Monthly Archives: July 2021

Astronaut shares amazing pic of Leeside from International Space Station as he waves to friends in Cork – Cork Beo

Posted: July 10, 2021 at 3:38 am

An astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station gave a special shout out to Cork last night - with a stunning pic of Leeside taken from outer space.

Shane Kimbrough is one of the crew aboard the ISS, orbiting Earth at 17,13o mph (there's no speed cameras in space).

And the US NASA Astronaut, US Army Colonel and AH-64 Apache pilot has been taking some amazing pictures to post to social media, including a lovely one of Cork city and harbour.

Posting to Twitter, Shane showed he knows Cork and knows his history, saying; "Great memories in the lovely city of Cork, Ireland!"

"Blackrock Castle Observatory (near the center of the photo) was first built as a fort in 1582, with the purpose of discouraging pirates & invaders along the River Lee & Lough Mahon."

And the crew at Blackrock Castle were straight back to the starman, saying; "Thanks for sharing Shane! We hope you're keeping well and here's hoping we get to welcome you back to Ireland's real capital in the not too distant future!".

Shane is one of seven astronauts and cosmonauts currently aboard the ISS, along with Pyotr Dubrov, Megan McArthur, Thomas Pesquet, Akihiko Hoshide, Oleg Novitskiy and Mark Vande Hei. The ISS is permanently crewed with a range of scientists and specialists, carrying out cutting-edge research into everything from climate change and new medicines to the knowlege that will help us reach further into space in the future.

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SpaceX Cargo Dragon Makes Weather-Delayed ISS Departure – Aviation Week

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SpaceX Cargo Dragon Makes Weather-Delayed ISS Departure | Aviation Week Network

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HOUSTONSpaceXs 22nd Dragon resupply mission spacecraft is headed for a late July 9 splashdown and recovery off Floridas Gulf Coast, following a weather-delayed departure from the International Space Stations (ISS) U.S. segment with a 5,300-lb. return payload of science experiments, technology...

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Russia Says Its Nuclear-Powered Space Tug Can Detect, Disable & Shoot-Down Enemy Spacecraft From The Orbit – EurAsian Times

Posted: at 3:38 am

The Russian nuclear-powered tug Zeus, which is equipped with a megawatt-class electric propulsion system, can be used to disable control systems of enemy spacecraft with an electromagnetic impulse and shoot laser beams, according to a paper of the Arsenal design bureau, part of Russias Roscosmos.

Russia Will Begin Hunting For Extraterrestrial Life With Zeus Nuclear-Powered Tug Roscosmos

In May, the Keldysh Research Center released a paper showing that Zeus can be used in anti-aircraft defense, detecting air targets from the orbit and relaying information to anti-aircraft systems.

In 2018-2019, the Arsenal design bureau conducted the Yadro [Core] research project that reviewed options for using a spacecraft with a megawatt-class nuclear power propulsion system to perform the following tasks probing the Earth surface and the near-Earth air space from a distance; electromagnetic interference with electronic components of control, reconnaissance, communication and navigation systems; directed-energy laser emission, the Arsenal paper read.

The Zeus nuclear-powered space tug is designed for deep space flights from one orbit to another. It has been in development since 2010. The spacecrafts preliminary design is expected to be finished by July 2024 and will cost 4.2 billion rubles.

Can China Beat Russia & France To Become Worlds Second-Largest Exporter Of Fighter Jets Behind The US?

Earlier, the Russian Keldysh Research Center said that it plans to test a drip refrigerator-emitter for the nuclear-powered tug on board the International Space Station (ISS), new data on the state procurement website shows.

The new tests on board the ISS will follow the unsuccessful drip refrigerator-emitter experiment carried out in 2014, when an abrupt failure of some technological components did not, nonetheless, prevent scientists from collecting valuable data.

Why Chinese Stealth Fighter Jets Have No Buyers In Sight Unlike The US F-35 & Russian Su-57 Jets?

The Zeus nuclear-powered space tug designed for deep space flights from one orbit to another has been in development since 2010 in Russia. The nuclear-propelled space tug is designed to fly to the moon and planets of the solar system to search for extraterrestrial life. All the scientific and research and development works on the project are called Nuklon.

A prototype of Zeus was first exhibited at the International Aviation and Space Salon MAKS-2019. A 3D animation of its deployment in orbit was shown at the International Military-Technical Forum ARMY-2020.

The preliminary design of Zeus is expected to be finished by July 2024 and will cost 4.2 billion rubles ($57.3 million). The tug is expected to be sent into space for test flights in 2030.

