Quantum Developments (January 20–23, 2026)

January 20, 2026 – Key Developments

• DARPA Boosts Quantum Research Funding: The U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) released its FY2026 budget with a $4.9 billion allocation (up 12% from 2025) emphasizing basic and emerging tech research. Notably, DARPA’s 2026 calls include a focus on “utility-scale quantum computing,” signaling significant support for moving beyond lab demos toward practical quantum systems.

• China’s First Atomic QC Startup Secures Funding: CASCA (CAS Cold Atom Technology) – a Chinese spin-off that built the country’s first 100-qubit neutral-atom quantum computer (debuted as Hanyuan No. 1 in 2024) – raised nearly $14 million in strategic funding. Investors like Xin Guang Quantum Fund and Hubei Sci-Invest contributed to fuel CASCA’s scale-up, including a planned Atomic Quantum Computing Center for real-world tasks (e.g. financial risk analysis). CASCA’s neutral-atom approach (trapping 100 identical atoms with laser arrays) achieves high gate fidelities (99.9% single-/98% two-qubit) and eliminates cryogenics, indicating a push for practical, domestically-built quantum systems.

• Multi-Node Quantum Network in Spain: In Madrid, researchers from UPM (Univ. Politécnica de Madrid) and Dutch startup QBird launched Spain’s first multi-node MDI-QKD network. The Measurement-Device-Independent QKD setup links three high-security sites (two at aerospace institute INTA and one at the Interior Ministry) without trusted nodes. This pilot (part of the EU Quantum Communication Infrastructure efforts) uses QBird’s Falqon® hardware to achieve a fully connected, scalable quantum cryptography network – a significant milestone in Europe’s quantum communications infrastructure.

• India Orders 108-Qubit Superconducting Computer: U.S. firm Rigetti Computing announced an $8.4 million contract to deliver a 108-qubit superconducting quantum computer to India’s Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC). The Rigetti system, incorporating its chiplet-based multichip architecture, will be installed at C-DAC’s Bengaluru supercomputing center by late 2026. This marks the first on-premises quantum computer in India’s national HPC cluster, underscoring government priority on hybrid quantum-classical infrastructure.

• Google Advances Quantum Error Correction: Google’s Quantum AI team unveiled a dynamic surface code approach to quantum error correction. By employing new dynamic circuits with fewer couplers and a novel gate type, the researchers removed correlated errors present in static codes. This innovation (detailed in a Google Research blog) demonstrates more efficient error correction, potentially easing the path toward scalable fault-tolerant qubit arrays.

• Quantum “Rule-Break” in Kondo Physics: A team in Japan reported a fundamental quantum physics breakthrough: when the localized spin in a Kondo lattice is increased from 1/2 to 1, the material’s behavior changes qualitatively. Their engineered “Kondo necklace” system showed that spin–½ impurities form Kondo singlets, whereas spin–1 impurities induce magnetic order (breaking the usual Kondo screening). This reveals a new boundary in many-body physics, suggesting spin size can dictate whether a heavy-electron material is non-magnetic or magnetically ordered – insight that could guide future quantum material design.

• 91-Qubit Quantum Simulation of Chaotic Physics: Researchers from IBM, Algorithmiq, and partners showed that today’s noisy quantum hardware can tackle complex physics. Using a 91-qubit IBM processor with advanced error mitigation (but no full error correction), they accurately simulated quantum chaotic dynamics – reproducing signatures of quantum chaos in a dual-unitary circuit and validating against theory. The study, published in Nature Physics, demonstrated that error-mitigated quantum computations can reliably study strongly interacting many-body systems, even resolving disagreements between classical simulation methods. This suggests that near-term quantum computers are already useful tools for complex physics and hardware benchmarking, ahead of fault-tolerant machines.

