Monthly Archives: January 2024

This article looks at several undervalued quantum computing stocks for investors to consider. Quantum computing is an innovative technology that utilizes the principles of quantum mechanics to tackle highly intricate problems beyond the capabilities of classical computers. With the availability of real quantum hardware, a concept envisioned only 30 years ago, hundreds of thousands of developers now have access.

Engineers consistently release increasingly potent superconducting quantum processors, accompanied by pivotal advancements in software. This collective effort aims to achieve the speed and capacity required to revolutionize various industries.

In laymans terms, quantum machines differ significantly from classical computers that have existed for over half a century, marking a transformative era in computational capabilities.

Supercomputers, comprising thousands of classical CPU and GPU cores, are the go-to for scientists and engineers facing complex challenges. However, their reliance on binary code and 20th-century transistor technology limits their effectiveness, especially for highly intricate problems involving numerous interacting variables.

Classical computers often falter when dealing with complexity, such as modeling atomic interactions or detecting subtle fraud patterns. Quantum computers, leveraging quantum physics principles, offer a promising alternative.

Operating with quantum bits (qubits) that exist in multiple states simultaneously, they present a potential solution to problems deemed unsolvable by classical computers. As the real world operates on quantum physics, quantum computing emerges as a revolutionary tool for tackling previously insurmountable tasks.

Quantum computers need to operate in an extremely cold operating environment, as low as -272C, to prevent interference from thermal noise.

Lets dive into the three most undervalued quantum computing stocks in January.

IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) is a leading player in quantum computing, offering cutting-edge solutions. Utilizing trapped ions as qubits, IonQ stands out for its advanced quantum hardware. The company aims to deliver practical quantum computing power for various applications, ranging from optimization problems to complex simulations.

Last September, IonQ reported third-quarter results with $6.1 million in revenue, surpassing the upper end of its previously-communicated range. The outlook for 2023 full-year revenue and bookings has been raised once again.

The third quarter saw bookings of $26.3 million, bringing the year-to-date bookings to $58.4 million as of Q3. The company demonstrated robust growth in its commercial pipeline. It achieved a significant milestone with $100 million in cumulative bookings within the initial three years of its commercialization efforts, showcasing the strong demand for IonQs quantum computing solutions.

Shares are down about 24% over the last three months. IONQ has a market cap of $2.33 billion.

FormFactor (NASDAQ:FORM) is one of the three undervalued quantum computing stocks, is a prominent semiconductor testing and measurement solutions provider. Specializing in advanced wafer probe cards, FORM facilitates the evaluation and testing of semiconductor devices during manufacturing. The companys cutting-edge technologies contribute to developing high-performance electronic devices, including quantum computing products, across various industries.

Approximately 25% of FormFactors revenue falls under the systems category, encompassing machines utilizing probe cards. CEO Mike Slessor highlighted on an earnings call that these systems collaborate with fab customers, contributing to R&D efforts for advancing wafer and chip manufacturing techniques, particularly for materials like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN).

Notably, FormFactors quantum cryogenics systems, included in this unit, cater to the unique requirements of quantum computers, which operate in a closely monitored environment. FormFactor is vital in supporting companies developing quantum computers and chipmakers testing advanced chips and materials for extreme conditions.

For the third quarter of 2023, the company reported record systems segment revenue. Shares are up 16% over the past three months, with a market cap now at just over $3 billion.

Source: Laborant / Shutterstock.com

IBM (NASDAQ:IBM) said recently that it has developed hardware and software solutions reaching a groundbreaking point. This enables the execution of quantum circuits with 100 qubits and 3,000 gates, devoid of known answers. Accordingly, this marks a pivotal moment where quantum becomes a practical computational tool.

I like to say users are using quantum computing to do quantum computing, and we are adding capabilities that open up quantum to an extended set of users that includes what we refer to as quantum computational scientists. We think this is proof enough that weve entered a new era, the company said in a blog post.

IBM recently unveiled IBM Condor, a remarkable leap in quantum processing with a 1,121 superconducting qubit quantum processor. Built on cross-resonance gate technology, Condor achieves a 50% increase in qubit density, pushing the boundaries of chip design scalability and yield. Despite its significantly expanded scale, Condors performance remains comparable to its predecessor, the 433-qubit Osprey.

IBM stock is up about 20% over the past three months. However, its multi-year performance still lags other Big Tech stocks, leaving room for shares to re-rate higher on the companys increasing exposure to next-gen technologies like quantum computing, AI, ML, etc.

On the date of publication, Shane Neagle did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.comPublishing Guidelines.

Shane Neagle is fascinated by the ways in which technology is poised to disrupt investing. He specializes in fundamental analysis and growth investing.