Watch: The Ultimate Dogfight Between US & Russian Fighter Jets Over A Top-Secret Air Base In Nevada

30 Times Faster Than Speed Of Sound: Is China Really Winning The Hypersonic Race With Its JF-22 Wind Tunnel?

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Russia Says Its Nuclear-Powered Space Tug Can Detect, Disable & Shoot-Down Enemy Spacecraft From The Orbit - EurAsian Times

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What is quantum computing?

Posted: at 3:37 am

Quantum computing is an area of study focused on the development of computer based technologies centered around the principles ofquantum theory. Quantum theory explains the nature and behavior of energy and matter on thequantum(atomic and subatomic) level. Quantum computing uses a combination ofbitsto perform specific computational tasks. All at a much higher efficiency than their classical counterparts. Development ofquantum computersmark a leap forward in computing capability, with massive performance gains for specific use cases. For example quantum computing excels at like simulations.

The quantum computer gains much of its processing power through the ability for bits to be in multiple states at one time. They can perform tasks using a combination of 1s, 0s and both a 1 and 0 simultaneously. Current research centers in quantum computing include MIT, IBM, Oxford University, and the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In addition, developers have begun gaining access toquantum computers through cloud services.

Quantum computing began with finding its essential elements. In 1981, Paul Benioff at Argonne National Labs came up with the idea of a computer that operated with quantum mechanical principles. It is generally accepted that David Deutsch of Oxford University provided the critical idea behind quantum computing research. In 1984, he began to wonder about the possibility of designing a computer that was based exclusively on quantum rules, publishing a breakthrough paper a few months later.

Quantum Theory

Quantum theory's development began in 1900 with a presentation by Max Planck. The presentation was to the German Physical Society, in which Planck introduced the idea that energy and matter exists in individual units. Further developments by a number of scientists over the following thirty years led to the modern understanding of quantum theory.

Quantum Theory

Quantum theory's development began in 1900 with a presentation by Max Planck. The presentation was to the German Physical Society, in which Planck introduced the idea that energy and matter exists in individual units. Further developments by a number of scientists over the following thirty years led to the modern understanding of quantum theory.

The Essential Elements of Quantum Theory:

Further Developments of Quantum Theory

Niels Bohr proposed the Copenhagen interpretation of quantum theory. This theory asserts that a particle is whatever it is measured to be, but that it cannot be assumed to have specific properties, or even to exist, until it is measured. This relates to a principle called superposition. Superposition claims when we do not know what the state of a given object is, it is actually in all possible states simultaneously -- as long as we don't look to check.

To illustrate this theory, we can use the famous analogy of Schrodinger's Cat. First, we have a living cat and place it in a lead box. At this stage, there is no question that the cat is alive. Then throw in a vial of cyanide and seal the box. We do not know if the cat is alive or if it has broken the cyanide capsule and died. Since we do not know, the cat is both alive and dead, according to quantum law -- in a superposition of states. It is only when we break open the box and see what condition the cat is in that the superposition is lost, and the cat must be either alive or dead.

The principle that, in some way, one particle can exist in numerous states opens up profound implications for computing.

A Comparison of Classical and Quantum Computing

Classical computing relies on principles expressed by Boolean algebra; usually Operating with a 3 or 7-modelogic gateprinciple. Data must be processed in an exclusive binary state at any point in time; either 0 (off / false) or 1 (on / true). These values are binary digits, or bits. The millions of transistors and capacitors at the heart of computers can only be in one state at any point. In addition, there is still a limit as to how quickly these devices can be made to switch states. As we progress to smaller and faster circuits, we begin to reach the physical limits of materials and the threshold for classical laws of physics to apply.

The quantum computer operates with a two-mode logic gate:XORand a mode called QO1 (the ability to change 0 into a superposition of 0 and 1). In a quantum computer, a number of elemental particles such as electrons or photons can be used. Each particle is given a charge, or polarization, acting as a representation of 0 and/or 1. Each particle is called a quantum bit, or qubit. The nature and behavior of these particles form the basis of quantum computing and quantum supremacy. The two most relevant aspects of quantum physics are the principles of superposition andentanglement.

Superposition

Think of a qubit as an electron in a magnetic field. The electron's spin may be either in alignment with the field, which is known as aspin-upstate, or opposite to the field, which is known as aspin-downstate. Changing the electron's spin from one state to another is achieved by using a pulse of energy, such as from alaser. If only half a unit of laser energy is used, and the particle is isolated the particle from all external influences, the particle then enters a superposition of states. Behaving as if it were in both states simultaneously.

