In the second part of this interview with Dr.Anna Phan, Asia Pacific Quantum Alliance Lead at IBM Quantum, Tech Wire Asia learns more about IBM’s plans for quantum computing in 2022, as well as the costs from developing and using the technology.

THE WORLD HAS ENTERED THE QUANTUM DECADE, SAYS IBM

Aaron Raj | 22 December, 2021

What can we expect from IBM in 2022 for quantum computing?

We published our technology roadmap in 2020, which puts us on a course toward million-plus qubit processors by the end of the decade.

In 2021, we released our development roadmap, which showcases our integrated vision and timeline for full-stack quantum development, including hardware, software, and applications.

It lays out the path toward developer services leveraging 1,000+ qubit systems, via the IBM Cloud, to investigate error correction. It also provides the technical foundations of how we scale and drive the adoption of quantum computing for our clients and ecosystem.

Developers exploring quantum computing today will be able to do more, faster, as IBM implements technologies designed on OpenShift to work alongside quantum computers. And more developers from different industries will have more reasons and opportunities to explore quantum computing within their workflows.

Recently, we broke the 100-qubit barrier with the introduction of “Eagle”, a 127-qubit quantum processor — the first IBM device that cannot be reliably simulated on a classical device.

This is another step toward the goal of systems capable of exploring applications with a quantum advantage.

This breakthrough gives even more confidence to those in the industry beginning to adopt QC, as well as university students who are choosing their fields of study.

While we announced Eagle, we also previewed the design for IBM Quantum System Two, which is an example of a modular hardware architecture that provides a pathway to continue scaling up quantum processors.

IBM Quantum System Two will support our upcoming 433-qubit IBM Quantum Osprey processor, planned for 2022, and our 1,121-qubit IBM Quantum Condor processor, targeted for 2023.

IBM Quantum System Two incorporates a new generation of scalable qubit control electronics together with higher-density cryogenic components and cabling. It will move us closer to a true quantum data center.

Not only are we working toward increasing the scale of our systems to more than 400-qubit processors by 2022, but our systems will run a wider variety of circuits, allowing users to tackle problems previously inaccessible to any quantum processors.

Will quantum computing technology be more affordable in the future?

Quantum is an area of incredible promise slated to unlock hundreds of billions of dollars of value for our clients by the end of the decade.

In terms of IBM’s roadmap, Boston Consulting Group and IBM see $3B+ in near-term value creation, with IBM’s 1,121-qubit “Condor” processor being an inflection point in 2023.

This milestone marks our ability to implement error correction and scale up our devices, while simultaneously being complex enough to explore potential quantum advantages—problems that we can solve more efficiently on a quantum computer than on the world’s best supercomputers.

Take financial services — according to BCG’s report, quantum capabilities could be in trader workflows by 2025. So too, could these capabilities be in place for powering computational fluid dynamics for aerospace and automotive design.

To accomplish all of this, it will take IBM and an ecosystem to identify the problems, design the right solutions, ensure a quantum ready workforce and quantum ready industries. What quantum roadmap does is it gives business leaders, developers, investors confidence that the “engine to power all of this” is getting stronger. This is key to future value creation.

The post IBM: Quantum computing will unlock billions in value by 2030 appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

In fact, at the recent 2021 Quantum Summit, IBM declared that 2023 will be the year when its systems deliver quantum advantage as quantum computing takes its early place as a powerful tool in the high-performance computing landscape.

Dr. Anna Phan, Asia Pacific Quantum Alliance Lead at IBM Quantum, spoke to Tech Wire Asia on the future of quantum computing. In the first part of the interview, she explains how the industry forecasts for 2022 and the growing competition as well.

How does IBM foresee the quantum computing industry unfolding in 2022?

Dr.Anna Phan, Asia Pacific Quantum Alliance Lead at IBM Quantum. (Source – IBM)

Quantum computing is no longer a futuristic concept. The world has entered into the quantum decade — an era when enterprises begin to see quantum computing’s business value. This year’s unprecedented advances in hardware, software development, and services validate the technology’s momentum.

This is creating an ecosystem from individual developers to institutions and industries that paves the way for further breakthroughs in 2022, preparing the market for the eventual adoption of this nascent technology.

From a technology innovation perspective, things are moving fast. Certain problems simply can’t be solved with a classical computer due to capacity or processing speed constraints.

