It’s important to note that a successful implementation is not the same as proving readiness for every production environment. Organizations will still need to evaluate performance, integration requirements, hardware constraints, certificate and key management, and interoperability across their systems. Migration will also require an inventory of where vulnerable cryptography is currently embedded, which is a challenge for complex products assembled from multiple software and hardware components.

    However, the collaboration addresses one of the largest practical barriers to post-quantum adoption that migration must wait for entirely new systems or require wholesale architectural redesign.

    For manufacturers and operators of long-lived connected assets, post-quantum security is increasingly becoming a product-lifecycle decision. But, oganizations can begin that transition within the architectures they already use and, most importantly, before quantum risk becomes an emergency.

  • Classiq and ParityQC Partner to Improve Quantum Circuit Execution Across Hardware

    Classiq and ParityQC Partner to Improve Quantum Circuit Execution Across Hardware

    Classiq and ParityQC have announced a partnership to integrate ParityQC’s Parity Twine technology with Classiq’s quantum software engineering platform. This collaboration is intended to create a more direct path from high-level algorithm design to execution on quantum hardware.

    This addresses one of the more persistent challenges in quantum computing, which is translating an algorithm into a circuit that can run efficiently on hardware where qubits cannot all interact directly with one another.

    Most quantum processors have limited connectivity, meaning information must be moved between qubits before an operation can be performed. This movement is usually done through SWAP gates, which increase circuit depth, execution time and exposure to noise. On current quantum systems, where errors accumulate quickly, inefficient routing can determine whether an experiment produces a meaningful result at all.

    Classiq and ParityQC plan to combine Classiq’s universal optimization protocols with ParityQC’s algorithm-aware optimization methods. The goal is to reduce circuit complexity and the number of SWAP operations required when mapping quantum programs onto physical devices.

    “Quantum computing will only become practical at scale if the software layer can automatically bridge the gap between algorithmic intent and the constraints of real machines,” said Nir Minerbi, co-founder and CEO of Classiq.

    Classiq’s platform uses a model-first approach, allowing developers to define the function and constraints of a quantum program before the platform synthesizes an optimized circuit. ParityQC’s technology introduces additional hardware-aware methods for representing and distributing quantum information across a processor’s connectivity layout.

    The integration is intended to place these architecture-specific considerations directly within a higher-level development workflow. Rather than requiring developers to manually redesign algorithms for each processor, the combinatio could automate more of the optimization process while preserving portability across different hardware systems.

    This is increasingly important as the quantum hardware market becomes more diverse. Superconducting, trapped-ion, neutral-atom, photonic and other architectures each have distinct connectivity, control and compilation requirements. Software that can retain a degree of hardware independence while still accounting for the physical characteristics of individual devices may become a critical layer of the emerging quantum stack.

    The collaboration will target both current noisy quantum processors and future fault-tolerant systems. The companies also indicated that the partnership could extend beyond product integration into academic research, workforce development, benchmarking and future quantum software standards.

    The project is supported by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy following a decision by the German Bundestag.

  • IBM Confirms $10 Billion Quantum Investment Despite Quarterly Shortfall

    IBM Confirms $10 Billion Quantum Investment Despite Quarterly Shortfall

    IBM has reaffirmed its previous plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years, positioning the technology as a central part of its long-term strategy even as the company reported weaker-than-expected second-quarter performance.

    In a recent letter to investors, IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna said the investment would cover research and development, capital expenditure, manufacturing expansion, acquisitions, and broader ecosystem development. The company also maintained its target of delivering its first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer by 2029.

    “…quantum computing is no longer decades away, it is upon us, and we are investing aggressively,” Krishna wrote.

    The comments appeared in IBM’s preliminary financial results for the second quarter of 2026. The company reported revenue of $17.2 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 1%. Software revenue increased by 5%, consulting revenue remained flat and infrastructure revenue declined by 7%.

    IBM attributed the infrastructure decline partly to weaker-than-expected performance from its Z mainframe business and associated transaction-processing software. According to Krishna, several major customer deals did not close within the expected period as organizations redirected capital spending toward servers, storage and memory amid supply constraints and anticipated price increases.

    The company also cited rapidly evolving cybersecurity concerns as a distraction for customers during the quarter.

    Despite the shortfall, IBM highlighted several areas of growth, including an 11% increase in Red Hat revenue and record performance within its distributed infrastructure business. IBM said distributed infrastructure revenue rose 37%, supported by demand for Power systems and storage.