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The 3 Most Undervalued Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in January - InvestorPlace

Want to keep track of the largest startup funding deals in 2024 with our curated list of $100 million-plus venture deals to U.S.-based companies? Check out The Crunchbase Megadeals Board.

This is a weekly feature that runs down the weeks top 10 announced funding rounds in the U.S. Check out last weeks biggest funding rounds here.

The second full week of the new year got a big jolt near the end of it with Flexports huge raise. That round, combined with an even bigger raise by a quantum computing startup and along with a handful of $75 million rounds made it a pretty solid week.

1. Quantinuum, $300M, quantum: Quantinuum locked up a fresh $300 million equity fundraise at a pre-money valuation of $5 billion, as investors are clearly excited about the possibilities of quantum computing. The new funding was led by JPMorgan Chase. The Broomfield, Colorado-based company was spun out of Honeywell in 2021 and merged with Cambridge Quantum Computing. Quantinuum says it has now raised approximately $625 million. Last year, funding to quantum computing startups hit nearly $1.2 billion, per Crunchbase data. That number dwarfed the less than $800 million raised in 2022 making quantum one of the few sectors to see an increase in venture funding in 2023. While its too early to say venture funding will again increase in the sector this year, it is evident investors see the potential in both quantum technology and its ability to produce big financial returns.

2. Flexport, $260M, logistics: The news broke late Friday logistics giant Flexport is raising $260 million from partner and e-commerce titan Shopify after burning through hundreds of millions of dollars last year, per a report in The Information. The huge fundraising event is just the latest headline for the San Francisco-based startup that hit a peak valuation of $8 billion almost exactly two years ago after raising a massive $935 million round. Flexport and Shopify are no strangers to making deals with each other. Last May, Flexport announced the acquisition of the assets of Shopifys logistics business for a 13% equity interest in the private company. Shopify also gave Flexport a $40 million cash infusion as part of the deal, per The Information report. Of course, that was far from the only reason Flexport was in the news last year. In September, the big news hit that Flexports then-CEO Dave Clark was abruptly leaving the company after just a year and founder Ryan Petersen was coming back to take the reins as the company struggled with shipping volume declines after the pandemic boom. Flexport also made headlines in November after acquiring the assets of shuttered Jeff Bezos-backed digital freight startup network Convoy. Flexport had raised nearly $2.4 billion in equity and debt before the new Shopify round. Some of its noteworthy investors include Andreessen Horowitz, MSD Partners and the SoftBank Vision Fund.

3. (tied) Cleveland Diagnostics, $75M, biotech: There have not been a lot of big raises so far this year, but the few we have seen are usually related to biotech. Cleveland Diagnostics is the latest example, locking up a $75 million round led by Novo Holdings. The Cleveland-based biotech is developing diagnostic tests for the early detection of cancers and will use some of the new proceeds to grow the use of its novel IsoPSA prostate cancer test. Founded in 2013, the company has raised $111 million, per Crunchbase.

3. (tied) Comanche Biopharma, $75, biotech: Like we said, theres been several big rounds in biotech. Concord, Massachusetts-based Comanche Biopharma locked up a $75 million Series B led by New Enterprise Associates. The startup is looking at therapies for preeclampsia, a serious pregnancy complication that affects approximately 10 million women globally each year, according to the company. The issue can lead to complications for both the mother and the baby, including multiorgan damage and seizures. Founded in 2020, the company has raised $111 million, per Crunchbase.

3. (tied) DailyPay, $75M, fintech: Waiting for payday can be a drag. New York-based DailyPay just raised a fresh $175 million so you dont have to do that. The company partners with employers to allow employees to track, transfer, spend or save their pay as they earn it. The new round was made up of $100 million in an expanded credit facility and more than $75 million in equity financing led by Carrick Capital Partners. The round valued the company at $1.75 billion on a pre-money basis. Founded in 2015, the company has raised $1.2 billion, per Crunchbase.

3. (tied) Tr1X, $75M, biotech: We are not quite done with the big biotech raises yet. San Diego-based Tr1X popped out of stealth this week and announced a $75 million Series A led by The Column Group. The company is developing therapies for autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Founded in 2018, this is the companys first round with a disclosed amount, per Crunchbase.

7. Digital Onboarding, $58M, SaaS: Boston-based Digital Onboarding, a customer relations platform for financial services, closed a $58 million investment from Volition Capital. Founded in 2015, the company has raised nearly $63 million, per Crunchbase.

8. Forta, $55M, health care: San Francisco-based Forta, which uses AI to help with access to quality care, raised a $55 million Series A led by Insight Partners. Founded in 2021, this is the companys first round with a disclosed amount, per Crunchbase.

