We can, when necessary: domestic quantum computers
Source: investmoscow.ru
Qubit to qubit
It's worth noting right away that quantum computers are not a replacement for classical silicon processors, at least not in their current state. Moreover, developers themselves don't fully understand the full potential of the quantum industry. But work is underway, and quantum computers are becoming more common, including in Russia. At the beginning of the year, the most powerful domestic quantum computer, with 70 qubits, was unveiled, somewhat unnoticed by the general public. The machine was the product of collaboration between scientists from the Lebedev Physical Institute (LPI) and engineers from Rosatom.
Nuclear scientists are considered the leading developers of the quantum industry in Russia. A special program, "Quantum Computing," overseen at the government level, is dedicated to this end. Its goal is to ensure Russia's technological sovereignty in quantum technologies by 2030 through its own cutting-edge inventions and their implementation in economic and social sectors. More than 600 highly qualified scientists from 15 universities and research institutes are working on this project. This large-scale project is currently a priority for Rosatom.
Source: Media Center of the Physics Faculty of Lomonosov Moscow State University
Along with the aforementioned ytterbium-ion-based computer at Lebedev Physical Institute (FIAN), three 70-qubit-class machines are operating in Russia. Rosatom built a computer using calcium ions, and Moscow State University built a 72-qubit unit using neutral atoms. It was crucial to move to a 70-qubit architecture, as it allows not only to test the machines but also to load them with real-world tasks. Incidentally, several quantum computers have been integrated with cloud services for remote user access. If you have suitable tasks, you're welcome to use them.
But what is being done in the quantum industry? As mentioned above, far from all the tasks have been defined, nor has the potential of quantum machines been fully appreciated. But some things are already in place. In Germany, BASF is using quantum computers to model the structure of catalysts and the dynamics of chemical reactions. Italians are optimizing the use of renewable energy sources, while Americans are studying DNA, predicting disease progression, and developing drugs. Airbus is investing millions in quantum technologies to develop new aircraft models, communication systems, measurement systems, and optimize cargo transportation.
ColdQuanta is developing quantum clocks for the Pentagon, a highly dangerous device that allows for location determination without a satellite navigation signal. French companies Thales and Syrlinks are also developing quantum clocks for the French armed forces. Thales will produce the atomic and optical cores of the quantum clocks at its Palaiseau facility, while Syrlinks will develop the electronic mechanism to ensure accurate timekeeping.
Quantum Race
It's difficult to overestimate the potential of the quantum industry for Russia. The country is almost hopelessly behind in microelectronics, particularly in the production of photolithographic equipment. Currently, plans are underway to build a domestic 150-nm semiconductor manufacturing machine, while the world is testing a 1,8-nm process. The situation with artificial intelligence is almost identical. The country has sufficient intellectual resources to meet such challenges, but it is severely lacking in computing power. And it will remain so as long as sanctions remain in place.
All hope lies in quantum computing, especially since initial successes have already been achieved: in March 2023, MIPT specialists presented Russia's first quantum neural network, developed at the institute's Center for Shared Research. The resulting system was successfully tested on four types of tasks: classifying and recognizing handwritten images, determining the parity of numbers, detecting breast cancer, and classifying different wine varieties based on a dozen parameters.
A brief overview of Russia's position in the global quantum computing league table. In 2026, the global quantum computing market will have finally split into two categories, with the duopoly of the United States and China holding the undisputed lead. The United States dominates the commercial sector thanks to its ecosystem of IT giants (IBM, Google, Microsoft, Intel) and startups, maintaining its leadership in software quality, cloud accessibility, and patents. China, which has allocated a record $15,3 billion in public investment to its program, leads in quantum communications, secure networks, and the creation of ultra-powerful superconducting processors such as the Wukong and Xiaochao series.