    The company also recently announced a letter of intent with the U.S. Department of Commerce to develop Anderon, which IBM described as the world’s first dedicated quantum wafer foundry. The project would be supported by $1 billion in incentives through the CHIPS program and an additional $1 billion contribution from IBM.

    A dedicated foundry could give IBM greater control over the fabrication and scaling of quantum processors while supporting the transition from experimental devices to more standardized production. Manufacturing reliability, yield and supply-chain capacity will become increasingly important as quantum systems move toward larger numbers of physical and logical qubits.

    IBM’s planned $10 billion investment also speaks to another trend in the quantum sector. Major technology companies are no longer investing only in processors. They are building integrated ecosystems that include hardware, error correction, software, cloud access, application research and partnerships with enterprises and research institutions.

    For IBM, the challenge will be balancing those long-term investments with pressure to deliver stronger near-term financial performance.

  • Haiqu Appoints Quantum Commercialization Leader Denise Ruffner to Drive Agentic OS Growth

    Haiqu Appoints Quantum Commercialization Leader Denise Ruffner to Drive Agentic OS Growth

    Haiqu has appointed veteran quantum commercialization executive Denise Ruffner as Vice President of Business Development and Commercial Operations Worldwide. This addition to the leadership team strengthens its efforts towards expanding adoption of its recently launched Agentic Operating System.

    Ruffner brings experience commercializing quantum technologies across several of the industry’s most prominent hardware and software companies. She was an early executive at IBM Quantum, where she developed the company’s Quantum Ambassador Program and Startup Program. The initiatives trained more than 350 ambassadors to educate customers around the world about IBM’s quantum computing strategy and technology.

    She later served as the first Chief Business Officer of Cambridge Quantum Computing, now part of Quantinuum, where she helped secure major enterprise customers, including JPMorgan Chase. Ruffner also held senior commercial roles at IonQ and Atom Computing, helping both companies acquire their first customers. She currently serves as a business advisor to Qilimanjaro.

    Her appointment comes as Haiqu is focused on getting its technology from product development into broader scientific and enterprise use.

    “Since the inception of commercial quantum computing, I’ve had the privilege of helping bring many of our industry’s breakthrough technologies to market,” Ruffner said. “I believe the exceptional team at Haiqu has created something truly impactful.”

    Haiqu’s Agentic OS combines agentic artificial intelligence with the company’s proprietary quantum middleware. The system is designed to assist research and development teams with identifying use cases, selecting appropriate experimental approaches and iterating on quantum workloads.

    The company argues that more capable software can help researchers extract useful results from current quantum devices without waiting for fully fault-tolerant systems. Haiqu says its hardware-agnostic technology can enable applications to execute up to 100 times more operations on existing devices than competing approaches.

    The addition of Ruffner reflects an increasingly important challenge for quantum companies, which is translating technical progress into repeatable commercial adoption. As the industry matures, companies must not only demonstrate that their technology works, but also identify the customers, partnerships and workflows where it can provide practical value.

  • The Modern Developer Needs a Quantum Toolbox

    The Modern Developer Needs a Quantum Toolbox

    In a recent interview, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang spoke about the changing skillset required in the age of AI. As AI makes technical execution more accessible, the skills that become increasingly valuable include creativity, critical thinking, communication, domain knowledge and the ability to solve problems.

    This does not mean that the importance of technical knowledge is any lesser, but rather, it is becoming one part of a much larger toolbox.

    The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report 2025 shows that AI and big data, cybersecurity and technological literacy are among the fastest-growing skills, but so are creative thinking, analytical thinking, curiosity and systems thinking.

    These are complementary skillsets. A person can have an interesting idea without knowing how to build it. They can also know how to use a tool without knowing what is worth building. The modern developer must have both.

    Creativity requires a toolbox

    Creativity is sometimes treated as separate from technical knowledge, but creativity in technology is usually combinatorial. It comes from seeing connections between problems, methods and tools that may not have previously been placed together.

    In order to creatively solve a problem, a developer needs some understanding of the problem itself. They also need to know which tools exist, what those tools are capable of and where their limitations are.

    AI makes it possible to access those tools more quickly. It can help someone generate code, create an interface, interpret documentation or develop a prototype. But it cannot decide, on its own, what is useful.

    The value still comes from the person who understands the environment well enough to identify the problem, evaluate possible approaches and assemble the right tools into a meaningful solution.

    This is especially important in quantum technology. Quantum computing introduces an entirely different computational model. It will not replace every classical process or make every program faster. But, it will apply to certain types of problems, through certain algorithms, under particular hardware and resource conditions.