• Quantum State Tomography via Indirect Measurement: Physicists at the University of Geneva developed a novel method to determine a quantum system’s state through indirect environmental measurements. Reported as a Physical Review Letters Editor’s Choice, the technique uses particle transport currents (flows induced by coupling a system to multiple reservoirs) to infer the system’s quantum state. This approach turns the environment from a “foe” to an ally – enabling characterization of quantum states in strongly coupled, open systems where traditional direct measurements fail. The work is a major step toward quantum state tomography in realistic conditions (e.g. quantum sensors or computing devices interacting with their environment).

January 21, 2026 – Key Developments

• SpinQ Raises Series C for Expansion: SpinQ Technology, a Shenzhen-based quantum computing company, closed a Series C financing round raising “hundreds of millions of RMB” (tens of millions USD). Co-led by Chinese VC firms (Longli, Jadex, HTHS, ADDOR, etc.), the round will fund SpinQ’s core tech R&D and commercialization efforts. SpinQ, an early mover with full-stack offerings (hardware, software, services), said the capital will help scale up system delivery and global market reach – continuing its push in superconducting qubits and industry-oriented quantum solutions.

• D-Wave Acquires Quantum Circuits Inc. (QCI): D-Wave Quantum Inc. completed its acquisition of U.S. startup Quantum Circuits Inc., making D-Wave a rare dual-platform quantum company offering both annealing and gate-model systems. QCI specializes in error-corrected superconducting qubits (“dual-rail” resonator qubits), which D-Wave says will accelerate development of a scalable fault-tolerant gate-model machine expected to debut in 2026. D-Wave’s CEO hailed the deal as a “watershed moment” establishing D-Wave as a leader with complementary technologies – annealers (already commercial) and the coming gate-model quantum computer – to tackle a wider range of customer problems. QCI co-founder Rob Schoelkopf will join D-Wave as Chief Scientist, bringing expertise that could significantly advance D-Wave’s error-corrected quantum computing roadmap.

• UK Visa Pledge to Boost Quantum Talent: At Davos, UK Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced plans to overhaul Britain’s Global Talent Visa to attract more quantum and AI experts. The proposal includes refunding visa fees for researchers in quantum, AI, and semiconductors, aiming to make the UK a magnet for top talent in “industries of the future”. Quantum startup leaders (e.g. Riverlane’s CEO) applauded the move, noting that access to specialized talent is critical and a current bottleneck for scaling quantum ventures. Easing immigration barriers, alongside domestic training, is seen as vital for the UK to convert its strong quantum research base into long-term industry leadership.

• MIT’s Faster Cooling for Trapped-Ion Chips: Researchers at MIT and MIT Lincoln Laboratory demonstrated a new photonic chip-based cooling method for trapped-ion qubits that is ~10× more effective than standard laser cooling. By integrating nanoscale optical antennas on a silicon chip, they achieved polarization-gradient cooling of ions to temperatures about ten times below the Doppler limit in just ~100 µs. This on-chip cooling, detailed in Light: Science & Applications and PRL, uses intersecting polarized laser beams (a micro-scale “vortex” of light) to rapidly remove ion vibrational energy. The achievement, using CMOS-compatible photonics, paves the way for compact, stable trapped-ion quantum computers by replacing bulky optics with scalable chip-based solutions.

• IBM: Enterprises Not Ready for Quantum Era (Survey): A study by IBM’s Institute for Business Value found a strategic disconnect in industry’s quantum preparedness. In the survey of 2,000+ executives across 23 industries, 59% expect quantum-enabled AI to transform their sector by 2030, yet only 27% think their own organization will be using quantum by then. IBM characterizes this gap as a “miscalculation”, warning that companies focused narrowly on AI may miss the deeper computing shift. The report urges enterprises to view quantum as a complementary accelerator (for optimization, simulation, etc.) that will integrate into hybrid workflows alongside classical and AI – and to start building quantum readiness now. In short, quantum is inevitable, and businesses ignoring it risk falling behind when the technology matures.