Each qubit utilized could take a superposition of both 0 and 1. Meaning, the number of computations a quantum computer could take is 2^n, where n is the number of qubits used. A quantum computer comprised of 500 qubits would have a potential to do 2^500 calculations in a single step. For reference, 2^500 is infinitely more atoms than there are in the known universe. These particles all interact with each other via quantum entanglement.

In comparison to classical, quantum computing counts as trueparallel processing. Classical computers today still only truly do one thing at a time. In classical computing, there are just two or more processors to constitute parallel processing.EntanglementParticles (like qubits) that have interacted at some point retain a type can be entangled with each other in pairs, in a process known ascorrelation. Knowing the spin state of one entangled particle - up or down -- gives away the spin of the other in the opposite direction. In addition, due to the superposition, the measured particle has no single spin direction before being measured. The spin state of the particle being measured is determined at the time of measurement and communicated to the correlated particle, which simultaneously assumes the opposite spin direction. The reason behind why is not yet explained.

Quantum entanglement allows qubits that are separated by large distances to interact with each other instantaneously (not limited to the speed of light). No matter how great the distance between the correlated particles, they will remain entangled as long as they are isolated.

Taken together, quantum superposition and entanglement create an enormously enhanced computing power. Where a 2-bit register in an ordinary computer can store only one of four binary configurations (00, 01, 10, or 11) at any given time, a 2-qubit register in a quantum computer can store all four numbers simultaneously. This is because each qubit represents two values. If more qubits are added, the increased capacity is expanded exponentially.

Quantum Programming

Quantum computing offers an ability to write programs in a completely new way. For example, a quantum computer could incorporate a programming sequence that would be along the lines of "take all the superpositions of all the prior computations." This would permit extremely fast ways of solving certain mathematical problems, such as factorization of large numbers.

The first quantum computing program appeared in 1994 by Peter Shor, who developed a quantum algorithm that could efficiently factorize large numbers.

The Problems - And Some Solutions

The benefits of quantum computing are promising, but there are huge obstacles to overcome still. Some problems with quantum computing are:

There are many problems to overcome, such as how to handle security and quantum cryptography. Long time quantum information storage has been a problem in the past too. However, breakthroughs in the last 15 years and in the recent past have made some form of quantum computing practical. There is still much debate as to whether this is less than a decade away or a hundred years into the future. However, the potential that this technology offers is attracting tremendous interest from both the government and the private sector. Military applications include the ability to break encryptions keys via brute force searches, while civilian applications range from DNA modeling to complex material science analysis.

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NATO Is an Alliance Divided – The Wall Street Journal

Posted: at 3:37 am

President Biden is reviving the North Atlantic Treaty Organizationor is he? With President Trump gone, the alliance is back to business as usual, and Mr. Biden has emphasized members sacred obligation under Article 5 of the Washington Treaty, which governs how members respond to an attack on a fellow member. But a military alliance needs a military. Without a clear pathway to European rearmament, NATO wont be able to respond to a crisis.

The money is there to rebuild the allied militaries, a European colleague observes. The problem is the politics of it. Translation: Genuine rearmament across the alliance would signal that Europe is ready to take military action alongside the U.S. and could put European access to Russian oil or Chinese markets at risk. If European NATO allies began to show real exercised military capabilities, it would signal to Moscow and Beijing that NATO is willing to ensure deterrence in Europe holds, freeing the bulk of American military power for the Indo-Pacific.

This clearly isnt going to happen soon. Vladimir Putins seizure of Crimea in 2014 and the war in eastern Ukraine demarcate a polarization of NATO members. On one side, Poland, Romania and the Baltic states see Russia as a clear and present danger, determined to expand its portion of the post-Cold War settlement. On the other side is a very cautious Western Europe, wary of endangering economic growth over the well-being of their formerly Soviet-dominated neighbors. Berlin seems intent on managing rather than opposing Russia through a mix of political and economic engagement.

Looking farther abroad, while Washington sees China as both a military and economic problem, Europe considers it a strategic challenge but also an economic opportunity. The Asian market is seen as too critical to Europes prosperity to risk angering Beijing. Germany is deeply invested in Asian markets, and staking a clear position on the brewing Sino-American conflict isnt in its interest. Frances security priorities are focused southward, toward the Mediterranean and Africa, not eastward. These disparate interests across Europe make a NATO-wide consensus on threats hard to achieve.