IBM’s own publicly available quantum roadmap is focused on removing these constraints to deliver quantum advantage – the point where certain information processing tasks can be performed more efficiently or cost-effectively on a quantum computer than on a classical computer. This involves driving performance improvements along three dimensions: scale, quality, and speed.

However, innovation alone can’t unlock the full potential of quantum computing. In 2022, the industry needs to continue preparing for the day quantum computing can help solve tough, classically unsolvable problems, enabling businesses to gain a competitive advantage. As next year unfolds, this will require a focus on developing quantum skills across the quantum ecosystem to ensure industry workforces that are ‘quantum ready’.

As outlined in our “Quantum Decade” report, we estimate that there are only about 3,000 skilled quantum workers in the market today. That base needs to be doubled or quadrupled to exploit the full potential of quantum this decade and ensure businesses aren’t left behind.

Across Asia and the rest of the world, through next year IBM will continue investing in quantum developer certification, as well as boot camp-like educational programs and investments in university curricula that empower a diverse workforce and enable quantum computing skills to blossom.

How far are we from seeing real-world quantum computing use cases being adapted by organizations?

Companies already engaging with quantum computing – simply wanting a head start with what might soon become possible. It could help address problems that are too challenging for even today’s most powerful supercomputers, such as figuring out how to make better batteries or sequester carbon emissions.

IBM is currently working with more than 170 organizations around the world, including Asia, on research to apply quantum to real-world problems. For example, Mercedes-Benz is working with us to explore how quantum computing can advance the development of lithium-sulfur batteries for electric vehicles.

(Editor’s note: Both Toyota and BMW are also using quantum computing in their electric vehicle and EV battery production and supply chain.)

CERN is using our quantum systems to explore ways to use machine learning to look for new ways of finding patterns in data from the LHC (large hadron collider).

And industrial chemists at Mitsubishi Chemical and JSR Corporation, which are members of the IBM Quantum Hub at Keio University in Japan, are using our systems to model and analyze the deep molecular structures of potential new OLED (organic light-emitting diode) materials.

There are many use cases where businesses could put quantum computing to work. One field that could greatly benefit from quantum computing is chemistry where it may help discover new materials, drugs, and fertilizers, among many other potential discoveries.

For example, BP is using IBM’s quantum systems to explore applications for driving efficiencies and reducing carbon ‎emissions, while ExxonMobil is exploring possible solutions to the logistical challenge of moving the world’s cleanest-burning fuel LPG across the globe, also using IBM quantum systems.

With growing research from various companies all over the world in quantum computing, is the industry getting more competitive?

 The quantum computing challenge is too big for any one organization. As quantum moves from the lab to the real world, ecosystems are forming to support collaborative innovation and open-source development. Potential ecosystems likely include a quantum computing technology partner, quantum computing developers, and academic partners.

IBM has been at the heart of this ecosystem since developing and deploying the first working quantum computer on the cloud in 2016. And now more than 380,000 registered users, and 170 companies, academic institutions, start-ups, and national research labs all over the world are part of IBM’s community. Enabled by IBM’s quantum computers, scientists, engineers, and consultants, they are using our technology, publishing fundamental research, contributing code to the open-source Qiskit software framework, and pursuing real-world use cases. This shows the willingness of individuals and businesses, alike, to get ready for a future with quantum computing.

Just in Asia over the last year, we collaborated with our partners at the University of Tokyo to install an IBM Quantum System One — the first in Japan. Considered Japan’s most-powerful quantum computer, it is part of a larger, ongoing collaboration with the Quantum Innovation Initiative Consortium to advance Japan’s exploration of quantum science, business, and education. We also recently announced plans to install an IBM Quantum System One at Yonsei University in Seoul, South Korea, where we are already working with Sungkyunkwan University to grow the local quantum computing ecosystem through education.

Additionally, in Singapore, we are working with the National University of Singapore to support training and promote industry-academia collaboration to develop new software in quantum computing.

And recently, University of Melbourne researchers working on IBM devices developed techniques to entangle all 27 qubits on our “Falcon” processor, as well as all 65 qubits on our “Hummingbird” processor – the most entangled qubits in both instances.

Entanglement is what gives quantum computers their exponential power; being able to entangle more qubits could allow users to carry out vastly more complex calculations.

In the second part of our conversation with Dr. Anna, we discuss the costs involved in quantum computing and IBM’s plans for the industry in 2022. 