9. Ratio Therapeutics, $50M, biotech: Boston-based Ratio Therapeutics, a pharmaceutical startup developing radiopharmaceuticals for the treatment and monitoring of cancers, closed a $50 million Series B from various investors including Bristol Myers Squibb. Founded in 2021, Ratio has raised more than $90 million, per the company.

10. SmartLabs, $48M, biotech: Boston-based SmartLabs, which provides laboratory infrastructure and resourcing as-a-service to companies, locked up a $48 million Series C from several investors including Conversion Venture Capital. Founded in 2015, the company has raised more than $400 million, per Crunchbase.

The biggest deal of the week came from the Red Dragon.

We tracked the largest announced rounds in the Crunchbase database that were raised by U.S.-based companies for the seven-day period of Jan. 13 to 19. Although most announced rounds are represented in the database, there could be a small time lag as some rounds are reported late in the week.

Illustration: Dom Guzman

Clarification: This story has changed since its original publication to add Flexports $260 million raise.

Stay up to date with recent funding rounds, acquisitions, and more with the Crunchbase Daily.

See more here:

The Week's 10 Biggest Funding Rounds: Quantinuum And Flexport Lock Up Huge Rounds - Crunchbase News

Users from Bulgaria, Singapore, Japan, Russia and Canada were among those who logged in, but the US led the tally, it said, without providing specific numbers.

The machine had completed 33,871 quantum computing tasks for global users since it became operational on January 6, the report added.

Named after the Monkey King of Chinese mythology, Origin Wukong is Chinas first home-grown third-generation superconducting quantum computer.

It is Chinas latest and most advanced programmable and deliverable machine of its kind, according to the Science and Technology Daily.

Chinese scientists claim record smashing quantum computing breakthrough

Origin Quantum, the company behind the feat, was founded in 2017 by Guo Guoping and Guo Guangcan leading quantum physicists at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in southeastern Anhui province.

US quantum computers are not open to China, Guo Guoping told the Post. But, adhering to the notion of scientific exploration without borders, we are willing to open our services to users around the world, including the US, to jointly promote the concept of quantum computing for the benefit of mankind.

Quantum computing is seen as a disruptive technology. It uses elementary particles called qubits, short for quantum bits, as its basic unit of information equivalent to the digital bits used in traditional computing.

China and the United States are among major world powers racing to be No 1 in utilising the key technology, which has the potential to transform many fields, including healthcare, finance and data security.

Origin delivered its first superconducting quantum computer to the domestic market in 2020. The countrys first practical quantum computer was also from Origin the 24-qubit Wuyuan second generation machine that was delivered to an undisclosed user in 2021.

The feat made China the third country after Canada and the US to gain the capability to deliver a complete quantum computing system.

The Wukong is powered by a 72-qubit home-made superconducting quantum chip, also called the Wukong chip.

Jia Zhilong, a director in charge of quantum chip research and development at Origin, said the launch of this locally made chip and computer was akin to an entry ticket to the field of superconducting quantum computer manufacturing.

He said it showed that China was capable of independently producing scalable quantum computer chips and systems of a certain size, local newspaper Anhui Daily reported earlier this month.

China sells quantum chips to Middle East and West in show of growing influence

Kong Weicheng, another researcher at Origin, told the paper that the companys latest powerful machine could send out and execute up to 200 quantum circuits at one time, giving it a greater speed advantage.

Despite these advances, the quantum gap between Chinese players and their Western counterparts remains wide.

In November 2022, Americas IBM launched its 433-qubit Osprey processor, the worlds fastest quantum computer at the time. In October last year, Californian start-up Atom Computing left the Osprey behind with the debut of its first quantum computer with more than 1,000 qubits. Two months later, IBM unveiled the Condor with 1,121 superconducting qubits.

Although having more qubits does not necessarily mean better performance, large numbers will be needed to build error-free quantum computers that would be more useful than todays noisy research machines, involving a certain probability of errors during the calculation process.

Chinese scientists acknowledge the gap with the West.

In late 2022, Zhang Hui, general manager of Origin Quantum, said China was at the forefront of global quantum science research but relatively behind in quantum computing.

The development of quantum computers involves many advanced engineering issues, Zhang told Chinese news outlet Guancha.cn. This includes the production of superconducting chips and traditional semiconductors both crucial hi-tech areas where China lags behind the US and the West.

He added that there was a huge gap between China and the US in the industrial applications of quantum computing.

Leading players such as IBM and Google started exploring industrial applications as early as the 1990s. But its only since the establishment of Origin Quantum in 2017 that we started exploring industrial applications, Zhang said.

However, whether featuring 72 or more than 1,000 qubits quantum computers are not about to replace conventional ones soon. At this stage, they can only perform very specific tasks for short periods of time in a protected environment.

Numerous technical challenges, such as the ability to correct errors, have led some scientists to forecast that a practical quantum computer is still years, if not decades, away.