Some observers look back fondly on the Cold War, when NATO members goals were tightly aligned. That time has passed. U.S. power has been depleted by globalization and deindustrialization, decades of war in Afghanistan and the Middle East, and political polarization at home. As American global leadership falters, Europe has been increasingly adrift as it triessomewhat awkwardlyto weigh its options. Russia has exploited these fissures while China has transformed itself into a power in Europe by investing in European technology companies.

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Quantum computing: This new 100-qubit processor is built with atoms cooled down near to absolute zero – ZDNet

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The company's 100-qubit gate-based quantum computer, code-named Hilbert, is launching later this year after final tuning and optimization work.

By cooling atoms down to near absolute zero and then controlling them with lasers, a company has successfully created a 100-qubit quantum processor that compares to the systems developed by leading quantum players to date.

ColdQuanta, a US-based company that specializes in the manipulation of cold atoms, unveiled the new quantum processor unit, which will form the basis of the company's 100-qubit gate-based quantum computer, code-named Hilbert, launching later this year after final tuning and optimization work.

There are various different approaches to quantum computing, and among those that have risen to prominence in the last few years featuresuperconducting systems,trapped ions,photonic quantum computersand evensilicon spin qubits.

SEE: Building the bionic brain (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Cold atoms, on the other hand, haven't made waves in the quantum ecosystem so far. ColdQuanta's 100-qubit quantum processor, however, could seemingly compete against the industry's highest standards: for example, IBM's current quantum system, Hummingbird, supports 65 qubits.

And in the next three years, ColdQuanta is hoping to create a system surpassing 1,000 qubits. This again aligns with IBM's roadmap for quantum hardware,which should see the company releasing a 1,121-qubit quantum computer in 2023.

"We hear a lot about superconducting and trapped ions and in some respects cold atom is the new kid on the block, but we believe it has great promise in terms of scalability," Paul Lipman, president of quantum computing at ColdQuanta, tells ZDNet.

ColdQuanta's approach consists of treating atoms like qubits, and bringing them down to extremely cold temperatures, where their quantum properties can be manipulated with great precision. This is because, in such an isolated environment, atoms are protected from environmental noise and can retain their quantum properties for much longer.

Cooling down particles to exert better control over them is not new to the quantum world: Google and IBM's superconducting processors also require placing qubits in huge dilution refrigerators, where temperatures are brought down to zero kelvin (-273.15C).

But ColdQuanta's cold atoms approach goes one step further. Atoms are cooled down to the microkelvin level that is, a thousand times colder than in the superconducting method.

Rather than using large refrigerators, however, ColdQuanta traps the atoms with lasers to cool them down, before using a combination of lasers and microwave pulses to arrange them into the gates that make up a quantum circuit.

"Because we cool them down with lasers rather than dilution refrigerators, we don't have the same scaling challenges in terms of building enormous fridges that can hold large numbers of qubits," says Lipman. "We cool them down to microkelvin, but we do that in a device that can fit in your hand at room temperature."

What's more: atoms are ten-thousand times smaller than superconducting qubits, according to Lipman, meaning that many cold atom qubits can be packed closely together on a much smaller space. What would require square-meters worth of space for a superconducting quantum processor can sit on a cold atom system the size of a nail, according to the company.

"Cold atoms have this intrinsic scalability that is very attractive," argues Lipman.

Cold atoms' ability to scale rapidly is one of ColdQuanta's key selling points, but there remain some engineering challenges that, for now, still limit Hilbert's size. The company's scientists are looking at how the use of lasers changes when the qubit count increases by orders of magnitude, for instance, and testbeds are already underway in the lab to determine the best path forward.

The fundamental principles of the approach, however, are tested and proven, says Lipman, and cold atoms already perform similarly to leading-edge quantum processors. Not only on qubit count: the company's data also shows thatthe system is comparable to IBM and Google's quantum computerswhen it comes to connectivity, which refers to the number of qubits that can interact with one another, and coherence, which is the duration of time that quantum properties can be maintained.

On fidelity, however, the processor lags slightly behind the devices developed by competitors, meaning that the accuracy of ColdQuanta's system isn't as high. But part of the optimization work going on now, says Lipman, is dedicated to boosting Hilbert's performance on fidelity.

Lipman is confident that these promising results will set ColdQuanta apart in an ecosystem that is growing at pace. New milestones are announced by quantum companies large and small at a rapid pace, and the number of approaches to quantum computing is multiplying fast, each with their own benefits and challenges making it increasingly difficult to distinguish hype from reality.

