Quantum computers in China

Quantum Computers and Quantum Communications

Main article: Quantum computers and quantum communication

2025: China unveils quantum computer that's a million times ahead of Google developments

In early March 2025, researchers from the China University of Science and Technology (USTC) reported on the development of the advanced superconducting quantum computer Zuchongzhi-3, which is said to lay the foundation for a whole new era of computing. According to the developers, the Zuchongzhi-3 is one million times faster than the quantum processor Google Sycamore. More. here

2024

Protocol released to protect communications from quantum attacks

In early November 2024 China , they announced a "quantum-resistant" protocol to protect communications from modern ones. cyber attacks This protocol will help government agencies around the world protect themselves in the event that an attacker tries to use quantum computers to hack traditional methods. enciphering More. here

US imposes sanctions on Chinese developers of quantum computers

On May 9, 2024, the U.S. Commerce Department imposed export restrictions against 37 Chinese companies and entities. Some of them are conducting research and development in the field of quantum technologies, which, according to Washington, threatens US national security. Read more here.

China has created a powerful quantum computer. Access to it will be opened through the cloud

At the end of April 2024, the Center for Innovative Research on Quantum Information and Quantum Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) announced the development of a 504-qubit chip. A product called Xiaohong will become the basis of the most powerful quantum computer in China, which is being created by China Telecom Quantum Group and QuantumCTek. Read more here.

2023

China has created a photon quantum computer that solves the tasks that supercomputers will cope with in 20 billion years in a split second

On October 11, 2023, researchers from the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei (an urban district in Anhui province) announced the development of a photonic quantum computer JiuZhang 3. It is claimed that the system is capable of solving ultra-complex mathematical problems in millionths of a second, while the world's most powerful supercomputer will take billions of years. Read more here.

China launches largest cloud quantum computing platform

On August 19, 2023, China's largest cloud quantum computing platform began operations. It is expected that the system will speed up the solution of resource-intensive tasks in various areas, including the aerospace industry and the transport sector. Read more here.

China has developed a quantum computer that copes with AI tasks 180 million times faster than supercomputers

In early June 2023, scientists from the University of Science and Technology of China said they had reached another milestone in quantum computing, saying their Jiuzhang device could perform tasks commonly used in AI 180 million times faster than the world's most powerful supercomputer. Read more here.

Drone-based quantum key distribution system presented in China

In early June 2023, scientists at Nanjing University, led by Tian Xiaohui, developed a new approach that will increase the range of protected quantum communications, as well as make it more mobile and accessible outside the walls of cities. So, scientists have created a compact installation for quantum key distribution, which can be installed on any drone.

Drone-based quantum communications have the potential to implement a mobile quantum network, and the entanglement distribution has been demonstrated with one and two drones. Tian Xiaohui reported the first drone-based quantum key distribution (QKD), with an average safe key rate of over 8 kHz average safe rate, using a deceptive state and polarization coding BB84 protocol.

Drone-based quantum key distribution system presented in China

The Compact Collection, Guidance and Tracking System (APT) and QKD modules were designed and installed on a home-made octocopter whose take-off weight does not exceed 30 kg. Scientists at the University of Nanjing have shown how a reliable connection is established between a flying octocopter and a ground station located at a distance of 200 m, and QKD is performed in real time for 400 seconds.

The successful implementation of this experiment suggests the possibility of using drones equipped with systems to organize future mobile quantum communication systems. The quantum key distribution method uses quantum phenomena to guarantee secure communication and makes it possible for two users to detect the presence of a third party trying to get information about the key, said project head Tian Xiaohui.

A study done by scientists at Nanjing University shows the potential of drone-based quantum communications for future mobile quantum networks worldwide. Due to the fact that it is possible to increase the transmission range of quantum information by exchanging data not through fiber optic cables, but through communication satellites or using atmospheric lasers.^[1]

China builds quantum satellite network

In early March 2023, it became known that Chinese research institutes are working to create a quantum communication network using satellites in low, medium and high Earth orbits. Read more here.

China begins mass production of 24 qubit quantum computers

China has installed its first serial quantum computer that can be used to solve practical problems. This was announced at the end of January 2023 by the newspaper of the Ministry of Science of the PRC. Read more here.

2022: China beats US in quantum technology patents

In the period from 2003 to 2022, China accounted for 37% of applications for patents related to quantum technologies on a global scale. For comparison, the United States had this figure of a little more than 28%. Such figures are given in the study, the results of which were released at the end of March 2024.

It is noted that China and the United States adhere to different strategies in the development of quantum technologies. In particular, the PRC emphasizes quantum cryptography to protect communications, while the United States prefers quantum computing. However, according to data released by China's Intellectual Property Authority, Beijing is changing its approach to implementing a quantum strategy. In particular, technologies related to quantum computing were described in 56.5% of the total number of patents in the relevant field issued in China from 2013 to 2022. Quantum communications accounted for 30.3% of patents in the PRC for the specified period.

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At the same time, it is noted that the United States is leading in such areas as quantum computers and quantum sensing. A report submitted by London-based analytics firm GlobalData in 2022 said China was about five years behind the US in quantum computing. But in a study by GlobalData, published in February 2024, it is said that these countries go almost "shoulder to shoulder." In other words, the gap between the PRC and the United States has decreased to a minimum.

The American nonprofit research organization RAND notes that China's achievements in certain areas of quantum computing make US leadership "controversial." At the same time, quantum technologies appeared in the US national planning program in 1994, and in China only in 2013. In 2009, China overtook the United States for the first time in the total number of patent applications in the quantum sphere.^[2]

2021

China has created the world's most powerful quantum computer

In mid-July 2021, Chinese researchers demonstrated the most powerful in the world, quantum computer squeezing processor Sycamore away from Google leadership positions. More. here

Announcement of Origin Pilot - operating system for quantum computers

In mid-February 2021, the Chinese company Origin Quantum announced the development of an operating system for quantum computers. This product, according to its creators, can several times increase the efficiency of existing quantum computing systems. Read more here.

2016: China to build new quantum communication line

China plans to build a new quantum communication line with a length of more than 300 kilometers by the end of 2017, the China Daily newspaper writes, citing the Chinese aerospace company (CASIC).

The construction of the line, which will connect the city of Wuhan and Hefei, will begin in the near future. As CASIC spokesman Wu Xiaofeng noted, the line will be used by government agencies and then become available to local business. The investment is estimated at $29 million. This line will later be connected to the line between Beijing and Shanghai, scheduled to open in late 2016.

In China, in November 2016, the world's longest quantum communication line was opened, its length is 712 kilometers. It connects the city of Hefei in Anhui and Shanghai. It is part of a project of a quantum communication line with a length of 2 thousand kilometers, the creation of which began in 2013. There are 11 ground stations on the line.

China began developing a quantum communications satellite in 2011. In mid-August, the world's first quantum communications satellite, Mo-Tzu (Micius), was successfully launched.

As academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Pan Jianwei said earlier, all satellite systems work properly. It was noted that the Mo-Tzu, after three months of testing in orbit, will be commissioned in the second half of November. Prior to that, Pan Jianwei also said that China could create a global quantum communications network by 2030.

Since the beginning of the 20th century, scientists have been developing methods for encrypting and securely transmitting information. They have two key disadvantages - they can be hacked when applying sufficient computing power (for example, a quantum computer), or information can be extracted by "eavesdropping" on its transmission via a data channel.

So-called quantum networks solve both of these problems due to the fact that the fundamental position of quantum physics - the Heisenberg uncertainty principle - does not allow the "third superfluous" to read information from the data channel and match the key to it.

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