Hefei a key player in global quantum technology landscape

Hefei city, capital of East China's Anhui province, is a source of 12.1 percent of China's quantum patents, only second to Beijing.

The Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is now a leading hub for quantum research and innovation and has over 600 researchers working on quantum-related projects.

A view of the CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. [Photo/gxq.hefei.gov.cn]

One significant accomplishment in this field was in recent years made by Origin Quantum, which is based in the zone. In 2021, the company produced China's first superconducting quantum computer, making the nation the third in the world to deliver a complete quantum computer.

To drive advancements in quantum computing, Origin Quantum and the Chinese Academy of Sciences established the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center last year.

This center has formed partnerships with various sectors, including finance and power systems, to explore the practical applications of quantum computing.

Additionally, it has collaborated with more than 60 universities to promote research cooperation and talent development.

"While quantum computers are not yet capable of solving specific problems on their own, they can enhance the capabilities of conventional computers," said Zhao Xuejiao, vice-president of Origin Quantum.

The company had also collaborated with the Shanghai Supercomputer Center to build an innovation center that was unveiled in June.

"This initiative aims to cater to the rising computing demand in the Yangtze River Delta region and foster scientific and technological innovation," said Zhang Hui, director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center.