• Horizon Quantum & Alice&Bob Partner on Fault Tolerance: Singapore-based software startup Horizon Quantum Computing and French hardware company Alice & Bob announced a collaboration to speed up fault-tolerant quantum computing development. Alice&Bob, known for its “cat qubit” error-correcting hardware, will integrate its quantum emulators (virtual cat-qubit processors) into Horizon’s Triple Alpha quantum software platform. This allows developers to start coding and testing error-corrected algorithms tailored to Alice&Bob’s architecture before the physical hardware is live. The partnership aims to create a full-stack toolchain (compiler optimizations, resource estimations, etc.) that maximizes hardware performance and streamlines deployment of fault-tolerant quantum algorithms on Alice&Bob’s forthcoming machines. It underscores a broader trend of co-design between quantum hardware and software firms to achieve practical fault tolerance.

• Research: Cooling Method for Chip Ion Traps (MIT): (See MIT cooling above under Jan 21).

(Jan 21 also saw other items like a SpaceDaily report on quantum collapse models limiting atomic clock accuracy, and a New Scientist essay on “quantum spookiness” – but the above cover the most notable academic and industry news.)

January 22, 2026 – Key Developments

• Quantum Networking Startup Vision: In a Sifted interview, Carmen Palacios-Berraquero, CEO of UK photonics startup Nu Quantum, asserted that quantum networking “will be a multi-billion dollar business.” Nu Quantum, a Cambridge spin-out focused on single-photon sources and quantum cryptography, has pioneered quantum communication hardware and is determined to dominate the sector as it scales up. Palacios-Berraquero’s confidence underscores growing investor interest in quantum networks as Europe races to commercialize technologies like quantum key distribution and secure fiber networks.

• Neutral-Atom Breakthrough – Light–Matter Thermalization: A University at Buffalo–led study found that photons and atoms don’t always reach thermal equilibrium quickly, even when strongly coupled. Using theoretical models of ultracold atoms in an optical cavity, the team showed light and matter can form long-lived “prethermal” states at different effective temperatures (in some cases photons at positive temperature while atoms at negative). These transient states last milliseconds – enough to be useful in a neutral-atom quantum computer. Essentially, delaying thermalization means trapped atomic qubits can interact via photons (for multi-array linking) without immediately losing quantum coherence to heating. Published in PRL, this result suggests that scaling neutral-atom processors with optical interconnects is feasible if light-matter thermalization can be managed.

• Alice&Bob “Elevator” Code for Qubits: French startup Alice & Bob revealed a new error-correction scheme called “Elevator codes” for its cat-qubit architecture. The company claims this method dramatically reduces error rates on bosonic qubits by cleverly designing code space and feedback – potentially improving the performance of its superconducting cat qubits. (This was detailed on Alice&Bob’s blog, aligning with their roadmap toward a fault-tolerant logical qubit.)

• Vienna Sets Matter-Wave Record: Physicists at University of Vienna achieved quantum interference with metallic nanoparticles ~8 nm across (~170,000 amu), the most massive objects yet in a quantum superposition. Using a sophisticated matter-wave interferometer (MUSCLE), they launched thousands-of-atom sodium clusters and observed interference fringes – proving these “nano clumps” can exist in delocalized quantum states. The experiment pushes the macroscopic boundary of quantum mechanics, far beyond molecules used previously. With a 360 μm baseline and extreme vibration isolation, the team preserved quantum coherence for these particles, highlighting no fundamental size limit for quantum behavior yet. Such work tests quantum collapse theories and might inform future quantum sensors or the quantum-to-classical transition.