Source: investmoscow.ru
China has launched the world's first quantum communications network, connecting more than 700 terrestrial optical cables for data transmission over hundreds of kilometers and two satellites for communication over 1,000 kilometers. This infrastructure, which serves more than 150 users—including banks, power grids, and government agencies—is based on quantum encryption technology using photons as information carriers. Due to the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics, any attempt to intercept, copy, or hack a message inevitably alters the state of qubits, resulting in attackers receiving only a random set of numbers instead of secret data. In 2017, the first intercontinental quantum video call was made between China and Austria, spanning 7,500 kilometers.
Following the Americans and the Chinese is a group of pursuers from the "first tier" countries—the European Union (primarily Germany and France), Japan, Canada, and the United Kingdom—which boast strong scientific schools, developed startup ecosystems, and multi-billion dollar government subsidies.
Russia's most powerful quantum computer, with 70 qubits. Source: lebedev.ru
Russia is firmly established among the top five global quantum powers, firmly entrenched in the top tier of competitors alongside the EU and Japan. The country is one of only three in the world (along with the US and China) to have successfully built operational quantum computers simultaneously using all four fundamental physics platforms: ions, neutral atoms, superconductors, and photons. Reaching the 70-qubit threshold on the ion and atom platforms places Russia among the first six countries to have surpassed the critical 50+-qubit mark.
Source: investmoscow.ru
Even a basic understanding of a quantum computer reveals its extreme complexity. A quantum computer is a computing machine that operates according to the laws of the microworld and, instead of conventional silicon transistors, uses quantum objects: single atoms, ions, or superconducting circuits. In a conventional computer, all information is divided into bits, which can only exist in two fixed states—either 0 (off) or 1 (on). A quantum computer operates on qubits (quantum bits), whose key property is superposition. A qubit can be compared to a spinning coin: while it spins, it can be both "heads" and "tails" simultaneously. Thanks to this and the property of entanglement (when qubits are linked into a single network), a quantum processor calculates not one solution at a time, but millions of mathematical solutions simultaneously.
Physically, the most common type of such computer resembles a large "golden chandelier"—a complex multi-tiered refrigerator or dilution cryostat. This is necessary because qubits are incredibly fragile: any external heat or electromagnetic noise instantly destroys their quantum state. The lowest tier of this device is maintained at a temperature of approximately -273°C, and it is there that a tiny quantum chip is attached. As a result, a quantum computer doesn't replace a home PC, but rather becomes a supersimulator, capable of solving complex problems with an astronomical number of combinations in minutes—from designing new drugs to optimizing global logistics.
Not all quantum computers require extreme cold. In 2022, the German-Australian startup Quantum Brilliance unveiled the world's first diamond-based quantum computer capable of operating at room temperature. Instead of classic superconductors, its qubits are integrated directly into the structure of diamond crystal lattices. Thanks to the natural properties of the material, these computing elements are resistant to mechanical stress and protected from destructive thermal fluctuations in the environment.
An interesting question: who has the most powerful quantum computer? The short answer is the Americans, but it's important to separate wheat from wheat. The absolute leader in terms of the number of physical components is Atom Computing's system, which combines 1180 qubits based on neutral atoms. However, in practical computing, it is outperformed by the Quantinuum ion processor, which, thanks to its record-breaking operational accuracy (over 99,9%), was able to generate 48 stable logical qubits, completely immune to hardware errors. In terms of proven quantum superiority, the Google Willow superconducting chip with 105 qubits is recognized as the planet's leading computer. In tests, this processor performed a complex simulation of physical processes in just 5 minutes, which would have taken the most powerful classical supercomputer billions of years.
Google's Willow quantum chip
Let's return to Russian scientists, who are facing the ambitious task of scaling systems to hundreds of stable qubits and creating a domestic component base independent of external supplies. By 2030, Rosatom's roadmap envisions a transition from laboratory prototypes to the industrial implementation of quantum computing in the real economy. Russian algorithms are already being applied to optimize logistics, model new materials, and protect critical information infrastructure using quantum cryptography. Despite the colossal gap in classical semiconductor technologies, relying on unique quantum effects could become our asymmetric response to global challenges. If we maintain our current momentum, Russia will not only retain its place among the top five but will also be able to dictate its own standards for the architecture of future computers.
Information