"It's too early to tell which modality will win the race," admits Lipman. "If you roll the clock forward two or three years, there might even be modalities that we don't even have publicly available information on today, but may come to the forefront."

"We'll learn more once the computer is released, but our focus now is to work with potential customers to deliver tangible near-term value."

ColdQuanta has not publicly announced any customers yet, but the company is working particularly on optimization problems, which could find applications in logistics, material science and telecommunications.

The firm also has a long-standing partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), which awarded ColdQuanta a total $7.4 million to develop a scalable cold-atom-based quantum computer for defense applications such as resource allocation, logistics, and image recognition.

Hilbert is expected to launch later this year and will be available over ColdQuanta's private cloud. The company is also in talks with Amazon, Microsoft and Google to eventually make the quantum computer accessible over AWS, Azure and Google Cloud.

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This quantum computer with a 3D chip is heading into the cloud – ZDNet

Posted: at 3:37 am

Ilana Wisby is the CEO of Oxford Quantum Computing, a spin-out from the University of Oxford in the UK.

A startup in the UK is now offering cloud-based access to its own superconducting quantum computer but with a twist that it hopes could one day help it compete against the processors developed by quantum giants such as IBM and Google.

Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC), a startup that spun out of the University of Oxford, is approaching superconducting quantum computing slightly differently. Leading superconducting quantum systems are typically built in a two-dimensional plane, with each qubit acting like a unit cell that requires intricate wiring for controls and measurements. Increasing the number of qubits means increasing the amount of wiring and on a 2D plane, this comes with a higher risk of creating environmental noise that can damage the quality of the system.

Instead, OQC's researchers use a three-dimensional architecture that moves the control and measurement wiring out of plane. With key componentry off-chip, says OQC, the superconducting quantum processor is a more flexible and engineerable system.

SEE: Building the bionic brain (free PDF) (TechRepublic)

Dubbed the "Coaxmon," this new design approach ultimately has the potential to make it is easier to scale up the number of qubits on the processor without losing coherence, the company said.

"The Coaxmon was designed from principle to meet some of the underlying scaling challenges with superconducting technologies," Ilana Wisby, the CEO of OQC, tells ZDNet. "We've taken all of that wiring which is a really big element to reducing the power of what we can do with a processor off the chip, meaning that the Coaxmon is inherently a lot more scalable."

According to Wisby, the 3D architecture means that it is possible to increase the qubit count on the processor without resorting to complex fabrication steps for extra wiring, and without running the risk of reducing the system's coherence.

Despite the promising pitch, the quantum computer that OQC has just brought online, called Sophia, is only four qubits strong. In comparison, IBM's current quantum processor can support 65 qubits, and the company is working towards launching a 127-qubit system by the end of the year.

Even then, IBM's quantum computer won't be bringing any significant business value for users: quantum technologies are not expected to start showing any real-world usefulness until they are capable of supporting at least 1,000 qubits. In that light, OQC's new quantum computer still seems to have some way to go before it can compete against the services offered by some of the largest corporations dominating the quantum ecosystem.

But Wisby explains that this is just the start. As a University of Oxford spinout, she says, OQC has until recently mostly developed in the context of university labs, where cost efficiency was key and minds were focused on proving the fundamentals of the technology.

In the last year, however, OQC built and opened its own quantum lab, a facility fitted with all of the cryogenic equipment, cleanrooms, power and data supplies, ducted fume cupboards and other exotic quantum essentials that are necessary to building up a quantum system.

Sophia's low qubit count is, therefore, a business problem rather than a technology one, argues Wisby. "But setting up our own independent commercial lab has marked a moment of independence for the company," she says.

"It's only really now that we've changed our company goals to proving the business model, which obviously has more focus on scaling the full system."

The long-term goal, she assures, is to build a universal, fault-tolerant quantum computer an objective that aligns with that of the largest tech giants currently developing quantum technologies.

Of course, there remain many obstacles to scaling. While increasing the number of qubits in the processor is a challenge in itself, it is also key to ensure that the overall system's support infrastructure and architecture can grow in parallel. OQC, therefore, has secured partnerships with companies like Oxford Instruments to start thinking about the future iterations of Sophia.

For now, OQC is focusing on attracting customers to its brand-new cloud service, which it has just launched to provide customers with access to Sophia via a private cloud.