    A developer does not need to become a quantum physicist in order to engage with the field. But developers will increasingly benefit from having quantum concepts, security risks, algorithms and development tools available within their broader technical toolbox.

    The quantum developer is not one person

    When people talk about the quantum workforce, they often imagine a highly specialized researcher developing quantum algorithms or working directly with quantum hardware. Those roles are essential. But they are not the only ways developers will interact with quantum technology.

    There are at least two areas where quantum knowledge is becoming relevant. The first is cybersecurity, and the second is the development of quantum and hybrid quantum-classical applications. While these require different depths of knowledge, both begin with literacy.

    A developer working in cybersecurity may never write a quantum circuit. They may still need to understand why existing public-key cryptography is vulnerable, where that cryptography exists within a system, and how to support a migration to post-quantum standards.

    A developer working on optimization, chemistry, finance or scientific computing may not design new quantum hardware. They may still need to understand which algorithms exist, what kinds of problems they address, and how a quantum processor could fit into a larger classical workflow.

    Quantum readiness is the process of adding the right quantum knowledge to an existing role.

    Quantum security is already a developer concern

    The most immediate reason developers need quantum literacy is cybersecurity. A sufficiently capable, fault-tolerant quantum computer could use Shor’s algorithm to break much of the public-key cryptography currently used to secure digital systems. This includes RSA and widely used elliptic-curve cryptographic schemes.

    Such a cryptographically relevant quantum computer does not currently exist and timelines vary significantly among experts. But we do agree that migration cannot begin the day the machine arrives.

    Organizations first need to determine where vulnerable cryptography exists across their infrastructure. That may include software libraries, certificates, authentication systems, cloud services, network protocols, embedded devices, vendor products and legacy systems. They then need to replace or update those systems without interrupting the services that depend on them.

    NIST finalized its first three post-quantum cryptography standards in August 2024 and has encouraged organizations to begin integrating them. Governments and security agencies have also started establishing formal migration milestones extending through the next decade.

    There is an additional concern known as “harvest now, decrypt later.” An attacker can collect encrypted information today and retain it until a sufficiently capable quantum computer becomes available. For data that must remain private for many years, the future threat creates a present risk.

    This makes post-quantum cryptography a development and infrastructure problem. Developers working in security, networking, cloud infrastructure, identity systems, embedded systems and enterprise software should begin adding several concepts to their toolbox:

    • Cryptographic inventory
    • Post-quantum cryptography
    • Cryptographic agility
    • Hybrid cryptographic deployments
    • Vendor and dependency management
    • Long-term data sensitivity
    • Performance and compatibility testing

    Post-quantum cryptography should be treated as the primary migration path. Quantum key distribution may also be relevant for narrow, high-assurance environments with dedicated infrastructure and carefully defined threat models. But it is not a general replacement for post-quantum cryptography, and it will not be appropriate for every system.

    The creative challenge here is determining how to migrate complex systems that were never designed to change their cryptography easily.

    Programming quantum systems requires more than circuits

    The second area involves programming quantum computers. There are specific classes of problems for which quantum computing may eventually provide meaningful value. Commonly studied areas include chemistry, materials science, optimization, finance, machine learning and high-energy physics. But identifying a possible use case requires more than learning how to place quantum gates on a circuit.

    A developer needs to understand the original problem. They need to determine whether the problem can be expressed in a form compatible with a known quantum algorithm. They need to understand which parts of the workflow should remain classical and which, if any, should be delegated to a quantum processor.

    They also need to compare the proposed quantum approach against the best available classical methods. This is where creativity and problem-solving become especially valuable. The quantum computer is another tool, but it is not automatically the right tool.

    In many cases, the future quantum developer will work across several systems at once. A classical computer may prepare the data. A GPU may accelerate part of the calculation. A quantum processor may handle a specific subproblem. A classical optimizer may then process the result. The developer’s value comes from understanding how these components fit together.

    This is why platforms such as NVIDIA CUDA-Q frame quantum computing within heterogeneous architectures that combine CPUs, GPUs and quantum processors. It is also why IBM’s Qiskit ecosystem increasingly emphasizes quantum workflows rather than isolated circuits. The emerging skill is quantum systems thinking.

    Domain knowledge determines what gets built

    There is a great deal of discussion about where quantum computers may eventually create value. But use cases emerge when someone understands an important problem well enough to ask whether a different computational method could help solve it.

