Startup Zhongqi Wuliang to Unveil Data Center Quantum Computer at WAIC 2026

A Chinese quantum physicist received the highest honor from UNESCO through the third edition of the UNESCO International Prize – Mendeleev Prize for Basic Sciences. This award is given annually to two scientists whose innovations and discoveries have driven significant advances in fundamental science.

Scientific Recognition

According to a statement issued by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the researcher was honored for his pioneering contributions to both large-scale quantum communications and scalable quantum computing.

The Professor of Physics at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), Pan, shares this award with chemist Sergei Sheiko from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA, who was recognized for his studies in polymer physics.

Advances in Quantum Communication

UNESCO highlighted that the team led by Pan developed the Micius quantum satellite, launched in 2016. This satellite enabled quantum key distribution and quantum teleportation over thousands of kilometers.

The organization also mentioned that the Chinese scientist's work allowed for the verification of the so-called 'quantum advantage' in the field of computing, bringing closer the realization of a global quantum communication network.

Advanced Quantum Computing

Pan also coordinates the team responsible for Jiuzhang 4.0, which represents the latest photonic quantum computer developed in China. In May, researchers announced that this system performed a calculation in just 25 microseconds, a process that the supercomputer El Capitan, currently the most powerful in the world, would take 104² years to complete.

The previous year, the quantum communication technology created by his team was applied to establish a secure quantum key distribution connection between China and South Africa, an advance considered crucial for future high-security intercontinental communications.

Future Projects and Additional Recognition

Pan informed that his team is working on the first quantum communication satellite in high orbit, the launch of which is planned for next year and should enable more efficient global quantum networks.

USTC stated in a release that this distinction demonstrates China's international leadership in the cutting-edge areas of quantum communication and computing, emphasizing that Pan is the first Chinese scientist to receive such an award.

The Permanent Delegation of the Russian Federation to UNESCO assessed that Pan's work serves as 'a brilliant example of the link between fundamental scientific research and large-scale technological innovation.'

In addition to this honor, Pan was named this month the winner of the IEEE Photonics Society Quantum Electronics Award, granted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), the largest global professional technical organization. The IEEE awarded the scientist for his 'pioneering work in single-photon sources and optical quantum computing.'

LogicalQubit, a company based in Hangzhou, has introduced its quantum cloud platform, which possesses capabilities for both physical and logical qubits. This move marks the company's transition from selling hardware to providing quantum computing services through cloud infrastructure.

Company Strategy and Development

LogicalQubit, spun off from the Superconducting Quantum Computing Laboratory of Jiangzijiang University, has officially released its quantum cloud platform. This platform is now accessible to all sectors of the economy, representing a step toward implementing commercial quantum computing beyond mere equipment sales.

Over the past year, the company has already generated tens of millions of yuan in revenue from supplying quantum computers to research institutions. CEO Wang Zhen presented a three-stage strategy: the first stage, related to hardware sales, is largely complete; the second stage is the launch of the quantum cloud, enabling remote access to computational power; and the third stage is the long-term vision of universal quantum computing, which will become feasible after achieving an ideal number of 50–60 logical qubits, allowing practical quantum algorithms to be applied to a wide range of tasks.

Technologies and Partnerships

The LogicalQubit quantum cloud incorporates core technologies such as physical qubits, logical qubits, and wave function control. The company has established collaborations with the pharmaceutical company Pharmaron, as well as software algorithm partners, including Liangguang Zhiyuan, Liangzi Yongxian, Tongyuan Liangzhi, and UnitaryForge. General users can upload their algorithms as code to the cloud platform, where they are converted into quantum circuits and executed.

Sector Dynamics and Forecasts

The quantum computing sector is demonstrating rapid growth. In the first quarter of 2026, domestic quantum computing funding reached $4.6 billion, surpassing the total volume of the entire year 2025. In July alone, LogicalQubit closed a Series A round worth hundreds of millions of yuan led by Ge Weidong Hunton Investment and Kangjun Capital, with participation from numerous other institutions.