The post The world has entered the quantum decade, says IBM appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Now, the Quantum Terminal in New South Wales’ Tech Central is expected to see its first three tenants from Australian quantum computing specialist companies. 

NSW’s Tech Central is the state Government’s drive innovation and technology precinct. Located in central Sydney at 477 Pitt Street, the Tech Central Scaleup Hub will be operated by Stone & Chalk. 

The three tenants are Sydney-based Q-Ctrl, the Sydney Quantum Academy, and ACT-based Quantum Brilliance. All these companies are working on furthering quantum computing technology. 

NSW deputy premier Stuart Ayres said the Government was focused on helping businesses expand and enter their next phase of growth at Tech Central, reported CRN.

“Quantum Terminal along with the rest of Tech Central will form one of the most vibrant innovation corridors in Australia,” Ayres said.

“Building on the opening of the Quantum Terminal, we’re also investing up to $21 million to prioritize affordable accommodation for scaleups. 

“From December, businesses can apply for rebates on rental and fit-out costs of up to $600,000 a year through the Tech Central Scaleup Accommodation Rebate.”

CEO of Tech Central Scaleup Hub operator Stone & Chalk Michael Bromley said: “Through our second Hub in Sydney, we’ll be able to support domestic and international startups in their transition to becoming scale-ups by providing vital access to the resources and infrastructure required for success”. 

Chair of the Tech Central Industry Advisory Group David Thodey said the opportunities for innovation and collaboration across the precinct were unrivaled.

“These facilities and support initiatives will help businesses both large and small, driving new opportunities for innovation and collaboration to build a sustainable and enduring world-class precinct.”

Tech Central will offer residents some digital tools including the digital twin, an online interactive tool on the Tech Central website.

“With first-class researchers and entrepreneurs eager to collaborate and an innovation precinct ready to support jobs growth, NSW is in pole position to become a global leader in technology,” NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

“Tech Central is predicted to bring up to 25,000 jobs to NSW and will be a major player in accelerating our economic recovery and future-proofing our economy.”

Last month, Google had pledged US$1 billion for tech research and development in Australia over the next five years. The deal includes plans to set up a new Google Research Australia lab in Sydney, which will be used for AI and quantum computing research.

Earlier this year, NCS expanded its presence in Melbourne with a Cloud Center of Excellence. The CoE aims to provide support and accelerate cloud initiatives for governments and enterprises and create around 500 jobs in Australia.

The post Sydney’s Quantum Terminal expected to create 25k jobs in Australia appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

According to Mel Silva, Managing Director for Google Australia and New Zealand, Google’s Digital Future Initiative will focus on three key areas. The first area is focused on building the foundations of the digital economy. Google will invest in the infrastructure needed to help Australians make the most of technology, enabling Australian businesses to have a secure and robust platform for business transformation, as well as become more productive and quickly respond to ever-changing customer needs.

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The second focus will be on fostering Australia-made technology and talent, through the launch of the lab. Google will partner with the research community across the country and other Google Research hubs, to build a team of local researchers and engineers to explore ways AI and machine learning can help tackle issues that are important in Australia and around the world.

The third focus will be partnering to solve big challenges. Mel pointed out that Google is working with Australian organizations to apply new technology solutions to urgent challenges faced today, from bushfires to mental health and cancer diagnosis. Understanding that the best and most creative solutions often come from those that are on the ground and closest to the issues and needs of their communities, partnerships are at the heart of the Digital Future Initiative.

“The Digital Future Initiative is an investment in the extraordinary talent and creativity of Australians. It’s about ensuring every Australian has access to technology to realize their potential. It’s about laying foundations for a strong digital economy that can compete globally and support good jobs locally. And continuing Australia’s proud record of world-first innovation, harnessing technology to solve big challenges and create new opportunities for decades ahead,” added Mel.

Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, who attended the event and officially opened Google’s new Australian headquarters in Sydney said the initiative is expected to create some 6000 jobs and support an additional 28000 and is also a vote of confidence to the country’s digital economy strategy.

AI research and development in Australia have been lagging behind other nations in recent times with a lack of infrastructure and research facilities a supposed reason for it. A few days after Google’s announcement, Morrison also announced a new plan to protect and promote technologies critical to the national interest, such as AI and quantum computing. The focus will be on nine critical technologies in a list of 63, which is part of the country’s bid to China’s emerging dominance in key strategic fields.