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US users top list after Chinas state-of-the-art quantum computer goes global - South China Morning Post

Mitsui & Co., Ltd. ("Mitsui", Head Office: Tokyo, President and CEO: Kenichi Hori) made a US$50M investment in Quantinuum ("Quantinuum", Head Office: Broomfield, Colorado, U.S.A., CEO: Rajeeb Hazra), a leading global quantum computing company. This investment is part of Quantinuum's US$300M equity fundraise, and was completed alongside JPMorgan Chase, Honeywell and Amgen. The investment will accelerate Quantinuum's path toward developing the world's first universal fault-tolerant quantum computers*1, while also extending the company's leading quantum software offerings.

Mitsui and Quantinuum have also entered into a distributorship agreement to introduce Quantinuum's solutions to the Japanese and Asia-Pacific markets. Mitsui will jointly propose and provide Quantinuum's knowledge, know-how and solutions, starting with the quantum cybersecurity field, to advanced users in the region that are leveraging the power of quantum computing.

By 2035, it is forecasted that quantum computing will grow to become a US$450B - $850B*2 market worldwide, in fields such as new material development, healthcare, financial services, cybersecurity, and logistics optimization. Development and utilization of the technology is accelerating worldwide.

Mitsui and Quantinuum will further deepen their strategic partnership through investment and business collaboration to accelerate the development of use cases, create new business models, and enhance customer offerings by integrating Mitsui's business knowhow in a wide range of global industrial sectors with Quantinuum's advanced quantum technology.

Notes *1 A quantum computer that can automatically correct errors that occur even with a sufficient number of qubits and accurately calculate while correcting them. (FTQC: Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer) *2 Source: Boston Consulting Group "Quantum Computing Is Becoming Business Ready" (May 2023)

http://www.quantinuum.com/

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Mitsui to invest in Quantinuum, a leading global quantum computing company, and sign a distributorship agreement for ... - Mitsui

Scientists achieve groundbreaking room-temperature quantum coherence for 100 nanoseconds, propelling molecular qubits closer to practical quantum computing.

Scientists have recently managed to maintain quantum coherence in a molecular qubit for over one hundred nanoseconds at room temperature, hinting at potential breakthroughs in quantum computing.

Quantum computers could revolutionize information technology by changing the paradigm of computing. This is attributed to their basic units, called qubits, which can exist inany combination of states, unlike classical bits constrained to a definite value of 1 or 0. Due to this infinite variety of qubit states, a quantum computer should be able to easily handle computational problems that would take a conventional computer trillions of years to solve.

Scientists have successfully created qubits from particles such as photons, atoms, individual electrons, or even a superconducting loop. However, creating a qubit is one thing, building a working quantum computer out of thousands or even millions of qubits is an entirely different challenge, and attempts thus far have been fraught with substantial difficulties.

For a quantum computer to work, it is necessary to establish and manipulate subtle quantum interactions among multiple qubits a state known as entanglement. However, for this to work, the qubits themselves need to remain stable or coherent, which means keeping it in a well-defined quantum state. The problem is, coherence is difficult to maintain as it easily crumbles when qubits interact with their surroundings even radiation from space can throw them.

To solve this, a team of Japanese researchers led by Nobuhiro Yanai, associate professor at Kyushu University, has engineered a stable qubit using a special structure called a metal-organic framework. This structure involves combining pentacene molecules (made up of five connected benzene rings) with zirconium ions and organic dicarboxylate ligands. The pentacene molecules act like bridges, linking the ligands and ions together into a framework made up of both organic molecules and metal ionshence the name.

The role of the qubit was played by a pair of neighboring pentacene molecules, which were coupled and exist within five different quantum states achieved by irradiating the metal-organic framework with various wavelengths of microwave radiation.

The metal-organic frameworks nanoscale voids offer the pentacene molecules a degree of freedom, but ultimately restricts their full movement under the radiations influence, ensuring they formed a desired quantum state and remained trapped in it for a significant amount of time.

The metal-organic framework in this work is a unique system that can densely accumulate [pentacene molecules], said Yanai in a press release. Additionally, the nanopores inside the crystal enable [them] to rotate, but at a very restrained angle.

The most important result of the study was that the team could maintain coherence for more than a hundred nanoseconds at room temperature, whereas previously this could only be achieved in similar systems at incredibly cold temperatures of about -200 degrees Celsius. At such temperatures, it was possible to maintain coherence only in photonic qubits, but in addition to needing such extreme conditions to operate, quantum computers using these photon qubits suffer from photon leakage.

Maintaining cryogenic temperatures is not only expensive but complicates the entire computing setup. Thus, creating a stable qubit that operates at room temperature is an impressive and practical achievement.