The industry momentum was further bolstered by a publication by the LogicalQubit team in the journal Nature in August 2025, where they demonstrated topological edge states on the Tianmu-2 superconducting chip with one hundred qubits. Contributions to development were also made by the 2025 Nobel laureates in physics, awarded to pioneers of superconducting quantum circuits, and the inclusion of quantum technologies in the national 15-year Plan.

Accessibility and Competition

Industry estimates suggest that the gap between Chinese and US technologies in superconducting quantum computing has narrowed to one or two years. Nevertheless, CEO Wang Zhen warned that making quantum computing truly accessible to ordinary users will require reaching a threshold of 50 logical qubits, which he forecasts around 2029. Until then, the quantum cloud will focus on the scientific community and early adopters, helping to build the ecosystem and demonstrate value to industry partners.

The company's approach reflects a pragmatic balance between technological aspirations and commercial reality. Wang Zhen is known for responding to inquiries about cost with the famous saying: 'Let it be strong, the moon shines over the great river.' Following the breakthrough of Tianmu-2, the team began comparing itself to Google Quantum AI, positioning LogicalQubit as one of the leading participants in China's superconducting quantum computing race.

NanoK Quantum, a company founded by a Peking University graduate born in 1998, has successfully completed its first funding round from Hillhouse Capital for the development of neutral atom-based quantum computing.

Funding and Company Development

NanoK Quantum (Beijing Nakai Quantum Technology) is the first company in China specializing in nano-Kelvin (nK) level quantum computers using neutral atoms. The company secured tens of millions of yuan in its initial funding round. Hillhouse Capital (GL Ventures) led this round, with participation from Inno Capital, Changshi Capital, and Feitu Capital.

The funds will be directed towards research and development of next-generation neutral atom quantum computers, creating an ecosystem for ultra-cold atomic quantum simulation, and supplying equipment to key clients.

Products and Company Focus

Established in April 2026, NanoK Quantum is the first company in China focused exclusively on two areas: quantum simulation using ultra-cold atoms and universal quantum computing based on neutral atoms. The company has already developed a comprehensive product matrix that includes full quantum computers, experimental systems for cold/ultra-cold atoms, core subsystems, and high-precision modular control circuits. Furthermore, the company has secured market orders worth tens of millions of yuan and forecasts revenues of tens of millions of yuan for the full year 2026.

Scientific Basis and Technologies

The core team of the company consists of specialists from the Cold Atoms and Precision Measurements Group (CAP Group) at the Institute of Quantum Electronics, Peking University. The founder and CEO, Fan Yaoyuan, born in 1998, holds a bachelor's degree from the PKU School of Physics and a Ph.D. from the PKU School of Electronics, with over eight years of experience in cold atom research. During his postgraduate studies, he led the creation of China's first interferometric gyroscope on ultra-cold atoms and participated in the creation of the country's first gravimeter based on Bloch oscillations of ultra-cold atoms.

Among various technical paths in quantum computing, neutral atoms are considered the most promising direction for building large-scale universal quantum computers due to their natural identity and scalability. The name NanoK Quantum reflects its primary capability for extreme atomic cooling and precise manipulation, as it relates to the nano-Kelvin (nK) temperature scale.

Competitive Advantages and Business Model

The team is capable of cooling nine elements—rubidium, potassium, cesium, lithium, sodium, ytterbium, strontium, dysprosium, and erbium—to temperatures below 10 nK, achieving the largest number of controlled atoms and the lowest temperature range in China. The company employs a 'dual-drive' business model. On one hand, specialized quantum computers for simulation are supplied as complete packages, providing revenue and cash flow for self-sufficient development. The company currently has the capacity for serial delivery of platforms for quantum simulation, cold atom training systems, and MOT systems to various domestic research institutions.

In parallel, NanoK Quantum is developing the architecture for a general-purpose universal quantum computer, aiming to create the first practical universal quantum computer for multiple scenarios in China. Fan Yaoyuan noted that while superconducting and ion trap routes have their advantages, neutral atoms offer an undeniable advantage in qubit count—hundreds to thousands versus dozens for superconductors. Therefore, the company is focusing on solving remaining challenges, such as continuous operation and high-fidelity gate operations, which will make neutral atoms the optimal platform for quantum computing.