Interestingly, Google’s announcement comes at a time whereby US tech giants continue to face criticism from Australian lawmakers. In fact, Google Australia threatened to block the search engine in the country after they were requested to pay local news publishers for content that gets shared on their platforms. Australia became the first country in the world whereby big tech companies like Google and Meta have to pay news publishers for news content on their platforms.

While a settlement was eventually reached, the entire exercise has served as a wake-up call for large tech companies, not only in Australia but globally as well. Since then, Google has already agreed to pay with several news outlets globally, including a recent deal with French international news agency, AFP.

The post Google boosts Australia tech scene with US$ 1 billion investment appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

The quantum computing race is one that’s being watched closely by the world as tech giants including Google find themselves locked in a seemingly neverending battle to further advance the field and develop the best in quantum computing.

What exactly is quantum computing?

Quantum computing is essentially computing on steroids. However, the field isn’t exactly a new one — scientists have been working on the technology from as far back as 35 years ago.

Current computers, including supercomputers, are limited in their computing power. Certain highly complex and resource-intensive computing processes are difficult to simulate in classical computers because it requires a huge amount of calculation based on complex algorithms. 

However,  quantum computers utilize principles of quantum physics that would be able to achieve infinitely more computations — in a mere fraction of the time conventional ones will take.

To put it into perspective, Google achieved “quantum supremacy” in 2019 when its machine proved to be capable of achieving its target computation in 200 seconds. Comparatively, the world’s fastest supercomputer would take 10,000 years to do the same thing.

The following year, a team from China’s University of Science and Technology (USTC) managed to build the “Zuchongzhi”, which is capable of surpassing Google’s efforts by a mind-boggling factor of 10 billion. 

China’s quantum computing goals

Since launching the world’s first quantum satellite in 2016 and the largest land-based quantum communications network in 2019, China has blazed trails in the field, despite once lagging behind the West. 

Recently, a peer-reviewed study published by Chinese physicists claimed that they’ve built two quantum computers that are capable of surpassing virtually any other quantum computer in the world. 

Published in the journal Physical Review Letters and Science Bulletin, physicists claimed construction of a superconducting machine called “Zuchongzhi 2”. The Zuchongzhi 2 is an upgrade from an earlier machine released in July 2021 that can run a calculation task one million times more complex than Google’s Sycamore, according to lead researcher Pan Jianwei.

They also constructed a speedier unit that uses light photons to obtain unprecedented results, as part of their Zuchongzhi project that took flight in 2020. 

Dubbed the “Jiuzhang 2”, the machine can calculate, in merely one millisecond, a task that would take the world’s fastest supercomputer a staggering 30 trillion years to compute.

While the Juizhang 2 has a narrower field of applications, it is capable of reaching speeds of 100 sextillions (one followed by 23 zeros) times faster than the largest conventional computers.

Jiuzhang 2 is an upgrade of a machine built by a team led by Chinese physicist Lu Chaoyang last year. That machine uses photons, with each one carrying a qubit – the basic unit of quantum information. 

Lu highlighted that they “have increased the number of photons from 76 to 113, with the new machine capable of being “billions of billions of times faster than supercomputers.”

As reported by the South China Morning Post, Pan noted that the circuits of the Zuchongzhi have to be cooled to very low temperatures to enable optimal performance for a complex task called a random walk.

A random walk is a model that corresponds to the tactical movements of pieces on a chessboard and works under the assumption that the movement of a chess piece can be completely random, without any association with previous moves. 

With that said, however, despite advancements to speed and efficiencies in China’s quantum computing field, these computer are unlikely to replace supercomputers, at least for now. Currently, these quantum computers by Lu and Pan’s teams are ironically prone to mistakes, and can only function in a restricted, protected environment for brief periods of time to work on highly specific tasks. 

“In the next step, we hope to achieve quantum error correction with four to five years of hard work,” Pan said during an interview with China’s state-owned CCTV. 

However, he claims that it is possible to “explore the use of some dedicated quantum computers or quantum simulators to solve some of the most important scientific questions with practical value, based on the technology of quantum error correction.”

Is the technology all that great, though?

Whilst the quantum computers breaking records are limited in scope viz practical application, there exist other less powerful quantum computers that have a wide range of applications in industries. 

They include predicting stock prices, calculating gene mutations, researching new materials, or improving air flows in hypersonic flight at Mach 5 or beyond, among others.

