quantum computing industry

Thales, Bull and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are joining forces to develop software for quantum computers intended for the French military. The partnership, reported by French tech media, links major defence and research players around quantum technology, drawing attention among French-speaking tech and defence observers.

Quantum computing is entering a new phase, with analysts saying the field has moved past pure physics experiments and into an era where supply chains and manufacturing capability will determine which companies succeed. Discussion is focusing on how firms scale production of quantum hardware and secure the components and industrial capacity needed to turn laboratory breakthroughs into commercial products.

The US government has taken equity stakes in four quantum computing startups, extending Washington's recent pattern of direct investments in strategic technology companies. The move signals federal interest in securing a foothold in quantum computing, a field seen as critical to national security and economic competitiveness, and is drawing attention to how far the government will go in backing private tech firms.

Researchers are working on ways to protect Bitcoin from future quantum computers, which could theoretically break the cryptography that secures wallets and transactions. Three main approaches are being explored, including quantum-resistant signature schemes and protocol changes. The debate highlights growing concern in the crypto industry about preparing Bitcoin's code for a post-quantum era before it becomes a real security threat.

The Trump administration has committed more than $5 billion to a program called the Genesis Mission, aimed at advancing cancer research, semiconductor development, and quantum computing. The initiative signals a major federal investment in strategic technologies, combining health science goals with industrial policy on chips and next-generation computing capabilities.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has opened a new 100,000-square-foot research facility aimed at advancing quantum computing and battery technology. The building expands the Tennessee lab's capacity for work on next-generation energy storage and quantum systems, areas seen as critical to US scientific and industrial competitiveness.