Looking ahead, the scientists are optimistic about extending coherence for even longer periods. They believe that by designing improved metal-organic frameworks and identifying more suitable molecules for qubits, they can push the boundaries further.

It will be possible to generate quintet [] state qubits more efficiently in the future by searching for guest molecules that can induce more such suppressed motions and by developing suitable metal-organic framework structures, concluded Yanai. This can open doors to room-temperature molecular quantum computing.

Reference: Akio Yamauchi et al, Room-temperature quantum coherence of entangled multiexcitons in a metal-organic framework, Science Advances (2024), DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi3147

Feature image credit: geralt on Pixabay

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Breakthrough in quantum computing with stable room temperature qubits - Advanced Science News

Source: Amin Van / Shutterstock.com

Quantum computing is seen as the next stage of computing and IonQ (NASDAQ:IONQ) rode that wave to huge gains in 2023. But the reality of where the market is at in its life cycle is bringing shares down to earth. This will have important implications for IONQ stock moving forward.

After surging 259% last year IONQ stock is down 13% year to date and 50% below its 52-week high hit last summer. Thats undoubtedly because quantum computing hasnt even learned to walk yet let alone get up to the running stage IonQs stock suggests it should be at. There are no real practical uses yet for the current phase of the technology, the hardware isnt up to speed, and there are a lot of problems with the technology. Other than that everything is great!

The following are the primary reasons investors should take a go-slow approach before investing in IONQ stock.

The promise of quantum computing is like the 4-D chess of computing. Where traditional computers break data into very two-dimensional 1s and 0s, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which put those digits into superposition. That means they can be a 1, a 0, or both at the same time. Or they can be an infinite number of possibilities in between. They also possess a property called entanglement, which is like superposition on steroids. The qubits can communicate and cooperate, expanding their possible permutations.

Quantum computers can take all that data and explore the numerous complex patterns of probability occurring to determine the probability of any particular outcome happening. It allows quantum computers to determine all potential outcomes simultaneously.

Yeah, my brain is just cramped writing that, but quantum computing has many possible real-world uses. For example, it could determine the optimal route to take for a delivery truck or design new drugs. They could also be used to hack supposedly secure encryption data. Theres a very dark side to their usage to go along with the light. The only problem is theyre not very good at what they do yet.

While IonQ and others make quantum computers, the devices cant make the hyperscale calculations their potential says they can. A regular computer is often better at it right now. Nor are they any faster than classic computers. Quantum computers might be slower depending on the calculation.

Its going to take a lot more development to make quantum computing a reality and thats why IONQ stock is falling.

Even though there are use cases for quantum computers, they are not practical enough for businesses to adopt them yet. IonQ makes access to its quantum computers available on the cloud computing platforms of Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Alphabets (NASDAQ:GOOG)(NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google. Year-to-date revenue, though, is less than $16 million. While thats more than double the year-ago figure, it speaks to a very small, limited market.

There are other limiting factors for quantum computers too, including the fact they are prone to errors. Because of their sensitivity, qubits can make substantial errors due to environmental disturbances, even very small ones. Its called decoherence and it causes the qubits to lose their quantum capabilities.

IonQ has a workaround for the problem in development. It believes error mitigation rather than error correction using trapped ions will allow it to resolve issues faster. It says error mitigation will allow it to reach #AQ 64 status, which is where regular computers can no longer fully simulate an IonQ computer. That will make quantum computers more valuable.

When that happens IonQ says it will be a watershed for quantum computing the way ChatGPT was for artificial intelligence. CEO Peter Chapman told industry site HPC Wire, My guess is that just like ChatGPT, the world will be like a baseball bat to their head, like, Oh, my God quantum is here and why did I miss it?

Perhaps, but there is still a long way to go before we get there. In the meantime, IONQ stock will undoubtedly be volatile and investors should step gingerly if theyre thinking about buying in.

On the date of publication, Rich Duprey did not hold (either directly or indirectly) any positions in the securities mentioned in this article. The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer, subject to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.

Rich Duprey has written about stocks and investing for the past 20 years. His articles have appeared on Nasdaq.com, The Motley Fool, and Yahoo! Finance, and he has been referenced by U.S. and international publications, including MarketWatch, Financial Times, Forbes, Fast Company, USA Today, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Cheddar News, The Boston Globe, LExpress, and numerous other news outlets.

Go here to read the rest:

Why IONQ Is Not a Stock to Buy (Yet) - InvestorPlace

With help from Christine Mui and Steven Overly

Participants waiting for a session at the 2024 meeting of the World Economic Forum. | Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

Davos wants you to plan to have a plan on quantum technology.

The World Economic Forum that sponsors the annual Switzerland confab released a Quantum Economy Blueprint today its first major paper on how a global economy centered around quantum technology might develop, even as many skeptics say the technology isnt yet ready for prime time.