OQC has now invited businesses to join the company's beta list, to test how they could experiment with new quantum approaches. With only four qubits, however, the scope of potential applications will remain very limited.

Among those already signed up, fellow UK-based quantum computing company Cambridge Quantum is already planning to test Sophia with its IronBridge platform a cybersecurity service that leverages the unpredictability of quantum computers to generate un-hackable cryptographic keys.

Wisby also points to a long-standing partnership with software company Riverlane, which has already been using OQC's quantum computer to run a chemical simulation algorithm names alpha-VQE.

Riverlane and OQC have also been working together todevelop a quantum operating system, Deltaflow.OS,which would allow the same quantum software to run on different types of quantum computing hardware.

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This quantum computer with a 3D chip is heading into the cloud - ZDNet

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NATO-Georgia: A Pause in the Integration Process? – Jamestown – The Jamestown Foundation

Posted: at 3:37 am

In early July, James Appathurai, the North Atlantic Treaty Organizations (NATO) special representative for the Caucasus and Central Asia, held a series of top-level meetings in Georgia.

The Georgian authorities greeted their guest from Brussels warmly and with much fanfare. President Salome Zurabishvili awarded Appathuraiwith the Order of the Golden Fleece for his special contribution to strengthening NATO-Georgian relations and his support for Georgias sovereignty and territorial integrity(Civil.ge, July 3). Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili tweeted that he and the NATO envoy discussed Tbilisis cooperation with the Alliance, Black Sea security, as well as Georgias significant achievements along its Euro-Atlantic path and the need to move forward on the political dimensions of the integration process (Twitter.com/GharibashviliGe, July 2). In turn, Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani described Appathurai as a big friend of Georgia, who has done his utmost to make Georgias NATO integration progress irreversible.The top Georgian diplomat added that the NATO summit in Brussels last month (June 14) again reaffirmed the Alliances open door policy toward Georgia, and he assured that his country already possesses all the practical instruments needed to eventually join NATO (Agenda.ge, July 2).

But this glowing diplomatic rhetoric could not hide the indisputable fact that, in recent years, relations between NATO and Georgia have mostly plateaued, moving no closer toward Tbilisis goal of full membership. Tellingly, neither Georgian representatives, nor the representatives of any other partner countries hoping to join, were invited to NATOs Brussels Summit. And the final summit communiqu simply repeated largely verbatim the wording on Georgias membership prospects that was written in previous years communiqus (see EDM, June 17): We reiterate the decision made at the 2008 Bucharest Summit, that Georgia will become a member of the Alliance with the Membership Action Plan (MAP) as an integral part of the process; we reaffirm all elements of that decision, as well as subsequent decisions, including that each partner will be judged on its own merit. The document further notes that the Alliance members highly appreciate Georgias substantial contributions to NATO operations, which demonstrate its commitment and capability to contribute to Euro-Atlantic security (Nato.int, June 14).

Dr. Vakhtang Maisaia, a scholar in political and strategic studies, noted that Georgia remains on what he termed the third level of the NATO integration processIntensive Dialogue. The fourth level is a Membership Action Plan, or MAP, which officially bestows membership candidacy; and the fifthfull membership, Maisaia explained in a July 5 interview with this author. He recalled that Georgia is successfully implementing most of the NATO Annual National Programs (ANP), but these programs are just a transitional stage from Intensive Dialogue to MAP. The strategic studies expert stipulated that the final communiqu of the Brussels Summit is weaker than the decisions that the Alliance took during the 2014 Welsh Summit, when Georgia was granted the Substantial NATO-Georgia Package (SNGP) as part of NATOs Defense and Related Security Capacity Building Initiative (DCB).

The SNGP is meant to improve Georgias defense capabilities, increase its resilience, enhance interoperability with the North Atlantic Alliance, and support the NATO membership preparation process. The program presently consists of 14 initiatives or areas of support: the NATO-Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Center (JTEC), Defense Institutional Building School (DIBS), logistic capability development, intelligence sharing and secure communications, aviation, air defense, special operations forces, military police, acquisition, maritime security, cybersecurity, strategic communications, crisis management, and counter-mobility. A 15th initiative, on strategic and operational planning, was successfully concluded in October 2017 (Mod.gov.ge, accessed July 7).