    A chemist may recognize that an approximation used in a molecular simulation is limiting the accuracy of a result. A logistics expert may understand that a scheduling problem contains constraints that are not represented well by a generic optimization example. A materials scientist may know which properties would be meaningful to calculate and which results would be scientifically irrelevant.

    A developer with no understanding of those domains may be able to implement an algorithm, but they may not know whether they are solving the right problem. The same is true in reverse. A domain expert may understand the problem deeply but have no reference point for quantum algorithms, hybrid computing or the constraints of current hardware. There is an opportunity between these knowledge areas.

    The modern developer does not need to know everything. But they need enough breadth to recognize when a tool may be relevant, enough depth to use it responsibly and enough curiosity to work with people whose expertise is different from their own.

    Building the quantum toolbox

    For developers interested in adding quantum to their toolkit, there are several useful entry points

    • IBM Qiskit provides an open-source software stack for building, optimizing, simulating and executing quantum workloads. Its Python-based environment makes it one of the most accessible starting points for classical developers.
    • NVIDIA CUDA-Q introduces quantum development through a hybrid computing model. It is particularly relevant for developers interested in how CPUs, GPUs and quantum processors may eventually operate together.
    • The Quantum Algorithm Zoo provides a catalog of quantum algorithms and the types of problems and speedups associated with them. It helps answer a foundational question: what tools already exist?
    • Dancing with Qubits by Robert Sutor provides a broad introduction to quantum computing, including the concepts and mathematics that sit beneath the software.
    • Learn Quantum Computing with Python and IBM Quantum by Robert Loredo offers a practical path for developers entering through Python and Qiskit.
    • Quantum Computing Experimentation with Amazon Braket by Alex Khan introduces hands-on quantum development through the AWS ecosystem.
    • Quantum Security Defence offers educational programming around quantum security, post-quantum cryptography and quantum key distribution.
    • Quantum for Programmers helps classical developers begin engaging with quantum concepts and software through a developer-oriented lens.
    • Qfrontline’s forthcoming Quantum Readiness Community will provide a space for developers, IT teams, security professionals and technically oriented builders to develop practical quantum knowledge through learning, projects and working groups.

    A tool is only useful when someone knows that it exists, understands what it does and can determine whether it belongs in the process they are trying to improve.

    The future developer is a problem solver

    The future developer will still need technical foundations. They will need to understand logic, architecture, security, testing and the behavior of the systems they are building. But code alone will not be the differentiator it once was.

    The more execution becomes automated, the more valuable it becomes to understand what should be built. And that requires creativity. It also requires the ability to identify problems, question assumptions, combine knowledge from different fields and select the right tools for a particular situation.

    Quantum computing increases this requirement. The field introduces new algorithms, security risks, hardware models and software environments. It gives developers more possibilities, but it also gives them more decisions to make.

    Developers do not need to become an expert in every emerging technology, but they do need to build a wide enough toolbox to recognize what is possible and a deep enough foundation to know when and how to use it.

  • IBM to Invest More Than $10 Billion to Advance Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

    IBM to Invest More Than $10 Billion to Advance Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing

    PRESS RELEASE — IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years. The investment will span research and development, capital expenditure, manufacturing scaling, ecosystem partnerships, and M&A. Together, these areas are designed to accelerate IBM’s quantum roadmap beyond delivering the world’s first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in 2029, and advance quantum leadership anchored in the United States.

    It builds on the broadest quantum foundation in the industry, including the largest fleet of quantum computers across the globe, the most widely used quantum software, and a client and partner network of more than 340 organizations running real workloads today. This investment funds the next stage of that foundation, carrying IBM’s lead from today’s commercial quantum computers towards fault-tolerant scale systems.

    “The quantum era is no longer ahead of us, it has started. Our clients, partners and users around the world are tapping into IBM quantum computers to do work that was impossible a few years ago,” said Arvind Krishna, Chairman & CEO, IBM. “The pace of discovery with quantum computers is accelerating rapidly and this investment powers our ability to deliver the next generation of quantum hardware, software, and manufacturing.”