Most anticipatedly, quantum computing has the potential to be applied to and advance the field of artificial intelligence. This would have massive implications for solving real-world problems in a fraction of the time we currently take and drastically improve our collective quality of life as we know it.

With that said, critics are worried that quantum computers might not be a good thing in itself, citing concerns for misuse by threat actors, including hackers.

However, experts in the field argue that access to the advanced hardware as well as high costs to acquire such a technology would be out of reach of said entities.

The post China’s quantum computing efforts surpasses the West’s – again appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Last month, Toyota Motor partnered with Tokyo-based QunaSys, a company with expertise in quantum computing software, as reported by Nikkei Asia.

The collaboration will use QunaSys’ quantum computing software as part of research in finding new materials to optimize and increase the performance of Toyota’s batteries. 

These machines essentially work by performing simulations that determine the properties of a wide range of materials. Using a technique called density-functional theory (DFT), the machine will model electronic structures of a multitude of materials in a short amount of time.

Key goals for Toyota Motors and QunaSys are to realize lower error rates with higher or faster analyzing speeds.

Conventional, or, normal, supercomputers can take months to compute simulations through DFT. However, quantum computers can utilize DFT in a shorter amount of time as it would be more accurate.

The two are considering using Japan’s first commercial quantum computer, which was started up by the University of Tokyo and IBM in July. 

Toyota’s race for solid-state batteries

Toyota made waves last year when they announced their intention to produce an electric vehicle that uses solid-state batteries.

For the uninitiated, solid-state batteries are seen as the ‘holy grail’ to EV woes.

Electric vehicles still suffer from issues that impede efficiency, as the batteries used to power them, typically lithium-ion (Li-ON), do not last long enough for longer drives. Furthermore, the technology’s limitations mean that it can take too long to charge these batteries.

Solid-state batteries are far more stable and quick to charge as opposed to Li-ON batteries, which are widely used by other EV automakers. 

Quantum computing’s applications in the automotive supply chain

This is not the first time that Toyota has utilized quantum computing in its operations. Last year, the company, through its IT solutions division, Toyota Systems, worked with Fujitsu to solve the issue of complex parts distribution.

Fujitsu’s Digital Annealer, a “quantum-inspired” digital technology, was trialed in conjunction with Toyota Systems. The trial computed over 3 million routes for delivery of parts to Toyota’s assembly facilities sourced from hundreds of suppliers. 

The aim of the trial was to quickly and efficiently determine the most optimal route, which is predicated on having the lowest distribution cost.

According to Fujitsu, the trial found a route that reduced logistics costs by between two to five percent for every delivery, within 30 minutes.

The post Toyota’s making better batteries with quantum computing appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

While the frequently-bandied about term may sound intimidating, quantum computing is essentially computing that can be performed at speeds and efficiencies far, far superior to what typical computers can do today. In short — computing on steroids. 

Aside from university labs, we’re already seeing it being used in a few sectors, such as cybersecurity, pharmaceuticals, and even logistics. Indeed, quantum computing has come a rather long way, in a short amount of time, mainly because of the immense benefit it can give to quickly compute and thus, analyze massive sets of data at breakneck speeds.

The rise of quantum computing has Big Tech to thank — giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, Google, and IBM have been heavily investing in developing quantum computing and related technologies in recent years. The same has gone for governments such as China, South Korea, India, and Japan, all of whom have invested in or are planning to invest in developing this technology. 

Just last month, UK-based Oxford Quantum Circuits launched the world’s first commercially available QCaaS (Quantum Computing as a Service), even. Prior to OQC, both Amazon and Honeywell had worked on developing and piloting commercial QCaaS. 

Industrial quantum computing applications

Earlier this week, the National University of Singapore’s (NUS) Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) announced that they would be working with Thales to develop and test quantum technologies for industry use. 

The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed on 29 September marks the start of a two-year partnership to jointly develop and test quantum technologies for commercial applications.

A Memorandum of Understanding was inked by (front row, from left) Professor Chen Tsuhan, Deputy President (Research and Technology), National University of Singapore, and Mr Kevin Chow, Country Director and Chief Executive, Thales in Singapore. The signing was witnessed by (back row, from left) Mr Ling Keok Tong, Director (Smart Nation and Digital Economy), National Research Foundation, Singapore, and Mr Chen Guan Yow, Vice President and Head (New Businesses), Economic Development Board. (IMG/Thales)

Under the MoU, Singapore’s Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) and Thales aim to advance quantum technologies and prepare industry players for their arrival. The partnership will see industry and academic experts from Thales and QEP develop capabilities to test and evaluate interdisciplinary quantum security technologies. 

