Jan 29 — Quantum batteries as a scaling lever
CSIRO researchers proposed an architecture where quantum batteries are integrated into quantum computers to recycle energy internally, potentially cutting heat/wiring overhead and enabling higher qubit density (their modeling suggests up to ~4× more qubits in the same physical footprint). It’s theoretical for now, but it targets a painfully real bottleneck: scaling isn’t just “more qubits”, it’s also power, cooling, and interconnect hell.
Entities: CSIRO, Physical Review X
Jan 30 — NYC gets “commercial access” quantum compute (hybrid platform)
Options Technology announced what it describes as the first commercially accessible quantum computing capability in New York City, delivered via a hybrid compute platform aimed at capital markets users. The deployment reportedly integrates quantum hardware from Oxford Quantum Circuits inside a data-center environment (via Digital Realty), alongside CPU/GPU infrastructure—basically: “quantum as one ingredient in a real enterprise stack.”
Feb 2 — Photonics consolidation: QCi closes $110M Luminar Semiconductor acquisition
Quantum Computing Inc. announced it completed its all-cash acquisition of Luminar Semiconductor valued at $110M—a move that underlines how photonics is becoming a core strategic lane for quantum-adjacent compute/communications.
Feb 2 — Dual-use quantum momentum: Fujitsu + Lockheed Martin MOU
Fujitsu and Lockheed Martin announced an MOU to accelerate dual-use technologies, explicitly including quantum computing among other advanced stacks (edge, sensing, AI/ML, microelectronics, next-gen networks). This is the “defense + industry” flywheel spinning up again.
Feb 2 — Neutral-atom scaling idea: “tiny light trap” for massive readout
A Stanford University team reported miniature optical cavities that efficiently collect light from individual atoms, enabling many qubits to be read in parallel. They’ve demonstrated arrays with dozens/hundreds of cavities, with the long-term vision pointing toward far larger (even “million-qubit”) neutral-atom style architectures—still a big “engineering marathon,” but a meaningful component for scaling.
Feb 2 — Regional expansion: QuEra + Roadrunner bring quantum platform to New Mexico
QuEra Computing and Roadrunner Venture Studios announced a $4M strategic effort to bring QuEra’s quantum platform into New Mexico—more evidence that the ecosystem is diffusing geographically (not just “SF/Boston/NYC”).
Feb 3 — Silicon-based quantum: Diraq gets $20M NRFC equity stake
National Reconstruction Fund Corporation announced a $20M equity investment in Diraq to back silicon-chip-based quantum computing ambitions. The angle: leverage standard semiconductor processes toward utility-scale machines—i.e., betting on manufacturability as a route to scale.
Feb 3 — PQC meets crypto ops: 01 Quantum launches migration toolkit + token
01 Quantum (with qLABS) announced a Layer-1 blockchain migration toolkit aimed at post-quantum upgrades, plus the $qONE token (issuance scheduled Feb 6 on Hyperliquid). It’s “quantum threat preparedness” colliding with governance and deployment reality—phased migration vs. disruptive hard forks.
