COLLEGE PARK, Md., July 11, 2025 — IonQ was named the primary quantum partner for Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information’s (KISTI) planned National Quantum Center of Excellence. Under an expected contract to be concluded with KISTI, IonQ will give a 100-qubit quantum system for the initiative, to enable research and industrially relevant quantum computing capabilities. Separately, IonQ announced the pricing of a $1 billion equity offering to support the company's growth and commercialization efforts.
OAKLAND, Calif. — Bridger Photonics Inc., a company that specializes in methane detection and data for the oil and gas industry, partnered with utility company, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E). Through this collaboration, Bridger will help PG&E detect and repair system leaks to reduce methane emissions across its natural gas transmission and distribution pipeline system. To find gas leaks, Bridger’s technologies use gas mapping lidar technology, which PG&E will use to locate and quantify leak flow rates to prioritize repairs based on emission size and proximity to populated areas and infrastructure.
TORONTO — Xanadu and Mitsubishi Chemical collaborated on a project to use quantum computing towards semiconductor chip fabrication technologies. This collaboration aims to discover quantum algorithms for simulating quantum processes in extreme ultraviolet lithography (EUV). It also seeks to establish the first concrete use of quantum computing in the field of semiconductor materials, Xanadu said. Through this partnership, researchers from Mitsubishi Chemical's Materials Design Laboratory will provide expertise on EUV photoresist materials, including their molecular structures, compositions, and reactivity. The quantum algorithms team at Xanadu will provide quantum algorithms expertise in designing the simulation algorithms that model light-matter interactions and secondary electron effects.
MONTREAL — Quandela partnered with Mila, the Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, to develop and evaluate quantum machine learning models. Using Quandela’s experience in quantum computing and Mila’s experience in artificial intelligence, the companies aim to improve current machine learning paradigms. This partnership with Mila marks another step in Quandela’s expansion in Canada, following the recent installation of a quantum computer in Sherbrooke, Quebec.
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Honeywell announced plans to evaluate alternatives in its Productivity Solutions and Services (PSS) and Warehouse and Workflow Solutions (WWS) businesses, which serve the transportation, warehouse, and logistics markets. PSS is a producer of mobile computers, barcode scanners, and printing solutions serving the warehouse and logistics market.
SpeQtral and Thales Alenia Space leaders signing the cooperation agreement. Courtesy of Thales Alenia Space.
CANNES, France — SpeQtral, a satellite-based quantum communication technologies company, and Thales Alenia Space, the joint company between Thales and Leonardo, signed a collaboration agreement, to extend their partnership for the development and demonstration of quantum communications between space and Earth. This agreement aims to organize joint experiments involving SpeQtral’s quantum satellites, currently in development, and the first quantum ground station designed by Thales Alenia Space. The station will include environmental sensors to assess the impact of local conditions on the quality of quantum signals. At a later stage, the roles may be reversed, with Thales Alenia Space planning to launch the QINSAT satellite by the end of the decade to distribute entangled photon pairs to ground stations, including those operated by SpeQtral.
Horiba leaders celebrate HORIBA’s newest Analytical Solution Plaza in the U.K. Courtesy of HORIBA.
NUNEATON, England. — HORIBA, an analytical and measurement technology company, opened an Analytical Solution Plaza at MIRA Tech Park, in Nuneaton, England. The 290-sq m Analytical Solution Plaza United Kingdom will house Horiba’s technologies, including microscopic and nanoscopic chemical imaging, molecular fingerprinting with optical spectroscopy, fuel cell and battery materials testing, particle characterization, water quality testing, medical and veterinary diagnostics, and gas analysis for industrial and environmental applications. The site will also showcase scientific demonstrations, educational seminars, and training, with access to technology displays and working products.
EAST AURORA, N.Y. — Moog Inc., a manufacturer and integrator of motion and fluid control systems, acquired COTSWORKS, an aerospace and defense fiber optics transceiver component manufacturer, for a purchase price of $63 million. The acquisition supports Moog’s strategic focus on high-performance connectivity and next-generation defense and space technologies while addressing the needs presented by high-bandwidth digital data processing within increasingly compact platforms. Moog will expand its existing space and defense component portfolio using COTSWORKS’ ruggedized fiber optic transceivers and assemblies.
The FiberTron-Hive-200 drone system. Courtesy of XENOptics.
CHIANG MAI, Thailand — XENOptics, an automated fiber optic company, partnered with OPTOKON, a connectivity and information technology solutions provider, to support automated drone deployment. The partnership uses ZENOptics’ smart optical switches to manage XENOptics’ fiber connections to hundreds of drones. OPTOKON has called this solution FiberTron-Hive, and it is designed to organize the operation of fiber-tethered drones for both defense and civilian use. The combination of satellite connectivity, optical fiber links, and autonomous is expected to provide greater operational flexibility and secure data exchange, even in contested or remote environments.