The majority of Georgian experts are convinced that Georgia fulfills the annual NATO programs much more successfully than some of the states that have already received MAP; but the Alliance cannot make a similar decision with regard to Tbilisi, fearing an escalation in relations with Russia. Professor Tornike Sharashenidze, who heads the International Relations masters program at the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA), is sure that in the conditions that have developed in the region, including around Ukraine, NATO has a hard time coming up with something new for Georgia. Sharashenidze doubts that United States President Joseph Biden and his administration are planning to change something fundamentally in [former US president] Donald Trumps policy toward Georgia and Ukraine. This sad reality, according to the expert, is fully confirmed by the results of the Biden[Vladimir] Putin summit in Geneva [on June 16] (Authors interview, July 6).

On the other hand, political consultant Gela Vasadze has argued that the level of relations between Georgia and NATO is already quite high and creates certain security guarantees for a small Caucasus country even without MAP or full membership: I understand that, emotionally, Georgians expect quick decisions from NATO; but in big politics, the result is achieved with careful, small steps. The current level of relations with the Alliance gives our country a chance to conclude a strategic military-political alliance with regional countries under the NATO umbrella: Turkey, Poland, the Baltic States and Ukraine. This is very important for the creation of a collective security system, and the North Atlantic Alliance will even welcome such decisions. As an illustrative example, Vasadze pointed to the recent consolidation of the strategic alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkey (see EDM, June 23), with the latter country considered the NATO leader in our region, he noted (Authors interview, July 6).

Vasadzes optimistic opinion seemed to be validated by recent developments in in the maritime domain. Namely, the United Kingdoms air-defense destroyerHMS Defenderfollowing its highly publicized military incident near the Crimean peninsula (see EDM, June 24)made a port call in the Georgian Black Sea city of Batumi, were the British officers were greeted as heroes (Agenda.ge, June 27). Subsequently, HMS Defender, together with other NATO member states warships and Georgian Coast Guard vessels, participated in a joint naval exercise designed to boost interoperability between the respective crews and develop Georgian capabilities (Agenda.ge, June 27).

During the August 2008 war, Russian forces destroyed the ships of the small Georgian naval fleet. But Georgias active participation in the annual NATO-led Sea Breeze maneuvers in the Black Sea has helped to reinforce for the Alliance that the country should be seen as an important partner for ensuring regional security.

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NATO-Georgia: A Pause in the Integration Process? - Jamestown - The Jamestown Foundation

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Quantum Computing Software Market worth $0.43 billion by 2026 – Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets – PRNewswire

Posted: at 3:37 am

CHICAGO, July 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Quantum Computing Software Marketby Component (Software, Services), Deployment Mode (Cloud, On-Premises), Organization Size, Technology, Application (Optimization, Simulation), Vertical (BFSI, Government), and Region - Global Forecast to 2026", published by MarketsandMarkets, the Quantum Computing Software Market size is projected to grow from USD 0.11 billion in 2021 to 0.43 USD billion in 2026, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 30.5% during the forecast period.

The major factors driving the growth of the Quantum Computing Software Market include the growing adoption of quantum computing software in the BFSI vertical, government support for the development and deployment of the technology, and the increasing number of strategic alliances for research and development.

Browse in-depth TOC on"Quantum Computing Software Market"373 Tables47 Figures305 Pages

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Based on Component, the service segmentto grow at a higher CAGR during the forecast period

Among the component segment, the services segment is leading the Quantum Computing Software Market in 2021. The growth of the services segment can be attributed to the increasing investments by start-ups in research and development related to quantum computing technology. Quantum computing software and services are used in optimization, simulation, and machine learning applications, thereby leading to optimum utilization costs and highly efficient operations in various industries.

Based on application, the optimization segment is expected tohold the highest market size during the forecast period

The optimization segment is expected to lead the global Quantum Computing Software Market in terms of market share. Optimization problems exist across all industries and business functions. Some of these problems take too long to be solved optimally with traditional computers, where the usage of quantum computing technology is expected to be an optimum solution. Several optimization problems require a global minimal point solution. By using quantum annealing, the optimization problems can be solved earlier as compared to supercomputers.

Based on vertical, the BFSI segment is expected tohold the highest market size during the forecast period

Banks and financial institutions, such as hedge fundraisers, are the key adopters of quantum computing systems and services as they help them minimize risks and maximize gains from dynamic portfolios of investments. Potential use cases of quantum computing in the banking and financial industry include portfolio analysis, fraud detection, optimization, and asset valuation, along with cybersecurity system quantum-proofing and high-frequency trading.

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North America to hold the highest market size during the forecast period

North America is one of the most prominent regions in the Quantum Computing Software Market. The growth of the Quantum Computing Software Market in North America can be attributed to the fact that the region is home to the leading players of the market; quantum computing solutions and services are also witnessing increased adoption in the aerospace & defence, chemical, and BFSI industries of the region.