Its authors, a trio of researchers from the WEF, AI and quantum startup SandboxAQ, and IBM, lay out a set of recommendations and examples for how countries can find their fit in the global development of quantum computing, sensing, and communications technologies especially as China invests billions into the technology largely in isolation from the West.

If youve been reading DFDs past coverage of quantum developments, you might be wondering: Isnt it a bit early for this? Thats what the reports authors are counting on, writing that seizing on an early adopter advantage will allow governments to get infrastructure in place to ensure all countries are able to benefit from the gradual replacement of zeroes and ones by superposition and entanglement.

Notably, the report, with the full backing of the WEF, makes assumptions about quantum that are decidedly up for debate in the wider research community. Those include: it will be possible to build a useful, fully programmable universal fault-tolerant quantum computer; quantum computing will make the computation of specific problems more efficient or precise, and that quantum utility, the ability for existing quantum computers to solve problems beyond classical computings reach, has been demonstrated.

(Some in the commercial sector even say the WEF isnt bullish enough Allison Schwartz, government relations lead for commercial quantum company D-Wave, told DFD in a statement that the report narrowly focuses on a single approach that is far from market readiness in a manner that skews the timelines for adoption and near-term application development.)

With that in mind I pinged Sergio Gago Huerta, head of quantum at Moodys and someone who does not hesitate to call out quantum hype as the author of the Quantum Pirates Substack newsletter. Huerta was all in favor of the blueprint, saying that by focusing on governance and infrastructure it provides helpful pointers to pretty much anyone hoping to compete or even participate in the quantum economy.

Every country should have their own quantum program, either as part of a coalition or by themselves, Huerta wrote in an email. He noted that while many countries tend to focus on quantum as a cyber threat the ability of quantum computers to bust traditional cryptography is one of the most well-established findings in the field the report provides welcome focus on other technologies like quantum sensing and metrology, something governments will need to provide enough support, governance and training [for]... in order to stay relevant and keep a competitive advantage.

Celia Merzbacher, executive director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium that aims to grow quantum in the U.S., was a consultant on the report. She praised its analysis of the complex landscape facing nations on quantum and said it would be useful to anyone working right now in the quantum technology stack.

The report takes a granular dive into nations quantum building blocks, from national research funding to politics to worker training, and finds not surprisingly that the most successful innovation efforts come from deeply interconnected and collaborative ecosystems.

One example they cite is the United Kingdoms National Quantum Strategy: In that case, pumping a billion-plus British pounds into the U.K.s research infrastructure led to a successful effort to develop commercial applications for quantum in fields like the automotive industry, telecom, and defense.

At a smaller scale, that virtuous-cycle collaboration tends to cross national boundaries, like in the case of the Quantum Leap Africa program that saw five nations team up to gather top students from across the continent and educate them about quantum.

The U.S. National Quantum Initiative, authorized by a $1.2 billion bill passed in 2018, has placed Washington at the center of this global conversation even as its re-authorization lingers in Congressional limbo. The report contains plenty of detail about the U.S. quantum push and its ripples throughout the global economy, as well as the importance of maintaining a quantum advantage to defense and national security. Where its decidedly more circumspect, however, is on exactly what those geopolitical threats are: State Department official Rick Switzer is quoted saying its critical that the United States and our allies retain access to key components in the quantum supply chain, requiring policy-makers to account for the geopolitics surrounding this access.

By geopolitics, he means China and the repercussions for quantum in what the New York Times called Americas silicon blockade against Beijing. The WEF report notes that China has spent $15 billion on quantum, more than the U.S., U.K., France and Germany combined.

The number of times China itself is referenced in the report? Exactly two, a far cry from the in-depth treatment other nations quantum strategies get. Anyone who tracks quantum development (or any other technology, for that matter) in the West knows that potential threat from Beijing is a huge political motivator for quantum policy, especially when it comes to cybersecurity. Davos plan might be a globally collaborative one, but as with so many other tech policy issues, theres a large elephant in the room thats central to its analysis while remaining oddly silent.

Also in Davos, India made its case as a democratic alternative source for electronics manufacturing to China.

The worlds fifth-largest economy for years lagged on making microchips, lacking the specialized hardware and skilled talent needed to grow the industry. Then in late 2021, the Modi government offered up $10 billion in incentives, luring companies like Micron and Tata Group to invest in new fabs. With nine semiconductor manufacturing proposals on the table, India is eager for more.

Speaking at the WEF, Chip War author Chris Miller drew parallels between India and past success stories: Taiwan, South Korea started a half century ago developing their chip industries, and today theyre the world leaders. And so I think theres no doubt that India is beginning to follow that path.