They will also explore potential research collaboration opportunities in the fields of new materials and design for quantum sensing. Additionally, they will organise joint activities such as seminars and conferences to share their expertise and showcase their research outcomes.

Singapore’s quantum computing aspirations

The Quantum Engineering Programme (QEP) is an initiative launched in 2018 by the National Research Foundation, Singapore (NRF) and hosted at NUS. The projects under the collaboration span technologies for security and sensing, and involve QEP researchers across Singapore’s institutes of higher learning and research centres. 

Professor Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Research & Technology), said, “Building on this momentum, QEP’s partnership with Thales, a forerunner in the quantum revolution, will accelerate innovation and development of quantum solutions that are commercially attractive locally and globally.”

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With its track record in developing security and cybersecurity equipment, Thales will make available its SafeNet Luna Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and high-speed network encryptors that support interfaces to quantum devices for research use. 

The algorithms and quantum random number generation technology in these types of equipment provide the crypto-agility to easily implement quantum-safe crypto and combat the threats of quantum computing. This equipment would be deployed for proof-of-concept trials and testbeds in Singapore. 

Preempting future quantum threats

In May 2021, Thales launched a network encryption solution capable of protecting enterprise data from future quantum cyber-attacks. It supplements standard encryption with a scheme resistant to quantum computing that is under consideration for international standards. 

“Quantum technologies open almost infinite possibilities for the future and our researchers see real potential in three types of quantum applications, namely in sensors, communications and post-quantum cryptology”, shared Mr Kevin Chow, Country Director and Chief Executive, Thales in Singapore.

Thales, which has 33,000 engineers across the world, also aims to be a key player in what is often called the second quantum revolution, which exploits subtle properties of quantum physics and requires mastery of the associated technologies. 

Aside from industrial quantum computing applications, what’s next?

Thales’ collaboration with QEP is a “strong testament” to the company’s approach towards using quantum technologies to solve real-world, end-user challenges. 

According to Chow, while this initial partnership will involve their network encryption technology to provide crypto-agility and cybersecurity, Thales will continue to work with the R&T ecosystem in Singapore to explore new topics, including using novel materials for quantum sensing or in secured communications in quantum technologies.

Additionally, the joint team of scientists and engineers will also develop devices that tap on quantum physics for higher performance. According to QEP, this is an area of focus under Singapore’s Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2025 Plan (RIE2025). 

Mr Ling Keok Tong, Director (Smart Nation and Digital Economy) at NRF shared that quantum communications and security, as well as quantum devices and instrumentation, are two significant focus areas under the QEP.

The post Singapore’s NUS and Thales developing quantum technologies for commercial applications appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

According to INTERPOL’s ASEAN Cyberthreat Assessment 2021 report, the exponential increase of cybercrime requires organizations to explore more ways to manage sensitive information. As such, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) solutions are gaining market traction in several advanced countries, as the solution applies the laws of physics and quantum mechanics to generate an un-hackable cryptographic algorithm, securing the transmission and retrieval of data.

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Compared to other cybersecurity solutions, QKD is a secure communication method that implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics. Using properties found in quantum physics, the method exchanges cryptographic keys that are provable and guarantees security.

Toshiba’s Quantum Information Group explains that QKD allows users to securely exchange confidential information such as bank statements, health records and private calls over an untrusted communication channel such as the internet. It does that by distributing to the intended users a common secret key that can be used to encrypt — and thus protect, the information exchanged over the communication channel.

The security of the secret key rests upon the fundamental properties of individual quantum systems (photons, the particles of light) which are encoded and transmitted for the key generation. In the event that these photons are intercepted by an undesignated user, quantum physics guarantees that the intended users can perceive the eavesdropping, and consequently protect the communication.

The main challenge to Quantum Key Distribution implementation has been the integration of the system into current infrastructures and the use of QKD itself. While it has been proven to be secure in theory, there are still some vulnerabilities, especially in terms of the infrastructure. And this is where SpeQtral comes in.

SpeQtral, a Singaporean quantum technologies company, is on a mission to transform the world’s networks for the quantum revolution. SpeQtral and Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation recently announced that they have reached a definitive agreement to market and deploy QKD solutions to governments and enterprises in Southeast Asia.