• CEA-Leti Advances Quantum Cascade Lasers: At SPIE Photonics West 2026, France’s CEA-Leti presented progress on integrating quantum cascade lasers (QCLs) with silicon photonics. The new pilot Photonic Integrated Circuits can embed mid-infrared QCL sources on silicon chips, crucial for miniaturizing sensors and possibly mid-IR quantum devices. CEA-Leti demonstrated three hybrid III-V/Si laser architectures, showing that on-chip QCLs can cover the mid-IR molecular fingerprint region with high power and scalability. This €50M EU-backed effort aims to achieve robust, manufacturable mid-IR photonic platforms, analogous to how silicon photonics revolutionized near-IR (telecom) systems. The work will enable smaller, cost-effective IR spectrometers and could play a role in future quantum sensors or free-space comms.

• China Touts Quantum Battlefield Tools: Chinese military officials announced they are developing 10 quantum-based tools to gain faster intelligence and cyber capabilities on the battlefield. As reported in defense media, the PLA’s projects (part of its quantum tech program) aim to process vast combat datasets “within seconds” using quantum computing and secure comms, improving decision speed for commanders. One prototype mentioned is a “quantum radio” receiver reportedly capable of detecting enemy signals over long distances with quantum-level sensitivity. These efforts suggest China is heavily investing in quantum sensing, encryption, and computing for defense – seeking an edge in future high-tech warfare.

• QMill Claims Six-Fold Quantum Advantage Leap: Finland-based QMill Oy announced a breakthrough in reaching “quantum advantage” with a six-fold improvement in some performance metric (as per a company release). While details were sparse, QMill – which works on quantum algorithms for optimization – implied its new approach significantly boosts the effective power of near-term quantum processors. (Such claims will need verification, but they reflect the competitive race among startups to demonstrate useful quantum advantages in specific domains.)

• European Quantum Pilot for Photonic Chips: The EU launched Photonics for Quantum (P4Q), a €50 million pilot program spanning 12 countries to industrialize quantum photonic chips. Starting this year, P4Q brings together academia and industry to turn fragile lab prototypes (single-photon sources, integrated circuits for quantum communication and computing) into “quantum-ready” manufacturable components. The aim is to solve a major bottleneck: moving from one-off experiments to mass-produced photonic platforms that can be deployed in quantum networks and processors. By uniting Europe’s photonics and quantum expertise, this pilot will accelerate the continent’s quantum readiness and strengthen its supply chain for critical components.

• Educational Initiative – Quantum Internet Use Cases: The Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) in Europe announced a new webinar series highlighting real-world use cases for the quantum internet. This outreach effort, under the EU Quantum Flagship, will involve industry and research experts explaining how quantum networks could impact sectors like finance, cybersecurity, and telecommunications. By engaging stakeholders via regular webinars, QIA aims to raise awareness of near-term quantum communication applications (beyond theory) and prepare businesses for upcoming field trials of quantum internet technologies.

January 23, 2026 – Key Developments

• IBM+Keyfactor Launch Quantum-Safe Solution: IBM Consulting partnered with cybersecurity firm Keyfactor to release a joint solution for enterprise quantum-safe cryptography. The offering will help companies inventory and upgrade their digital certificates and encryption schemes to ones resistant to quantum attacks (aligning with NIST’s post-quantum cryptography standards). With large-scale quantum computers on the horizon, IBM and Keyfactor emphasize proactive migration to quantum-resistant encryption to protect sensitive data.

• Microsoft Unveils New Quantum Developer Tools: Microsoft announced powerful updates to its Azure Quantum Development Kit (QDK) to make quantum programming more accessible. New tools include deeper integration of GitHub Copilot AI assistance for Q# coding, libraries for quantum chemistry simulations, and improved error-correction libraries – all aimed at expanding the versatility of Microsoft’s quantum platform. Microsoft highlighted that its cloud-based Quantum platform is hardware-agnostic and now supports multiple quantum processors (including neutral-atom QPUs via its partnership with Atom Computing). These developer enhancements lower the barrier for scientists and enterprises to experiment with hybrid quantum workflows on Azure.

• EU’s €50M Photonic Chip Pilot (P4Q): (See Jan 22 above – launched on Jan 23.) The Photonics for Quantum pilot officially kicked off, underlining Europe’s strategic bet on photonic quantum hardware.

