BeQCI, the consortium charged with deploying the first ever open quantum communication infrastructure in Belgium, has reached an important milestone in its Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) mission. Belnet, the Belgian National Research Network, has successfully set up the required infrastructure and realized the first QKD links together with imec and UGent. This is a big step in the prestigious 30-month quantum cryptography project, which aims to achieve what was up until now impossible: a way to transmit data 100% safe and uninterceptably, using quantum physics principles. BeQCI is funded by the EU and the Belgian Science Policy Office.

President Xi Jinping set out a sweeping vision on Monday to build China into a strong nation in science and technology by 2035, calling for stronger steps to bolster the nation's self-reliance drive while enhancing openness and global cooperation.

The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) is providing over 4.47 million euros in funding for the joint project "QUAntenkommunikation netzweRke Kompetenz für die gesellSchaft" (QUARKS) coordinated by Prof. Frank Fitzek - holder of the Deutsche Telekom Chair of Communication Networks and spokesperson for the Cluster of Excellence "Centre for Tactile Internet with Human-in-the-Loop" (CeTI) - at the TUD Dresden University of Technology (TUD).

ORCA Computing is leading a research and development consortium with Toshiba Europe, Bay Photonics, Imperial College London, and University College London to develop multiplexing technologies for quantum networking. The consortium aims to advance quantum computing and data centers by developing advanced multiplexing and switching technologies for large-scale quantum data transfer. The project will deliver a suite of technologies including quantum memories, frequency shifters, and spatial switches. This will allow quantum computers to scale to performance levels necessary for industrial scale quantum computing and networking.

SpeQtral, SafeQuantum, Antaris and QTD Systems announce the establishment of a satellite Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) receiver node at the historic carrier hotel data center building, 60 Hudson Street in New York City. This strategic initiative aims to enable the secure establishment of quantum keys between Singapore, the United States and Europe, enabling quantum-safe communications that will safeguard global financial transactions.

This advisory outlines cybersecurity risks arising from developments in quantum computing, and highlights mitigating measures that financial institutions should consider.

IBM has unveiled the first quantum computer with more than 1,000 qubits — the equivalent of the digital bits in an ordinary computer. But the company says that it will now shift gears and focus on making its machines more error-resistant rather than larger.

The annual Central Economic Work Conference was held in Beijing from Monday to Tuesday as Chinese leaders decided priorities for the economic work in 2024.

Scientists from Harvard, quantum computing company QuEra, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) successfully ran complex, large-scale programs on an error-corrected quantum computer using 48 logical qubits. Though more work remains, the team of researchers report that this milestone, published in the journal Nature, signifies a significant transition to practical quantum computing.

EPB Quantum NetworkSM powered by Qubitekk today announced that it will host Qunnect, a leader in quantum-secure networking technology, for a series of on-site collaborative validation runs. Qunnect will work with Qubitekk to utilize EPB Quantum Network to determine the interoperability of key quantum technologies across a quantum network. This demonstration will mark the first time two commercial quantum networking companies have operated their hardware to jointly support a distribution protocol.