All posts tagged: Quantum Technology

How quantum science is shaping our future

How quantum science is shaping our future

Published by skeptic

Today, April 14, marks World Quantum Day – a global moment to step back and consider a branch of science that is both deeply counterintuitive and quietly essential to modern life. Across universities, labs, museums, and online platforms, people are coming together to explore quantum physics – not as an abstract curiosity, but as a field that already underpins the technologies we depend on and is set to reshape the decades ahead. Why April 14? The date itself is a nod to Planck’s constant – the number 4.14 reflecting its first digits (4.1356677×10⁻¹⁵ eV·s). This constant is foundational to quantum theory, defining the smallest units of energy and marking the point where classical physics gives way to something far stranger. It’s also surprisingly practical. Planck’s constant is now used to define the kilogram, tying our system of measurement directly to the laws of nature rather than physical artifacts. That shift captures the broader story of quantum science: once theoretical, now embedded in real-world systems. ©Shutterstock/RAJ0297 A global, open-ended celebration World Quantum Day is still relatively …

German quantum repeater project advances quantum internet

German quantum repeater project advances quantum internet

Published by skeptic

A new German research initiative is targeting one of the most critical bottlenecks in next-generation secure communications: the quantum repeater. Backed by nearly €12.4m in federal funding, the project brings together leading academic institutions to accelerate development of technologies needed for scalable quantum networks and, ultimately, a functional quantum internet. The project, titled Technologien und Demonstratoren für Quantenrepeater (TD.QR), began in January 2026 and is scheduled to run for 14 months. Its core objective is to refine and validate key components that enable quantum signals to travel long distances without degradation, an essential requirement for any practical quantum communication infrastructure. Quantum repeater as a strategic technology Quantum communication has become a focal point in advanced cybersecurity research due to its potential to enable theoretically secure data transmission. Unlike classical systems, quantum networks rely on entanglement and quantum states, which are highly sensitive to loss and noise. This makes long-distance transmission a major technical challenge. The quantum repeater addresses this limitation by extending the range of quantum signals across fibre-optic networks. It does so by enabling entanglement …

New optical trick pulls hidden quantum signals out of background noise

New optical trick pulls hidden quantum signals out of background noise

Published by Jenni Sidey

Bright background light can do more than clutter a quantum experiment. It can wash out the very features that make quantum systems useful in the first place. That is the problem a team at the Institut national de la recherche scientifique, or INRS, set out to tackle. Working with light particles called photons, the researchers built a way to sift out meaningful quantum signals even when those signals are buried under heavy optical noise. Their results, published in Science Advances, point to a simpler and more energy-efficient route for keeping quantum information intact in messy, real-world conditions. The work came from the group of Professor José Azaña, in collaboration with Professor Roberto Morandotti’s team. It was carried out by Benjamin Crockett during his PhD at the INRS Énergie Matériaux Télécommunications Research Centre. Crockett has since moved to the University of British Columbia as a Banting postdoctoral fellow. Quantum technologies depend on detecting the properties carried by single photons. That sounds manageable in a carefully controlled lab. It becomes much harder when the photon you care …

UK National Cryogenic Facility advances quantum technologies

UK National Cryogenic Facility advances quantum technologies

Published by skeptic

The UK Government has committed more than £51m to establish a National Cryogenic Facility, a move designed to strengthen the country’s position in quantum technologies and advanced materials research. The investment, delivered through the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Infrastructure Fund, will support the development of a large-scale testing environment capable of operating at temperatures colder than deep space. Located at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Daresbury Laboratory in the Liverpool City Region, the National Cryogenic Facility is expected to expand the UK’s capacity for ultra-low temperature experimentation significantly. Officials say the site will enable both academic researchers and industry to test materials and systems at temperatures ranging from 2 Kelvin to 20 Kelvin. Paul Vernon, Head of STFC Daresbury Laboratory, commented: “This new investment is a defining moment, not just for Daresbury Laboratory and the Liverpool City Region, but for the UK’s place in the global technology race. “Truly game-changing infrastructure, the National Cryogenic Facility is possibly the first user facility of this kind. It unlocks quantum computing at scale and provides …

Australian researchers develop first working quantum battery

Australian researchers develop first working quantum battery

Published by skeptic

Australian researchers have reported a working prototype of a quantum battery, marking a notable step toward next-generation energy storage technologies. The study, published in Nature Light: Science & Applications, presents experimental evidence that quantum systems can enable faster charging behaviour than conventional battery designs. The project was led by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, in collaboration with the University of Melbourne and RMIT University. While still at an early stage, the findings offer insight into how quantum energy storage could reshape charging speeds and system efficiency in future devices. What sets a quantum battery apart Unlike traditional batteries, which rely on electrochemical reactions to store and release energy, a quantum battery operates according to principles of quantum mechanics. In this study, researchers focused on a phenomenon known as ‘super absorption,’ where energy is absorbed collectively rather than incrementally. This collective behaviour allows the system to take in energy more rapidly than classical models would predict. According to the research team, this effect becomes more pronounced as the system scales, suggesting that larger quantum batteries could …