    IBM’s quantum leadership today

    This investment reinforces IBM’s mission to bring useful quantum computing to the world and builds on the most advanced quantum program in the industry:

    • Expansive Global Quantum Fleet: IBM operates the world’s largest and most powerful fleet of quantum computers. As of today, the company has deployed over 90 quantum systems across the globe via the cloud and dedicated on-site deployments – including more quantum computers than the rest of the industry combined. This fleet includes quantum computers operating at IBM quantum centers in New York and Germany; at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, PINQ in Quebec, The University of Tokyo and RIKEN in Japan, Yonsei University in South Korea, and BasQ in Spain, with additional systems coming soon in Chicago, and at Amaravati Quantum Valley in India.
    • Roadmap to the World’s First Large-Scale, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer: IBM has a clear path to delivering IBM Quantum Starling in 2029 – the world’s first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer which will be capable of executing 20,000 times more operations than today’s existing systems. Starling will lay the foundation for IBM Quantum Blue Jay, which will run one billion quantum operations across 2,000 qubits. These systems will deliver the transformative scale needed for quantum to take on the most challenging and currently intractable problems across science and industries.
    • Expanding Adoption: Since 2017, IBM’s quantum program has signed more than $1.1 billion in contracts with clients to advance their exploration and use of quantum computing. Today, a network of more than 340 IBM Quantum Network members spanning financial services, healthcare, materials science, academia and government are using IBM quantum computers to pursue real-world algorithmic discovery.
    • America’s First Quantum Foundry: With the support of the United States Department of Commerce, IBM recently announced plans to launch Anderon, the world’s first pure-play quantum wafer foundry. IBM will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, alongside significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce.
    • Path to Quantum Advantage: IBM is confident that its partners using IBM quantum computers will demonstrate quantum advantage in 2026. The company is seeing accelerated progress on this path as evidenced by recent experiments that confirm quantum as a useful scientific tool, including work with the Cleveland Clinic and RIKEN to model a 12,635-atom protein; a collaboration with national laboratories and universities to accurately simulate magnetic materials; and research with universities to prove the nature of a never-before-seen molecule.
    • The World’s Most Popular Quantum Software: Developed by IBM, Qiskit is the world’s preferred software stack for quantum computing and algorithms research, built to optimize and execute quantum workloads and used by nearly 70 percent of quantum developers today and have executed over 4 trillion quantum circuits on quantum computers.

    About IBM

    IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. IBM’s breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM’s long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

  • Classiq and UC Chile Launch Quantum Machine Learning Project for Biomedical Image Analysis

    Classiq and UC Chile Launch Quantum Machine Learning Project for Biomedical Image Analysis

    PRESS RELEASE — Classiq and Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) today announced a joint research project to develop hybrid quantum algorithms for biomedical image analysis, assisted by classical machine learning and the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform for quantum-classical computing.

    The 12-month engagement, titled “Enhancing Pathology through Quantum Computing,” is funded through Avanza UC 2025, the Internal Research and Creation Competition of UC Chile. To the collaborators’ knowledge, it is the first announced consortium in Latin America to combine quantum computing, machine learning and computational pathology.

    The engagement marks quantum computing’s and Classiq’s growing presence in Latin America and reflects the company’s expanding work with academic, research and public-sector institutions, including in health innovation. It also reinforces Chile’s emerging role in quantum computing, AI and advanced technology development.

    Quantum machine learning applies quantum computing methods to machine learning problems, including classification, pattern recognition and complex data analysis. The initial project focus is on renal pathology, an area of growing public health importance in Chile and across Latin America. This includes applying quantum machine learning to computational pathology, with an initial emphasis on kidney lesion classification, automated glomerular segmentation and semantic pattern search across full histological slides. The work will be conducted in collaboration with Dr. Luciano Rebouças and Dr. Washington Conrado, researchers at Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ) and professors/researchers at Universidade Federal da Bahia (UFBA) in Brazil, combining expertise in digital pathology, computer vision and biomedical data analysis using curated histopathology datasets, provided by the Brazilian institutions. The research will leverage the Classiq quantum computing software platform and the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform to leverage a seamless workflow from algorithm development through to simulation and execution.

    “Latin America has the scientific talent, institutional momentum and public health needs to support this next stage of quantum computing applications,” said Nir Minerbi, CEO and co-founder of Classiq.

    “This collaboration brings together quantum software engineering, machine learning and biomedical data expertise in a workflow and project that can help strengthen the regional quantum ecosystem while exploring a practical research path for health.”

    The project will be led by Dr. Dardo Goyeneche of the Faculty of Physics at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. Dr. Goyeneche is the founder and director of QuDIT, the Quantum Development of Information Theory group at UC, which brings together more than 20 students working on quantum information theory and quantum computing. He also directs Project QuAntü, Chile’s first universal quantum computer initiative, currently under construction since December 2025 at the UC Faculty of Physics. The team also includes Dr. Daniel Uzcátegui from Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC), Chile, whose research at the interface between machine learning and quantum information theory provides a key bridge between the two core domains of this collaboration.

