Special Episode on Nobel Prize in Physics 2025: Quantum in Our Hands

In the second part of the final episode of the Quantum Tech season, we introduce two more key players from China’s quantum ecosystem: SpinQ and QuantumCTek. Founded in 2018, SpinQ has set its mission on industrializing and popularizing quantum computing. Through the development of superconducting and NMR-based quantum computers, cloud platforms, and application-level software, SpinQ has built a comprehensive quantum technology ecosystem. The company focuses on enabling practical quantum computing applications in fields such as fintech, pharmaceuticals, and artificial intelligence. Alongside SpinQ stands QuantumCTek, established in 2009 under the Quantum Group of China Telecom, and recognized as one of the global pioneers in secure communications and quantum security. Its products are deployed across China’s national and metropolitan networks, serving government agencies and industrial clients. In addition to developing quantum key distribution (QKD) systems, QuantumCTek also plays an active role in advancing critical infrastructure technologies such as control systems and dilution refrigerators. Join us as we explore these two influential companies driving the industrialization of quantum technologies.

Terra Quantum was founded in Switzerland in 2019 with the goal of achieving quantum supremacy to deliver innovative solutions. By choosing hybrid quantum-classical computing, the company has made scientific breakthroughs that pave the way for tomorrow's pervasive quantum computing. The company's owners consider Terra Quantum to be a full-stack, hardware-agnostic software company that can perform quantum machine learning, intelligent optimization, and simulation through its unique platform. What sets Terra Quantum apart is its hybrid approach, where it develops a hybrid quantum cloud and high-performance simulated qubits, as well as enabling connectivity to QPUs from other companies. In this episode, we review Terra Quantum and explain how simulated qubits work and why they are valuable, to understand why the company has placed simulation development alongside long-term research and development of superconducting qubits. Stay tuned!

Pasqal, a company founded in 2019 as a spin-off from the Institut d’Optique in Paris, has its roots in pioneering research in quantum computing with neutral atoms. Under the scientific guidance and inspiration of the renowned Nobel laureate in physics, Alain Aspect, Pasqal has succeeded in developing its own proprietary architecture and building quantum processors. Today, Pasqal collaborates with a wide range of industries — including finance, energy, and manufacturing — to tackle challenges that were once considered unsolvable with classical computing. Alongside it stands Quandela, a French start-up specializing in the development of photonic quantum computers. Its products have attracted significant attention due to their modularity, scalability, high energy efficiency, and ease of access — whether through the cloud or local deployment. The expert team at Quandela combines hardware and software expertise, from developing highly efficient single-photon sources to designing advanced algorithms and delivering cloud-based quantum computing solutions, making the company one of the key players in the global quantum landscape. In this episode, join us as we explore the founding journeys and groundbreaking innovations of these two companies in the world of quantum computing.

In 2018, a group of scientists took a new step towards putting quantum computing theories into practice; they began their work with breakthroughs in developing technology to build large-scale quantum processors; But what started as an effort to build the best quantum processing units (QPUs) has evolved into building and delivering full-stack quantum computers, and this is the beginning of IQM's story with over €200 million in investment, over 10 quantum product deliveries to customers, and the construction of over 30 quantum computers. In November 2022, an article titled “How Algorithmiq Hopes to Cure Disease Using Quantum Computing” was published, which is interesting to examine in part. The article asks the question: If you had to find a grain of sand from all the beaches in the universe, how would you do it? This is the challenge that Finnish quantum company Algorithmiq, founded in 2020 and aiming to develop quantum algorithms, aims to solve. Join us in this episode of "Quantum Tech" as we take a look at the history, technology, and achievements of these two innovative companies in the world of quantum computing.

QuiX Quantum was founded in 2019 in the Netherlands and, as one of the European pioneers in photonic quantum computing, has so far been able to sell more than 12 quantum systems. By leveraging photonic technology and developing powerful quantum computers, the company succeeded in raising €5.5 million in the summer of 2022. With offices expanded to 5 locations across Europe, this company is actively pushing the boundaries of innovation in quantum technology and serving a growing global customer community. In the same year, 2019, Orca Computing began developing and offering full-stack photonic quantum computing systems at its headquarters in London. These systems are designed to address applications of significant scientific and economic importance. Orca also opened offices in Toronto and Austin, Texas. Founded as a spin-off from the University of Oxford, the company benefits from over 30 years of scientific research and technological advances by one of its founders, Professor Ian Walmsley, and aims to deliver a completely new approach to photonic quantum computing. In this section, join us as we take a closer look at the research journey and achievements of QuiX Quantum and Orca Computing.