• Metasurface Optics for Scalable Quantum Computing: A research highlight in Optics & Photonics News described how metasurfaces (nano-patterned optics) can enable trapping of hundreds of thousands of neutral atoms for quantum computing. Scientists at Columbia University demonstrated that a single laser beam passing through a fabricated metasurface can generate vast 2D optical tweezer arrays – in one test, a metasurface created a 360,000-trap lattice (though without atoms loaded yet). In experiments, they trapped strontium atoms in smaller arrays up to ~1,000 tweezers, including complex patterns like a miniature Statue of Liberty outline. Metasurfaces provide much higher optical numerical aperture and trap density than traditional light modulators, making them a promising route to scale neutral-atom quantum processors to error-corrected sizes (≫10,000 qubits).

• Quantum Connectivity & Internet Initiatives: At Optica’s Quantum Networking forum, researchers reviewed approaches to quantum network scalability – for instance, a feature article discussed progress in entanglement-based Quantum Internet architectures across Europe. Additionally, the EU Quantum Flagship’s Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA) launched a webinar series (see Jan 22) to disseminate practical use cases, reflecting increasing momentum in quantum networking R&D and community-building.

• U.S. Congressional Hearing – Quantum Workforce: U.S. experts told lawmakers that the next big constraint for quantum tech is not devices but the workforce. In a House Science Committee hearing (Jan 22), officials reported that despite increased funding since 2018 (National Quantum Initiative), not enough quantum-trained workers are available to meet demand. Data from the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) shows industry needs a broad base of engineers, technicians, and researchers, but university output is lagging. Lawmakers from both parties indicated plans to reauthorize and expand the National Quantum Initiative Act, with a focus on education, training programs, and public-private partnerships to grow the quantum workforce. This highlights a shifting policy emphasis toward human capital as critical infrastructure for quantum innovation.

• Quantum Industry Moves: The Northwest Quantum Nexus – a U.S. regional coalition – announced a new executive leadership team to formalize its structure, aiming to accelerate quantum R&D and workforce development in the Pacific Northwest (University of Washington-led). In the private sector, Quantum Xchange (U.S. quantum communications firm) hired former SignalFX CMO Tom Butta as Chief Commercial & Marketing Officer to drive growth, and UK-based Quantum Motion appointed Eva Flipse (ex-Qblox) as Marketing Director as it ramps up efforts in silicon-based qubits. These personnel moves reflect the maturation of quantum startups, bringing in experienced executives to commercialize emerging technologies.

• New Quantum Investment Fund: Deep33, a newly launched investment firm, emerged with a $150 million fund dedicated to quantum technology and “hard tech” infrastructure projects. Deep33 plans to back startups building the backbone for quantum computing and other deep-tech innovations, signaling robust investor confidence in the sector. Such large funds will help early-stage companies bridge the “Valley of Death” in hardware development and scale experimental breakthroughs into deployed systems.

• European Quantum Community Growth: UK-based hardware startup Universal Quantum (developing trapped-ion quantum modules) announced it has joined Quantum Denmark’s national network. This partnership gives Universal Quantum access to Denmark’s quantum research community and facilities, and exemplifies the increasing cross-border collaboration in Europe’s quantum ecosystem. By engaging with Danish institutions, the startup aims to accelerate its mission of building a large-scale ion-trap quantum computer, while Denmark strengthens ties with international quantum firms.

Each of the above developments – spanning fundamental research breakthroughs, funding and M&A in the industry, government policy moves, and commercial product announcements – highlights the rapid progress in quantum computing, physics, and technology during the week of January 20–23, 2026. The period saw significant strides toward scalable quantum hardware (from photonic chips to neutral-atom arrays), growing investments and partnerships in the quantum industry, and increasing recognition by governments that building a quantum-ready workforce and infrastructure is as important as the scientific advances themselves.