UK’s £2bn “quantum leap” set to benefit critical industries

UK’s £2bn “quantum leap” set to benefit critical industries

Published by skeptic

The UK has unveiled a new package of measures to become the first country in the world to roll out quantum computers at scale. The UK will become the first country to benefit from revolutionary quantum computers, sensors and networks, and support the emergence of the next generation of leading British companies who will help shape the curve of progress. The delivery of full-scale quantum computers will help deliver personalised treatments, potential cures for diseases, safeguard national security and deliver high-paid jobs – delivering on the government’s Modern Industrial Strategy. Technology Secretary Liz Kendall said: “I am determined that this country grasps the benefits that quantum computing will bring. “It is only by keeping pace with technological progress that we can deliver the high-paid jobs, cutting-edge public services, and innovations which change lives.” How quantum technology impacts the UK economy Estimates show that quantum could boost productivity by 7% over the next 2 decades, creating more than 100,000 jobs in the process. This would deliver £212 billion worth of economic impact – the equivalent of adding the combined annual GDP of Wales and Northern Ireland. “Today’s announcements are an investment in our future – unlocking better health, wealth, and more opportunities for communities across the …

Inside the EU’s military innovation push

Inside the EU’s military innovation push

Published by skeptic

With €7.3bn allocated for defence research and capability development through 2027, the European Defence Fund is reshaping how Europe develops military technologies, strengthens industrial cooperation, and responds to a rapidly shifting security landscape. Europe’s defence landscape is undergoing a quiet but significant transformation. At the centre of that shift is the European Defence Fund (EDF), the European Union’s flagship programme designed to finance collaborative military research and development across the bloc. Established to strengthen Europe’s defence technological and industrial base, the EDF provides funding for multinational projects developing next-generation military capabilities. Its goal is not only technological innovation but also greater cooperation between European defence industries and armed forces. The programme runs from 2021 to 2027 with a total budget of roughly €7.3bn, making it one of the most substantial collective defence research initiatives ever launched in Europe. For decades, defence development across Europe was fragmented, with national programmes often duplicating efforts or producing systems that struggled to operate together. The EDF aims to address those inefficiencies by encouraging countries to design and build critical …

QCyber project to test secure multi-user quantum networks

QCyber project to test secure multi-user quantum networks

Published by skeptic

A €6m German initiative aims to move quantum communications beyond point-to-point systems into real-world, multi-node infrastructure. A new German research initiative is setting out to push quantum networks beyond laboratory demonstrations and simple two-party links. The three-year QCyber project, backed with €6m from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, will develop and field-test secure quantum applications across a fibre-optic network in Stuttgart, connecting up to six nodes over distances of 20 kilometres. Coordinated by Professor Stefanie Barz at the University of Stuttgart, the consortium brings together academic and industry partners to explore how quantum communications can function in realistic, multi-user environments – a scenario that reflects how secure digital infrastructure operates in practice. From two-party links to multi-user quantum networks Most experimental quantum networks demonstrated to date have focused on secure communication between two participants. While these systems have validated core principles such as quantum key distribution, they do not reflect the complexity of real-world communication systems where multiple actors exchange information simultaneously. QCyber aims to address that gap. The researchers will …

€11.85m call to accelerate semiconductors quantum technologies

€11.85m call to accelerate semiconductors quantum technologies

Published by skeptic

A major new funding opportunity has opened for researchers working at the cutting edge of semiconductors and quantum technologies. Through the HTSM Call titled “Heterogeneous development solutions for semiconductors & scaling of quantum technologies”, NWO and Holland High Tech are inviting research consortia to submit ambitious, collaborative proposals that strengthen the Netherlands’ technological leadership. Strategic investment in key national technologies Semiconductor and quantum technologies are cornerstones of the Dutch government’s National Technology Strategy, underpinning future advances in computing, communication, security and industrial competitiveness. To accelerate both fundamental insight and real-world application, NWO and Holland High Tech have jointly committed €11.85m to this call. The funding is evenly split: half is reserved for semiconductor-focused research, while the remaining budget supports projects dedicated to advancing quantum technologies. By balancing these two domains, the call aims to reinforce the entire innovation chain – from materials and design to manufacturing and scalability. Two research tracks with strong industrial relevance The call is structured around two complementary research areas. The first centres on heterogeneous integration in semiconductor systems. Researchers are …

EU accelerates quantum readiness with €50m photonic chips pilot

EU accelerates quantum readiness with €50m photonic chips pilot

Published by skeptic

Photonic chips are rapidly emerging as one of Europe’s most strategic technologies in the global race toward practical quantum systems. From 2026, a major new European pilot project – Photonics for Quantum (P4Q) – will unite expertise from across the continent to turn fragile laboratory breakthroughs into robust, manufacturable quantum-ready components. Spanning 12 European countries and backed by significant public investment, P4Q is designed to tackle one of the biggest bottlenecks in quantum innovation: reliably producing photonic chips that perform consistently at scale. From lab experiments to industrial-grade photonic chips Quantum technologies depend heavily on light. Photons are used to transmit information, enable ultra-precise measurements, and form the backbone of quantum communication networks. Yet many photonic chips still struggle to move beyond experimental environments. P4Q addresses this challenge head-on by focusing on repeatability, standardisation, and manufacturability. Rather than proving that a quantum photonic device can work once, the project aims to ensure it works every time – under real-world conditions and at industrial volumes. This shift marks a critical transition from academic research to deployable …