Today’s Brief Commentary:
I’m going to start today’s commentary with a quick thought I posted on LinkedIn:
We don’t have a quantum computing workforce shortage.
We have too many expert and talented people spread out over too many companies.
I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating. We cannot advance and accelerate quantum computing without putting enough people and investment into working on all essential technologies.
All quantum computing companies should be graded on the three critical programs shown in the image on the top of this newsletter:
- Scale: dramatically increase the number of physical qubits in your quantum computing system. If you are not heading for 100,000, you will not survive.
- Correct: suppress, mitigate, detect, and correct errors to allow us to run algorithms of circuit depths exceeding one million.
- Network: build large systems by networking smaller ones. 2025 must be the year when more vendors demonstrate how they will do this, or investment will dry up for them.
If thee companies cannot do each on their own, they have to consolidate or partner with other companies that can provide the technology they need.
Don’t forget to check out and bookmark our new sortable list of upcoming quantum technology conferences.
The latest Sutor Group report is freely available online: Quantum Processing Unit (QPU) Market Landscape (Abridged) – April 3, 2025. Updates and the full report are available for purchase or by subscription. Contact us for details.
Contents
Quantum Computing
Fujitsu and RIKEN develop world-leading 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer | Fujitsu Global
https://www.fujitsu.com/global/about/resources/news/press-releases/2025/0422-01.html
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Commentary: Unlike many such announcements of breakthroughs, they describe and illustrate them well within the press release.
Excerpt: Fujitsu Limited and RIKEN today announced the development of a world-leading 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer, established at the RIKEN RQC-FUJITSU Collaboration Center. This new quantum computer builds upon the advanced technology of the 64-qubit iteration, launched with the support of the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) in October 2023, and incorporates newly-developed high-density implementation techniques. This announcement marks another crucial step toward the practical application of superconducting quantum computers and unlocking their potential to grapple with some of the world’s most complex issues.
Rigetti Wins $5.48 Million Air Force Research Award to Advance Quantum Chip Fabrication with Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA) Technology | Quantum Computing Report
Author: Mohamed Abdel-Kareem
Date: Monday, April 28, 2025
Excerpt: Rigetti Computing has been awarded a $5.48 million grant from the Air Force Office of Scientific Research to further develop its Alternating-Bias Assisted Annealing (ABAA) chip fabrication process. Rigetti will lead a consortium including Iowa State University, the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, the University of Connecticut, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory to study ABAA’s impact at the microscopic level. The project aims to deepen understanding of defect mitigation in superconducting qubits, a critical challenge for scalable quantum computing. ABAA, introduced by Rigetti in 2024, involves applying alternating low-voltage pulses at room temperature to the oxide barrier of Josephson junctions, enabling […]
Quantum Computing | Technical
[2504.11049] A quantum algorithm for estimating the determinant
https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.11049
Authors: Giovannetti, Vittorio; Lloyd, Seth; and Maccone, Lorenzo
Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Commentary: The determinant is one of the most important functions in linear algebra, the branch of mathematics core to quantum computing and many AI algorithms.
Excerpt: We present a quantum algorithm for estimating the matrix determinant based on quantum spectral sampling. The algorithm estimates the logarithm of the determinant of an n×n positive sparse matrix to an accuracy ϵ in time O(log n/ϵ3), exponentially faster than previously existing classical or quantum algorithms that scale linearly in n.
Quantum Error Correction and Fault Tolerance
$4.7M UK Award Targets Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing | Enter Quantum
https://www.iotworldtoday.com/quantum/-4-7m-uk-award-targets-fault-tolerant-quantum-computing
Author: Berenice Baker
Date: Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Commentary: Though Rigetti has an 84-qubit chip, I’m not sure how long they can persist with these tiny devices given the work done by IBM and IQM.
Excerpt: Rigetti plans to upgrade its existing 24-qubit processor to a 36-qubit quantum processing unit and install its latest-generation control system. This aims to enable low-latency, real-time interfacing with Riverlane‘s quantum error correction software stack, an essential step toward fault-tolerant operation.
Sovereign Initiatives
IQM to deploy Poland’s first superconducting quantum computer | IQM Quantum Computers
https://meetiqm.com/press-releases/iqm-to-deploy-polands-first-superconducting-quantum-computer/
Date: Thursday, April 24, 2025
Commentary: Though the system is from Finland, its purpose is to advance Poland’s nation quantum program.
Excerpt: This instalment of a full-stack quantum computer marks a critical milestone in the country’s technological advancement. The 5-qubit quantum computer called “IQM Spark” will enable the university to spearhead research work mainly in the field of computer science.
The system will also be made available to researchers, doctoral candidates, and computer science students. Some of the first users who will run their programmes on the system are expected to be members of the qubit quantum computing club operating at the university.
Spain Launches €808M ($917M USD) Quantum Technologies Strategy to Strengthen National and EU Leadership | Quantum Computing Report
Author: Mohamed Abdel-Kareem
Date: Friday, April 25, 2025
Excerpt: The Government of Spain has launched its first Quantum Technologies Strategy (2025–2030) with an initial investment of €808 million ($917 million USD), announced at the OECD Global Technology Forum in Madrid on April 24, 2025. Ministers Óscar López and Diana Morant presented the initiative, which supports quantum computing, communications, and sensing. Funding is drawn from the ERDF and Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RTRP) and is expected to reach €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion USD) when including leveraged public and private capital. The strategy is framed as a national commitment to quantum infrastructure and digital transformation.
Finland launches quantum strategy to drive future growth | Helsinki Times
Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025
Excerpt: Finland has introduced a national strategy to make quantum technology a core driver of economic growth and sustainability by 2035. Published on Thursday by the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, the strategy outlines a plan to build on Finland’s existing research base and technology capabilities in quantum computing, encryption, and sensor development.
Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory
Dr. Bob Sutor is the CEO and Founder of Sutor Group Intelligence and Advisory. Sutor Group provides broad market insights and deep technical expertise based on over four decades of experience with startups and large corporations. It advises Deep Tech startups, companies, and investors on quantum technologies, AI, and other emerging tech fields.
Sutor Group shares its knowledge and analysis through direct client engagements and seminars, reports, newsletters, books, written and on-air media appearances, and speaking and panel moderation at the top conferences and client events.
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Quantum and Finance Special Edition | Thursday, April 24, 2025
