The Week in Quantum Computing - April 21st 2025 - The Dragon Edition - Q-CTRL HulkSMASHes GPS, India’s Shiny New QPU, How Much You Bench?, Equal1 Spins Me Right Round Baby Right Round

Issue #231

Issue #231 #0
By Uncle Sergio Gago The Quantum Dragon

Legendary Commentary

I got a little upset this week after realizing that Uncle Sergio Gago hasn't featured me in Quantum Pirates lately. In a fit of anger, I took over the ship, ate all the food, and drank all the rum. Fortunately for you, I'm easily distracted by pirate booty, so the crew was able to put together the high-caliber newsletter you've come to expect.

This was easily preventable, Uncle Sergio.

Quick Recap

Q-CTRL pulled off a world-first by laying the smacketh down on conventional GPS backups with quantum sensors. QpiAI unveiled a 25-qubit superconducting QPU that smelled tasty from my non-VIP seating; let's fix that next time, shall we? Equal1 proved CMOS-compatible spin qubits are real, scalable, and fun to watch (if you can see at that scale). Qiskit’s Benchpress launched with over 1,000 repetitions; I'm here to pump... YOU up. ETSI published the latest quantum-safe guidelines, which is not to say quantum-dragon-safe. Meanwhile, a fresh QAOA approach (giggle) optimizes traffic jams. And the QDay Prize kicks off; but the prize isn't gold, so who cares? Finally, a gentle reminder: don’t believe the hype… but believe in dragons.

The Week in Quantum Computing Technologies

The crew wrote this while I was rolling around in their doubloons, pieces-of-eight, jewelry, gemstones, and even their spices. But don't you worry; I added important comments. You're about to be the beneficiary of dragon wisdom. You're welcome.

Q-CTRL achieves quantum advantage in navigation, beats GPS-denial
I ordered one in a wristwatch form factor.
Q-CTRL has announced a stunning real-world demo: their quantum sensors maintained accurate navigation under GPS-denial scenarios and performed 50x better than traditional backups. This isn't just a lab trick—it’s strategic tech.

QpiAI launches 25-qubit superconducting quantum computer in India
I've requested cloud access. True story.
As part of India’s National Quantum Mission, Bengaluru-based QpiAI introduced one of the country’s most powerful quantum systems. The system was unveiled on World Quantum Day. Happy Q-Day, India.

Benchpress is here: the quantum SDK Olympics have begun
But don't skip Leg Day!
IBM’s Qiskit team has unleashed Benchpress, a benchmarking suite with over 1,000 standardized tests. Open source. Brutal. Transparent.

Equal1 validates scalable CMOS-based spin qubits
I wash down silicon chips with first-pressed red wine.
Equal1 just validated its silicon spin qubit tech using GlobalFoundries' 22FDX CMOS process. One step closer to mass-market quantum chips.

Hybrid QAOA solves traffic congestion under noise
Delete.
New research shows QAOA can optimize traffic flow even in noisy environments. Finally, a quantum solution for rush hour.

The QDay Prize: break ECC, win eternal glory
Dragons do this in kindergarten right before naptime.
The QDay Prize invites quantum pros to crack elliptic curve crypto. Real stakes. Real bragging rights.

ETSI-QSC 2025 Report outlines quantum-safe roadmap
Roadmaps are so limited. Why doesn't anyone publish flight paths?
ETSI’s latest Quantum-Safe Cryptography report offers actionable standards and migration guidance. 60 pages of guilt trip if you haven’t started yet.

Sparrow Quantum raises €21.5M to boost photonic chips
So, you're saying I can find treasure in Denmark? Where's my Q-CTRL wristwatch already?
Their Sparrow Core photonic chip project just got a major funding boost. Denmark continues to lead in photon-powered innovation.

World Quantum Day 2025: 12 global events celebrate the future
Am I still using the Julian calendar? Dammit, I missed it.
April 14th saw major WQD celebrations worldwide. From crypto deep dives to school demos, quantum went mainstream.

Don’t believe the hype? Quantum still has work to do
I'm the captain this week. You'll wait and like it.
A healthy reminder that quantum isn't magic—it’s physics. And physics takes time. Be skeptical, but don’t be late.

Why the USA must dominate quantum technology
Quantum technology. Not quantum dragons. I won't say this a second time.
A policy-flavored call for U.S. leadership in quantum. “Grow the garden,” as Jensen might say.

Want to get involved?

Support open quantum research. Share the newsletter. Pay tribute to a dragon. Join a meetup. Break a cipher. Build a sensor. Or just forward this to someone still thinking Schrödinger’s cat is real. Or just pay tribute to a dragon.

Quantum Pirates The Quantum Dragon out.