Securing the region with Quantum Key Distribution

Potential users in Southeast Asia will understand the need for and consider the implementation of QKD solutions to secure their communications. With Singapore being a global hub for financial applications, the island nation serves as a focal point for telecommunications, data centers, and cloud connectivity infrastructure. As these industries process extremely important and high-value data, it is crucial to continually review the security of these communications and upgrade current systems to address future threats.

According to Taro Shimada, President and CEO, Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation, Toshiba has already established industry partnerships in Japan, the US, and the UK on early deployments of quantum secure communications. Together with SpeQtral, they will be able to support businesses in Singapore and Southeast Asia and can accelerate the global expansion of QKD.

“Southeast Asia is conducive for the adoption of new and leading-edge technologies such as QKD. There is a strong emphasis on the cybersecurity of our digital ecosystem and creation of a resilient communications infrastructure,” said Chune Yang Lum, CEO of SpeQtral.

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Toshiba started research into quantum cryptography in 2003 at the Cambridge Research Laboratory of Toshiba Research Europe Limited. Since then, they have demonstrated several notable world firsts. Toshiba was the first to announce quantum key distribution over 100 km of fiber in 2004 and the first with a continuous key rate exceeding 1 Mbit/second in 2010 and 10 Mbit/second in 2017.

The Toshiba QKD system uses an efficient implementation of the BB84 protocol, which has been rigorously proven to be secure from all types of attacks, even those using a quantum computer. It deploys secure, quantum-safe authentication of the data used to form the quantum keys.

The QKD platform, which was officially launched last year, operates over fiber-optic cables based on decades of research and development. These fibre-QKD platform products can address quantum-secure communication requirements over hundreds of kilometers in metropolitan areas.

The collaboration will see SpeQtral developing space-based QKD systems using satellites that can cover across continents, further amplifying the reach of these systems. Since a long-distance quantum-secure network requires both satellite and terrestrial QKD systems, SpeQtral and Toshiba can strongly complement each other.

The post Can Quantum Key Distribution improve cybersecurity in SEA? appeared first on Tech Wire Asia.

Quantum computing has been the cause célèbre among the tech community—thanks to initiatives by tech giants around the world. Every other technology company that we today count on—be it Amazon, Google, Microsoft, or IBM—is investing hugely in this revolutionary technology. But it doesn’t end there. In fact, more companies are now offering quantum computing as a service (QCaaS).

To first understand the potential of quantum computing, let’s take a look at the value it carries today. According to a Markets and Markets report, the quantum computing market is valued at US$472 million in 2021 and is expected to reach US$1.7 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 30.2%. Banking and financial services are the two major sectors fuelling the growth of this market.

Google recently announced that, by 2029, it would build a quantum computer that would perform large-scale calculations without errors. At the Think 2021 event, IBM announced a 120x speed-up of quantum workloads with Qiskit Runtime. Goldman Sachs also announced recently that it is working on a quantum computing algorithm to improve its financial instruments.

Not just enterprises but governments across the world are pumping money into quantum computing with some countries around the world coming up with national quantum initiatives. In Asia alone, India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman during budget 2020 announced the government would allocate Rs8,000 crore (US$1.08 million) over a period of five years, towards the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA).

Even Microsoft one year ago launched a new program to foster the building of quantum computing skills and techniques amongst the Indian academic community.

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Then the South Korean government in 2019 announced an investment of US$40 million to develop ICT proprietary technology including core quantum computing. The government also plans to complete the development of a practical five-qubit quantum computer system with over 90$ reliability by 2023.

Japan on the other hand, will invest US$270 million over 10 years in quantum computing tech. The country has also launched initiatives to advance research and development in quantum computing. As per a media report, Japan is looking to build full-fledged quantum computers for a broad range of applications by 2039.

China, above all, stands as a leader in the global quantum computing race. In 2017, during the Chinese Communist Party’s 19th  National Congress, President Xi Jinping declared that China must emerge as a global leader in innovation by 2035.  Ever since then, the country has made large-scale investments in quantum computing to become a force to reckon with. 

In 2016, the Chinese government introduced its 13th five-year-plan under which China launched a mega project for quantum computing and communication, including expansion of the national quantum communications infrastructure, development of general quantum computer prototype, and practical quantum simulator. China is also building a National Laboratory of Quantum Information Sciences which has been given initial funding of US$1 billion.

