The governments of Singapore and Japan have signed a landmark Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) on quantum science, technology, and innovation, marking Singapore’s first international quantum-specific agreement at the government-to-government level. Signed by Singapore’s Minister for Digital Development and Information, Josephine Teo, and Japan’s Minister of State for Science and Technology Policy, Onoda Kimi, the agreement establishes a bilateral framework to accelerate the development of a resilient quantum ecosystem across Southeast Asia and East Asia.

U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Todd Young (R-Ind.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), Ted Budd (R-N.C.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today introduced the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act to accelerate quantum technology development and real-world applications that are vital to U.S. national security and global economic competitiveness.

Canada and Germany have launched the Canada–Germany Digital Alliance, with a key focus on accelerating joint work in quantum technologies, AI, digital infrastructure and innovation. The countries will issue a joint call for quantum technology proposals in January 2026, led by the National Research Council of Canada and Germany’s Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space. Both governments committed to growing competitive tech ecosystems through collaboration on quantum commercialization, generative AI, large language models and frontier digital capabilities.

The Horizon Europe 2026-27 Work Programme has been published and includes exciting new calls for the Quantum Flagship and beyond. There is a new kind of 'grand challenge' call, and topics in quantum sensing, photonic quantum computing and standards are covered.

The rapid development of Quantum Computers poses a serious threat to classical encryption methods, which rely on the complexity of mathematical functions. Due to their enormous computational power, Quantum Computers can break currently used algorithms in a very short time. This is exactly where Quantum Communication comes in: it offers entirely new and secure ways of transmitting data. Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), which leverages the principles of Quantum Mechanics, enables secure key exchange and has proven to be a groundbreaking technology to counter the threat posed by Quantum Computers.

UK Research and Innovation has outlined how it will deploy a record £38.6 billion government settlement over four years, aligning funding to a single mission focused on advancing knowledge, improving lives, and driving UK economic growth. UKRI’s targeted investment explicitly labeled for “Digital and Technologies: Quantum Technologies” totals £1.013 billion over the spending review period (FY 2026–27 through FY 2029–30). The allocation prioritizes £14 billion for curiosity-driven research, £8 billion for targeted R&D addressing national and societal challenges, and £7 billion to support innovative companies in scaling and commercializing technologies, with remaining funds supporting cross-cutting skills and infrastructure. Covering financial years 2026–27 through 2029–30, the outcome-focused framework cannot be directly compared with previous UKRI budgets or historic sector and research council allocations.

Quantum technologies represent another major leap forward. With potential applications ranging from ultra-secure communications to enhanced sensing and faster decision-making, quantum solutions could transform cyber operations, targeting and information processing. The EDF is placing these technologies at the forefront of European defence innovation.

Quantum Corridor, in collaboration with Toshiba International Corporation and partners, today announced the successful demonstration of quantum-secured communication over a live metropolitan fiber network connecting Tier III data centers in Illinois and Indiana—an achievement that marks a critical step toward building a commercially scalable, quantum-safe internet for the United States.

New Zealand and South Korea have launched three joint quantum communication research projects aimed at enabling secure long-distance networks, compact hardware and cross-signal connectivity. One project is developing quantum repeaters using rare-earth quantum memories in photonic circuits to extend ultra-secure communication across cities and countries. Two additional projects focus on a chip-based quantum light source for affordable quantum key distribution and a signal interface that links light and microwave quantum systems.

PROJECT skQCI is part of the EuroQCI – a secure quantum communication infrastructure spanning the whole EU.