But the country wont dive into the competition around cutting-edge chips thats captured governments around the world yet choosing to first focus on legacy chips for telecommunications and cars, Indian Cabinet Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told the panel. Asked about future pressure to take sides between China and the West, Vaishnaw dodged, saying we dont think that its a battle and that circumstances are too complex and too dynamic to imagine what could happen in a decade.

Indias semiconductor moves piqued the interest of the Netherlands, a chipmaking equipment powerhouse thats all too familiar with getting caught in the U.S.-China faceoff. Dutch Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Micky Adriaansens called India a different story from China and reiterated its plan to join forces with like-minded countries. Christine Mui

A fundamental question hangs over the global debate over how to regulate artificial intelligence: open or closed?

That is, should the most powerful AI systems be widely available to any interested developer or under the tight control of just a few players? Top politicos and tech minds grappled with that topic in Davos, including at POLITICO Lives own AI debate on Tuesday.

In the U.S., Assistant Secretary of Commerce Alan Davidson said the answer may not be so binary.

Weve learned that theres a real gradient of openness, and that we may be able to find ways, we have to be able to find ways, to support innovation and competition, but also protect safety and security as we open up these systems, Davidson told the POLITICO Tech podcast.

Davidson heads the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, which has been tasked by the White House with studying the open vs. closed question. He made the case that while closed systems are seemingly easier to close off to bad actors, they also concentrate power in the hands of a small number of tech companies, many of which already exert significant influence over our daily lives.

We know that its very powerful if you can democratize access to these technologies, Davidson said. Its good for innovation. It actually can be good for safety and security. Steven Overly

Listen to the full interview with Davidson on todays POLITICO Tech.

Stay in touch with the whole team: Ben Schreckinger ([emailprotected]); Derek Robertson ([emailprotected]); Mohar Chatterjee ([emailprotected]); Steve Heuser ([emailprotected]); Nate Robson ([emailprotected]); Daniella Cheslow ([emailprotected]); and Christine Mui ([emailprotected]).

If youve had this newsletter forwarded to you, you can sign up and read our mission statement at the links provided.

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Davos and the global state of quantum - POLITICO

In todays fast-paced financial landscape, high-frequency transactions have become a vital component of modern trading strategies. These transactions involve the rapid buying and selling of financial instruments, taking advantage of small price differentials to generate profits. However, with the emergence of quantum artificial intelligence (AI), there is now an opportunity to revolutionize high-frequency transactions and enhance their effectiveness.

Before delving into the potential collaboration between high-frequency transactions and quantum AI, lets first establish a clear understanding of what high-frequency transactions entail.

High-frequency trading (HFT) relies on advanced algorithms and powerful computational systems to execute trades within fractions of a second. These trades are typically carried out in large volumes, enabling traders to capitalize on even the smallest price discrepancies.

Market participants engaging in these transactions often employ sophisticated strategies, such as statistical arbitrage, market making, and momentum trading. By leveraging cutting-edge technology and lightning-fast execution, high-frequency traders aim to gain a competitive edge in the market.

High-frequency trading (HFT) is a complex and dynamic field that has revolutionized the financial markets. By utilizing advanced algorithms and powerful computational systems, high-frequency traders are able to execute trades within fractions of a second. This lightning-fast speed allows them to take advantage of even the smallest price discrepancies, enabling them to generate substantial profits.

One of the key strategies employed by high-frequency traders is statistical arbitrage. This strategy involves identifying and exploiting pricing anomalies in the market by analyzing large sets of historical data. By utilizing sophisticated statistical models, high-frequency traders are able to identify patterns and trends that can be leveraged to generate profits.

Another common strategy used by high-frequency traders is market making. Market makers play a crucial role in ensuring liquidity in the market by continuously providing buy and sell quotes for a particular security. High-frequency traders excel at market making due to their ability to rapidly adjust their quotes in response to market conditions. This allows them to profit from the bid-ask spread, which is the difference between the highest price a buyer is willing to pay and the lowest price a seller is willing to accept.

Momentum trading is yet another strategy employed by high-frequency traders. This strategy involves capitalizing on short-term price trends and market momentum. By analyzing price movements and volume data, high-frequency traders are able to identify stocks that are experiencing significant upward or downward momentum. They then execute trades in the direction of the momentum, aiming to profit from the continuation of the trend.

In recent years, high-frequency transactions have become increasingly prevalent in financial markets. They contribute significantly to market liquidity, ensuring smooth functioning and efficient price discovery.

Moreover, high-frequency transactions play a vital role in narrowing bid-ask spreads, reducing transaction costs, and enhancing overall market efficiency. By executing a high volume of trades with minimal time intervals, HFT firms facilitate price convergence and improve market fairness.