Major Quantum Computing Software vendors include IBM Corporation (US), Microsoft Corporation (US), Amazon Web Services, Inc. (US), D-Wave Systems Inc (Canada), Rigetti Computing (US), Google LLC (US), Honeywell International Inc. (US), QC Ware (US), 1QBit (US), Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (China), Accenture plc (Ireland), Cambridge Quantum Computing (England), Fujitsu Limited (Japan), Riverlane (UK), Zapata Computing (US), Quantum Circuits, Inc. (US), Quantica Computacao (India), XANADU Quantum Technologies (Canada), VeriQloud (France), Quantastica (Finland), AVANETIX (Germany), Kuano (England), Rahko (UK), Ketita Labs (Estonia), and Aliro Quantum (US). These market players have adopted various growth strategies, such as partnerships, collaborations, and new product launches, to expand have been the most adopted strategies by major players from 2019 to 2021, which helped companies innovate their offerings and broaden their customer base.

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Quantum Computing Software Market worth $0.43 billion by 2026 - Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets - PRNewswire

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IBM partners with UK on $ 300 million quantum computing research initiative – Illinoisnewstoday.com

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This week, the UK government and IBM hope to make new discoveries and develop sustainable technologies in areas from life sciences to manufacturing, 210 million ($ 297.5 million) for five years. Announced a collaboration between IBMs artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing.

The program employs 60 scientists, invites internships and students to work at the Hartree Center in Daresbury, Cheshire, with the support of IBM Research and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) in the United Kingdom. The newly established Hartree National Center for Digital Innovation (HNCDI) applies AI, high performance computing (HPC), data analysis, quantum computing, and cloud technology to areas such as material development and environmental sustainability. Promote research in. IBM Said in a statement..

Artificial intelligence and quantum computing have the potential to revolutionize everything from the way we travel to the way we shop. Thats exactly what I want the UK to lead, said the UK. Said Amanda Soloway, Minister of Science.

The Hartree Center was opened in 2012 by the UK Research and Innovation STFC as an HPC, data analysis, and AI research facility. It is housed in Sci-Tech Daresburys lab for research in accelerator science, biomedical, physics, chemistry, materials, engineering, computational science and more.

The program is part of IBMs Discovery Accelerator initiative to accelerate discovery and innovation based on the convergence of advanced technologies at research centers such as HNCDI, the company said. This will be IBMs first European Discovery Accelerator Research Center.

As part of the HNCDI program, STFC Hartree Center participates in more than 150 global organizations, from Fortune 500 companies to start-ups, with access to the IBM Hybrid Cloud. IBM quantum network.. The Quantum Network is an assembly of premium quantum computers and development tools by computing giants. IBM also provides access to commercial and experimental AI products and tools to work in areas such as Material Design, Scaling and Automation, Supply Chain Logistics, and Reliable AI Applications, the company said.

IBM has been busy dealing with Discovery Accelerator and its partners this year.The company invested $ 200 million last month 10-year joint project At the Grainger Institute of Technology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Similar to HNCDI in the UK, the IBM-Illinois Discovery Accelerator Institute, planned at UIUC, will build a new research facility and hire faculty and technicians.

Earlier this year, IBM announced a 10-year quantum computing collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic, laying the computational foundation for a global center for future Cleveland Clinic pathogen research and human health. The project will set up the first US-based on-premises private sector. IBM Quantum System One, The company said. Over the next few years, IBM also plans to install one of the first next-generation 1,000 qubit quantum systems on another Cleveland client site.

At the time of the announcement of the Cleveland Clinic, IBM Chair and CEO Arvind Krishna said the pandemic urged the challenge of leveraging quantum computing, AI and other cutting-edge technologies to solve the most pressing problems in medicine. Said that he was added.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created one of the greatest races in the history of scientific discovery, which demands unprecedented agility and speed, Krishna said. Said in a statement..

At the same time, science is undergoing unique changes. High-performance computing, hybrid cloud, data, AI, and quantum computing are being used in new ways to break the long-standing bottleneck in scientific discovery. A new collaboration with Cleveland Clinic combines world-renowned expertise in healthcare and life sciences with IBMs next-generation technology to make scientific discoveries faster and expand their reach than ever before. I will, says Krishna.

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IBM partners with UK on $ 300 million quantum computing research initiative - Illinoisnewstoday.com

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