    “This project connects fundamental quantum research with an important biomedical challenge,” said Dr. Goyeneche. “By working with Classiq and collaborators in Chile and Brazil, we are creating a regional platform for quantum machine learning in health, while giving researchers experience with modern quantum software engineering workflows used internationally in research and industry.”

    The research team will use Classiq’s quantum software platform to model, synthesize and optimize quantum convolutional neural networks, variational quantum classifiers and quantum kernel methods. Selected algorithms will be simulated on NVIDIA AI infrastructure, executed on IonQ quantum hardware, and benchmarked against classical machine learning approaches using standard computer vision metrics.

    The collaboration aligns with Chile’s National Strategy for Quantum Technologies 2025–2035, a recently launched government initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s quantum ecosystem and expanding national capabilities in advanced computing, secure communications and scientific innovation. The project also supports UC’s efforts to expand quantum computing research and education as part of the Faculty of Physics’ 2025–2029 strategic plan.

    About Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

    Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC Chile) is one of Latin America’s leading research universities, dedicated to the creation and transfer of knowledge and to providing a values-based education rooted in its Catholic tradition. With rigorous academic standards and international best practices adopted from top universities worldwide, UC Chile maintains a permanent commitment to excellence in service to the Church and society.

    Ranked 116th globally and first in Chile by the QS World University Rankings 2026, UC Chile also leads the country in invention patent applications filed by academic institutions, reflecting a strong focus on research, innovation, and technology transfer. The University is made up of 18 faculties, which include 26 schools and institutes, 7 interdisciplinary institutes, the UC College program, and the Villarrica Campus, together covering all areas of knowledge.

    About Classiq

    Classiq is the leading quantum computing software company, providing the technology that makes it practical for enterprises and researchers to access and harness quantum computing. Classiq’s quantum software engineering platform transforms high-level functional models into optimized, hardware-ready quantum circuits automatically. This enables teams to develop algorithms faster, optimize them for cost and performance, and make quantum applications usable sooner, without deep hardware expertise.

    Through partnerships with global leaders in quantum cloud computing, including major hyperscalers and hardware providers, Classiq ensures that customers including Rolls Royce, Comcast, The BMW Group, Intesa Sanpaolo and many others, can design once and deploy anywhere. Its synthesis technology workflow enables organizations to produce scalable, efficient quantum code that accelerates research and reduces execution cost.

    Classiq, a Fast Company ‘Next Big Thing in Tech 2025’ award winner, is backed by leading global VCs and CVCs, including SoftBank, AMD, Qualcomm and HSBC. Classiq is the global category leader at the forefront of enabling advanced quantum computing applications. Follow Classiq on LinkedIn, X or YouTube, visit the Slack community, GitHub repository and www.classiq.io to learn more.

  • National Quantum Algorithm Center Launches as Hub for Industry-Driven Quantum Use Cases

    National Quantum Algorithm Center Launches as Hub for Industry-Driven Quantum Use Cases

    The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) is introducing the National Quantum Algorithm Center (NQAC), a program designed to bring together researchers, quantum companies, and industry partners to develop practical quantum algorithms. The overall goal of the center is to connect algorithm development directly with real-world problems across sectors.

    The premise is not disputable by any mean. Quantum hardware alone is not enough. Without algorithms that define how problems are structured and solved, quantum systems will remain experimental. The NQAC is a solution to this, creating a shared environment where algorithm design, hardware access, and industry needs can be met in one place.

    Algorithms as the Limiting Factor

    Across the quantum ecosystem, it’s increasingly clear that algorithms are becoming a limiting factor in progress toward useful applications. While quantum processors continue to improve, identifying problems that can benefit from quantum solutions, and designing algorithms that can run under current constraints, is a challenge.

    By bringing together academic experts in quantum algorithms with companies developing hardware and software, the center can remove some of the distance that exists between theoretical work and applied use cases. This includes access to quantum systems, as well as collaboration on problem formulation and workflow design.

    A Convergence of Industry, Research, and Infrastructure

    The IQMP already brings together national labs such as Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab, alongside universities, startups, and established companies.

    Participants referenced in the launch include organizations like IBM, PsiQuantum, Infleqtion, and qBraid. The goal is to create a shared environment where these groups can collaborate on algorithm development tied to specific industry challenges.

    This also speaks to the mechanism by which quantum ecosystems are being built. Rather than isolated research or standalone platforms, there is increasing focus on integrated environments where hardware, software, and applications are developed in parallel.

