Quantum
Quantum technologies are emerging as a key subject of global power competition due to their potential military applications and ability to fundamentally transform people’s lives. Quantum effects can overcome limitations of digital technologies, solve computational problems that take impossibly long using traditional computers and transmit information over long distances without the risk of being intercepted. China hopes quantum technologies will allow it to leapfrog Western rivals.
China and the US are locked in a tight race for supremacy in quantum technologies. Through sustained government investment, China has achieved a number of firsts, including developing and launching the first quantum satellite, Micius.
While China has so far led in quantum communication, which enables secure communication over long distances, the US still leads in quantum computation.
China’s quantum technology development is a major result of mission-driven innovation. In the US, private companies like IBM dominate the race. So far at least, Chinese quantum technology companies and researchers have relied on government funding. Instead of large digital companies, startups founded by people with university affiliations, and usually funded by local or central government funds, dominate the landscape.
Quantum technologies are also a major area of international collaboration. Micius, the quantum satellite, was developed in cooperation with the University of Vienna, with future communication tests taking place between China and Russia. Many quantum technologies are still far from being market-ready but could provide decisive advantages to a military using them. As such, quantum research is at the forefront of discussions about research security in Europe.
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China has built the world's largest quantum communication network
China completed the first phase of a large state-led project on quantum secure communication in 2020. It is the largest such network in the world by far, with an overall length over 12,000 kilometers and nodes in most major Chinese cities. Additionally, two quantum satellites link up the extremes of the network. Major research institutes and firms are concentrated around the network, illustrating close ties between research, state and industry.
China's policies mention quantum technology more often
Chinese policies and regulations show an increase in mentions of “quantum” (量子) even before the launch of the megaproject for quantum technologies in 2016. The Politburo declared quantum an important front in the global S&T competition in 2020, triggering a surge in official documents mentioning the term. Mentions of “quantum” even outpaced those of “science and technology”. This illustrates how the technology has gained importance for China’s leaders.
Quantum research of China with the West is declining
After the number of EU countries’ joint publications with China-based authors grew between 2017 and 2020, in 2023, less than 10 percent of quantum-related papers published in EU countries were co-authored with Chinese researchers. This is not because China fell behind. Quite the contrary, China increased its portion of most-cited papers in the field over the same period. Instead, it shows that political and security concerns are slowing collaboration.
Quantum in China: Timeline of crucial events
Development
Policy/regulation
First A-listing of a quantum firm in China at the Shanghai Stock Exchange. The firm, QuantumCTek, offers quantum key distribution services for secure communications.
Jul 2020
The US adds QuantumCTek to its Entity List of trade-restricted companies, cutting off access to key US technology.
Nov 2021
China launches its second quantum satellite, Jinan 1, a successor to Micius, the first quantum satellite in the world. These satellites allow secure communication over long distances.
Jul 2022
The MIIT issues “Implementation opinions for future industries,” detailing goals for quantum computing.
Jan 2024
Origin Quantum presents the 24-qubit quantum computer Wukon. Some of the machines used to create it are reportedly German.
Feb 2024
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology (USTC) in Hefei claim their photonic quantum computer Jiuzhang, using 76 photons, beats traditional computers (quantum supremacy).
Oct 2020
Origin Quantum becomes China’s first unicorn (startup worth more than USD 1 billion) in quantum technology. Its founders came from the Chinese Academy of Science in Hefei.
Nov 2021
China’s dedicated technical commission on quantum standards (TC578) issues its first national standard in quantum communication.
Aug 2023
China and Russia successfully establish quantum communication over a distance of 3800 km, using China's quantum satellite. Earlier experiments had been conducted with Austria.
Jan 2024
The US adds 22 Chinese organizations and firms to its Entity List, including Origin Quantum, USTC, and several CAS institutes. They can no longer import US-made technology.
May 2024
Recent developments
Tech progress
- Chinese scientists from the University of Science and Technology in Hefei have developed the 105-qubit superconducting quantum computer prototype Zuchongzhi-3. Researchers claim it is, 15 orders of magnitude faster than the fastest supercomputer at present on current quantum benchmarks. (Source (CN): EET, March 4, 2025)
- Origin Quantum and the AI Research Institute of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center have used the quantum computer “Origin Wukong” to complete the world’s first billion-parameter AI large model fine-tuning task. The experiment is aimed at application scenarios such as medical diagnosis and financial risk control and deepening the integration of quantum technologies and AI. (Source (CN): CAS, April 17, 2025)
- At a conference on quantum precision measurement technologies in Hefei, CIQTEK (国仪量子), a Chinese manufacturer of high-precision scientific instruments, released several domestically developed quantum sensors, which can be applied in chip nondestructive testing, measurements in magnetic and microwave magnetic fields. The company seeks to advance large-scale application of quantum sensing in the field of material science and medical technologies. (Source (CN): Tencent News, May 18, 2025)
Domestic dynamics
- Quantum technologies are mentioned three times in the White Paper on “National Security in the New Era”. Quantum is placed alongside AI and biotechnology as a “double-edged sword” in a scientific revolution and described as key to technological self-reliance. (Source (CN): State Council Information Office, May 25, 2025; Tencent News, May 13, 2025)
- Quantum communication has started to be integrated into Chinese aviation connectivity for sensitive data transmission and real-time localization, according to industry leaders at the Civil Aviation Innovation Achievement Exhibition in May 26. During the exhibition, the company KDlink (空地互联) signed cooperation agreements with China Telecom Quantum Group and universities to further strengthen R&D ties. (Source (CN): 36kr, 29.05.2025)
Foreign involvement
- ChinaLink ESGt, a venture capital firm led by a Spanish entrepreneur, signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the Chinese state-led quantum start-up Origin Quantum. It foresees joint research on quantum computing and the exploration of construction of an integrated computing power center combining supercomputing, quantum computing and artificial intelligence computing in Spain. (Source: Xinhua, April 2, 2025)
Quantum in China: Profiling the actors
Publications
Topics