High-frequency trading has also been instrumental in reducing market volatility. By quickly reacting to market events and adjusting their trading strategies accordingly, high-frequency traders help stabilize prices and prevent excessive price swings. This increased stability benefits all market participants, from individual investors to large institutional traders.

Furthermore, high-frequency trading has spurred innovation in the financial industry. The need for lightning-fast execution and advanced technological infrastructure has led to significant advancements in computer hardware, software, and networking. These advancements not only benefit high-frequency traders but also have broader applications in other areas of finance and technology.

In conclusion, high-frequency transactions have revolutionized the financial markets, providing increased liquidity, narrowing bid-ask spreads, reducing transaction costs, and improving overall market efficiency. With their advanced algorithms and lightning-fast execution, high-frequency traders continue to play a crucial role in shaping the modern trading landscape.

Quantum AI represents a groundbreaking leap in the field of artificial intelligence, harnessing the power of quantum computing to revolutionize data analysis and decision-making processes.

Quantum AI refers to the utilization of quantum computational techniques to develop advanced AI models and algorithms. Unlike classical computing, which relies on binary bits, quantum computing utilizes quantum bits, or qubits, enabling exponentially faster computational speed and greater problem-solving capabilities.

By harnessing the principles of quantum mechanics, quantum AI can process vast amounts of data simultaneously, thereby enabling more accurate and sophisticated predictions and insights.

Quantum AI holds immense potential for the financial markets, offering capabilities to analyze complex market dynamics and develop superior trading strategies. Its ability to handle vast datasets and perform rapid computations makes it an ideal tool for optimizing high-frequency transactions.

Quantum AI can enhance risk assessment techniques, identify patterns in market data, and detect subtle anomalies that may not be apparent to traditional computing systems. By leveraging this technology, traders can make more informed decisions and potentially increase their profitability in high-frequency trading strategies.

As both high-frequency transactions and quantum AI continue to evolve, the intersection between these two disciplines presents exciting possibilities.

Theoretically, quantum AI can be employed to optimize the execution of high-frequency transactions. By leveraging quantum computing algorithms, traders can analyze vast amounts of market data in real-time and identify profitable trade opportunities with unparalleled precision.

Furthermore, quantum AI can aid in reducing transaction costs by optimizing trade execution strategies, minimizing slippage, and mitigating market impact, ultimately improving overall trade performance.

However, the practical implementation of quantum AI in high-frequency transactions poses some challenges. The integration of quantum computing systems with existing infrastructure and regulatory frameworks requires careful consideration.

Additionally, the development and optimization of quantum algorithms for high-frequency trading strategies demand extensive research and development efforts. Collaborations between financial institutions, technology companies, and academic researchers are crucial to overcoming these challenges and realizing the full potential of quantum AI in high-frequency transactions.

While the potential benefits of quantum AI in high-frequency transactions are immense, several roadblocks need to be addressed to ensure successful integration.

One significant challenge lies in the hardware requirements for quantum computing. Quantum computers are still in the early stages of development, with limited qubit capacities and high error rates. Overcoming these limitations and building scalable quantum systems is crucial for effectively implementing quantum AI in high-frequency transactions.

Moreover, the cybersecurity implications of quantum computing cannot be ignored. Quantum computers have the potential to crack the encryption algorithms currently used to secure financial transactions. Developing quantum-resistant encryption methods is imperative for maintaining the integrity and security of high-frequency trading systems.

To address these challenges, collaborations between quantum computing experts, financial institutions, and regulators are necessary. Robust research and development initiatives should focus on improving hardware capabilities, optimizing quantum algorithms for financial applications, and developing quantum-safe encryption protocols.

Furthermore, adequate training and education programs should be established to equip market participants with the necessary skills to leverage quantum AI effectively. By fostering a collaborative environment, the financial industry can pave the way for seamless integration of quantum AI into high-frequency transactions.

As quantum AI continues to advance, and the field of high-frequency transactions evolves, the future of their collaboration holds immense promise.

Going forward, we can anticipate the development of more robust quantum computing systems, capable of handling increasingly complex financial models and datasets. The integration of quantum AI into high-frequency trading strategies may become more widespread, leading to significant improvements in trading performance and profitability.

The long-term impact of collaborating quantum AI with high-frequency transactions extends beyond individual trading strategies. It has the potential to reshape market dynamics, enhance market fairness, and democratize access to advanced trading technologies.

Furthermore, the application of quantum AI in high-frequency transactions may contribute to the development of innovative investment products and financial instruments, expanding the range of opportunities available to market participants.

As technology continues to evolve, it is essential to closely monitor the advancements in quantum AI and its implications for high-frequency transactions. By embracing these developments, financial market participants can stay at the forefront of innovation and position themselves for success in an increasingly competitive landscape.

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