    Lowering the Barrier to Entry

    Another stated goal of the NQAC is to act as an entry point for companies that are not yet deeply involved in quantum computing. By providing access to expertise and infrastructure, the center is positioned as a way for organizations to explore potential use cases without needing to build internal quantum teams from scratch.

    This aligns with patterns seen in other emerging technologies. Early access, whether through shared infrastructure, partnerships, or pilot program, often determines which organizations are able to translate new capabilities into competitive advantage.

    The Measure of Progress Will Be Outcomes

    The long-term impact of the NQAC will depend on whether it can produce outcomes that extend beyond collaboration itself. Access to hardware, shared expertise, and industry engagement are necessary, but not sufficient, to demonstrate progress.

    What will matter is whether the center can generate algorithms that map to real industry problems, workflows that integrate with existing systems, and vidence of performance improvements under current constraints.

    For now, the NQAC is an attempt to formalize the connection between quantum research and application development as well as an understanding that progress in quantum computing will come from the systems intentionally built around hardware.

  • Terra Quantum SPAC Deal Points to Growth in Quantum Software Layer

    Terra Quantum SPAC Deal Points to Growth in Quantum Software Layer

    Terra Quantum AG has signed a non-binding letter of intent to go public through a merger with Mountain Lake Acquisition Corp. II (Nasdaq: MLAA), in a transaction that would value the company at approximately $3.25 billion. If completed, the deal would be one of the more prominent public market entries for a quantum software-focused firm.

    The company, headquartered in St. Gallen, Switzerland, develops quantum algorithms, hybrid quantum-classical solutions, and quantum security technologies. Its commercial focus spans industries including finance, pharmaceuticals, logistics, and defense.

    While the announcement is primarily financial in nature, it reflects a broader trend in the quantum sector where companies operating above the hardware layer are increasingly seeking scale through capital markets.

    Competing at the Software Layer of the Quantum Stack

    Rather than building quantum hardware, Terra Quantum focuses on developing algorithms and hybrid workflows that can run across classical infrastructure, simulators, and available quantum processing units.

    This makes sense considering the current state of the industry. Most practical quantum use cases today rely on hybrid architectures, where classical systems handle orchestration, preprocessing, and postprocessing, while quantum components are used selectively for specific subroutines such as optimization or state space exploration.

    In this context, companies like Terra Quantum are effectively competing on how well they can integrate quantum methods into existing computational pipelines. The differentiator to be demonstrated here is in how systems are packaged, deployed, and adapted to real-world constraints.

    Terra Quantum specifically has highlighted commercial traction across multiple sectors, though specific implementation details such as deployment models, performance benchmarks, or integration pathways were not disclosed in the announcement.

    SPAC Deal Sets Up Terra Quantum for Expansion

    The proposed transaction follows a familiar route for emerging technology companies seeking public listings. Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) provide a faster path to market compared to traditional IPOs, though they also come with variability in completion timelines and valuation adjustments.

    In this case, the agreement is currently based on a letter of intent, meaning the transaction is announced but not finalized. There is no guarantee it will proceed under the stated terms.

    For the quantum sector, SPAC activity has been uneven over the past several years, with some companies using public listings to accelerate growth while others have faced pressure to align long-term research timelines with short-term market expectations.

    Terra Quantum’s entry here suggests confidence that it’s products can be valuable within a commercially relevant timeframe.

    Capital Allocation and its Impact on Software and Infrastructure
    The value here is, no pun intended, not solely the valuation. Capital at this level can be productionized and this additional capital will likely be translated into deployable systems.

    The company has outlined plans to accelerate product development, expand globally, and pursue strategic acquisitions. In practical terms, this could take several forms:

    • Expansion of software platforms or tooling environments
    • Deeper integration with cloud or high-performance computing infrastructure
    • Increased focus on enterprise-ready deployment models
    • Development of standardized interfaces for hybrid workflows

    However, none of these have been specified in detail. The announcement does not include new product releases, API updates, or changes to access models. For now, this is all intent.

    Validation to Come

    The proposed merger remains subject to due diligence, negotiation, and final agreement. If completed, Terra Quantum would join a small but growing group of quantum companies operating in the public markets.

    The pace at which the company translates capital into usable systems, partnerships, and infrastructure will determine whether the announcement represents a structural step forward or simply a financial milestone.

  • Q-CTRL Fire Opal Integrates Natively with IonQ Quantum Cloud for Optimization Workloads

    Q-CTRL Fire Opal Integrates Natively with IonQ Quantum Cloud for Optimization Workloads

    PRESS RELEASE – LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 23, 2026 – Q-CTRL, the global leader in quantum infrastructure software, and IonQ, the world’s leading quantum platform company, today announced the native integration of Q-CTRL’s Fire Opal software into IonQ’s quantum processors to maximize their quantum performance.