Quantum computing as a service platform in the market so far

Most recently, Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) has launched the UK’s first commercially available quantum computing as a service built entirely using its proprietary technology. Having built and launched the UK’s first superconducting quantum computer in 2018, the progress marks the first time OQC’s proprietary technology is available to the enterprise via its private cloud. 

It also supports the startup’s goal of pioneering quantum computing as a service market.  The new QCaaS platform will likely help boost the UK’s ambitions to be a global quantum superpower while also making it easier for businesses to explore the increasing commercial and technical benefits of quantum computing.

CEO of OQC Dr. Ilana Wisby believes the launch of their QCaaS platform is not only a remarkable achievement in the history of Oxford Quantum Circuits but a significant milestone in unlocking the potential of quantum computing both in the UK and globally. “By making our QCaaS platform more widely available to strategic partners and customers, we are offering the world’s leading enterprises the chance to demonstrate just how far-reaching quantum will be within their industries.”

Before OQC, Amazon and Honeywell were amongst the pioneers of making quantum computing as a service available to commercial organizations for experimentation.

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Compared to other analytical tools, quantum computing has the potential to solve computational problems that are beyond the reach of normal computers. Harnessing the laws of quantum mechanics, developing quantum algorithms, and designing useful quantum applications require skills and approaches.

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The quantum computing market is expected to grow to US$ 1.76 billion by 2026 with early adoption in the banking and finance sector expecting to fuel the growth of the market globally. QuantumComputing-as-a-Service (QcaaS) is now also being offered by some tech giants to companies looking to experiment with the technology.

As such, most use cases for quantum computing are still limited but growing globally. To ensure the development of the technology keeps going, big tech vendors are working with universities to develop next-generation quantum engineers with the hope of having sufficient talent available once the technology becomes mainstream.

Developing the quantum computing workforce

Japan’s most powerful quantum computer with IBM is used specifically for research and development while China’s own quantum computer supercomputer can solve problems faster than some of the world’s most powerful supercomputers.

In Southeast Asia, the skills shortage gap is still a big concern. While the region has one of the fastest tech adoptions in the world, the skills shortage is still hindering most companies from going all out in their digital transformation.

An Amazon Web Services (AWS) report released earlier this year stated that between 666 million and 819 million workers in the Asia Pacific will use digital skills by 2025, up from just 149 million today, with the average employee requiring seven new digital skills to meet the growing demands in the industry.

Despite that, quantum computing is gaining traction in the region. Higher learning institutions in Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, and Indonesia are offering more courses on the subject and are hoping to develop more quantum engineers in the near future.

Collaborating for better skills development

The National University of Singapore and AWS are collaborating to boost the development of quantum communication and computing technologies, as well as explore potential applications of quantum capabilities.

As part of the Quantum Engineering Program (QEP), AWS will support QEP in the development of quantum computing research and projects and connect to the National Quantum-Safe Network for quantum communications. Both areas include the identification of use cases and the development of applications to support the future commercialization of Singapore-designed quantum computing and communication technologies.

(Photo by Roslan RAHMAN / AFP)

QEP has supported eight major research projects to further the development of quantum technologies. They include exploring more powerful hardware and software solutions for quantum computers for commercial tasks like optimizing delivery routes for goods, simulating chemicals to help design drugs, or making manufacturing more efficient.

According to Professor Chen Tsuhan, NUS Deputy President (Research & Technology), Singapore’s journey to becoming a knowledge-based economy requires a right mix of world-class talent, cutting-edge infrastructure, and a well-established knowledge transfer ecosystem.

“A cornerstone of this vision is the QEP hosted at NUS, which brings together expertise in quantum science and engineering and aims to translate radical innovations into commercial sable solutions. This collaboration between QEP and AWS is a crucial enabler for the nation’s full digital transformation and opens the door to a quantum-ready future.”

Amazon Braket, a fully managed quantum computing service, provides access to three types of quantum hardware, including quantum annealers and gate-based systems built on superconducting qubits and on trapped ions, as well as tools to run hybrid quantum and classical algorithms.

Its cross-platform developer tools provide a consistent experience, reduces the need for multiple development environments, and make it easy to explore which quantum computing technology is the best fit for an application.

With NUS looking to develop more use cases and skilled professionals in quantum engineering and other tech-related fields, Singapore can become a hub for quantum computing in the region in the years to come.

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