    Quantum optimization is a compelling candidate for near-term quantum acceleration across problems in logistics, finance, energy, and more. For the typical customer, even an expert in quantum computing, extracting high-quality solutions from real hardware is highly challenging; many parameters and techniques must be manually tuned or adjusted by the user, mandating a depth and breadth of specialized skills few end users possess.

    Q-CTRL and IonQ are reducing the barriers to achieving true commercial value from the most advanced quantum processors, natively integrating Fire Opal’s Optimization Solver directly into IonQ Quantum Cloud as a single, fully configured, easy-to-use function. Now any end user can focus on their optimization problem, allowing Fire Opal to automatically handle all aspects of execution on real hardware to achieve the most valuable results.

    IonQ Quantum Cloud users can access Fire Opal’s Optimization Solver directly on IonQ’s Forte and Forte-Enterprise devices, the company’s highest-performing, commercially available quantum computers.

    “At Q-CTRL, we’re focused on providing the infrastructure software that makes it possible for end users to achieve true positive ROI from the most advanced quantum computers available. The capability to solve world-changing problems is right there inside of these extraordinary machines. We’re thrilled to partner with IonQ in empowering customers with the quantum-control infrastructure software that brings this power within reach.” — Alex Shih, VP of Product at Q-CTRL

    The value of the Fire Opal optimization solver coupled to IonQ Forte is captured in a telecommunications industry case study, delivering the correct solution to reduce network interference out of 68 billion possibilities.

    In addition to this native optimization solver on the IonQ Quantum Cloud, Fire Opal’s performance-management capabilities for integrating error suppression into an arbitrary quantum circuit remain available for IonQ hardware via Amazon Braket. These expanded access points now enable users to achieve meaningful industrial outcomes and reliable results without specialized expertise in quantum hardware.

    Q-CTRL has an unrivaled track record of creating modular, enterprise-grade infrastructure software, integrated across a range of quantum computing architectures, from trapped ions and semiconductor spins to superconducting qubits. Algorithm performance can be boosted by up to 1,000x, making Fire Opal an extraordinarily powerful and versatile tool for enterprise end users seeking reliable performance enhancement across their varied applications.

    “In our experience, IonQ has been a leading hardware platform, and we are excited by what the native integration of Fire Opal error suppression and optimization can unlock. We expect the Fire Opal optimization solver will significantly streamline our workflow by abstracting away from the specific quantum circuits and unlocking latent hardware performance, allowing us to focus fully on solving the core problem rather than managing the complexities of implementation.” — Dr. David Benoit, Senior Lecturer in Molecular Physics and Astrochemistry at the University of Hull

    To use Fire Opal on IonQ Quantum Cloud, visit Q-CTRL’s website to request access: https://q-ctrl.com/fire-opal/ionq

    About IonQ

    IonQ, Inc. [NYSE: IONQ] is the world’s leading quantum platform and merchant supplier – delivering integrated quantum solutions across computing, networking, sensing, and security. IonQ’s newest generation of quantum computers, the IonQ Tempo, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems that have been helping customers and partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA achieve 20x performance results and accelerate innovation in drug discovery, materials science, financial modeling, logistics, cybersecurity, and defense. In 2025, the company achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity, setting a world record in quantum computing performance.

    Headquartered in College Park, Maryland, IonQ has operations in California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Washington, Italy, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our quantum computing services are available through all major cloud providers, while we also meet the needs of networking and sensing customers across land, sea, air, and space. IonQ is making quantum platforms more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

    About Q-CTRL

    Q-CTRL is a global leader in quantum infrastructure software that makes quantum technology useful. Q-CTRL delivers field-deployable capabilities for navigation in GPS-denied environments based on software-ruggedized quantum sensors, with collaborators including Lockheed Martin and Airbus. Their efforts in leveraging software to solve the most challenging problems in making quantum technologies useful carry over to quantum computing, where Q-CTRL partners with industry pioneers like IBM, Rigetti, and AWS to enhance quantum computer performance through AI-driven control solutions. The company’s breakthroughs have been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and recognized by TIME Magazine as transforming both commercial and defense operations. Founded
in 2017 by Professor Michael J. Biercuk, Q-CTRL operates globally from offices in Sydney, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Huntsville, Berlin, and Oxford.