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Topological Quantum Computing: Microsoft Majorana Qubits & Error Protection

Topological quantum computing news: Microsoft Azure Quantum, Majorana fermions, topological qubits. Intrinsic error protection research.

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Topological quantum computing represents the most ambitious approach to fault-tolerant quantum computation, encoding information in global topological properties of quantum systems rather than individual particles. This intrinsic error protection theoretically enables quantum computing with hardware error rates orders of magnitude higher than conventional qubits require.

Microsoft Azure Quantum leads development through its Station Q research division, pursuing topological qubits based on Majorana zero modes—quasiparticles that are their own antiparticles and exist at the boundaries of topological superconductors. When braided, Majorana modes perform quantum gates that depend only on the braiding topology, not local perturbations.

India's Topological Quantum Research

India's theoretical physics community contributes to topological quantum computing research through institutions including the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, and the International Centre for Theoretical Sciences (ICTS) Bengaluru. Research focuses on topological phases of matter, anyonic statistics, and quantum information theory foundations. The National Quantum Mission does not currently prioritize topological qubit hardware development, focusing instead on superconducting, photonic, and neutral atom platforms with nearer-term viability.

Key Advantages

Key advantages include intrinsic topological protection eliminating need for active quantum error correction overhead, hardware error tolerance potentially 1,000x higher than other qubit types, and stable quantum information storage. Current challenges include experimental verification of Majorana modes remaining contentious, requirements for exotic materials at millikelvin temperatures, and no confirmed demonstration of topological qubit operation.

Recent Progress

Recent progress includes new generation experiments using improved hybrid semiconductor-superconductor devices (InAs/Al, InSb/Al heterostructures) reporting more robust Majorana signatures. Microsoft continues significant investment despite delays.

Researchers Find Fermionic Quantum Error Correction Needs Extra Steps - Quantum Zeitgeist
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Researchers Find Fermionic Quantum Error Correction Needs Extra Steps - Quantum Zeitgeist

Fermionic platforms offer compelling architectures for quantum computing, ranging from topologically protected Majorana-based qubits to fermionic cold atoms. To achieve scalability, they require quantum error correction. The research proves that any exact and sufficiently accurate approximate fermionic quantum error correction necessarily requires non-Gaussian operations, beyond the free-fermion regime of quadratic dynamics. This is in sharp contrast to the qubit setting, where efficiently classically simulable stabilizer operations form the standard framework for quantum error correction. Specifically, the study demonstrates that the logical space of any non-trivial fermionic error-correcting code contains no pure states. Non-Gaussian Operations Essential For Strong Fermionic Error Correction Scientists at Freie Universität Berlin, collaborating with Quantum Research Centre Tsinghua University and Technology Innovation Institute, have identified a key limitation for scalable quantum computation utilising fermions. They proved that sufficiently accurate fermionic error correction requires non-Gaussian operations when Majorana distance reaches dF ≥3, a threshold previously impossible to cross. Existing codes relied on simpler free-fermion dynamics but lacked the capacity for strong logical qubit protection against accumulating errors during complex calculations. This incompatibility is rooted in Wick’s theorem which governs particle correlations, establishing that the logical space within any effective fermionic code cannot contain pure states describable by Gaussian statistics. The team quantified this limitation showing the number of necessary ‘non-Gaussian gates’ grows linearly alongside both error-protection strength and logically stored information within the system. Further analysis revealed distinctions between how fermions and bosons handle entanglement distillation, a process vital for extending communication range in quantum networks; Gaussian fermionic ope

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Quantum Zeitgeist Weekly Digestquantum-computing

Quantum Zeitgeist Weekly Digest

Logical qubits were the yardstick this week. Microsoft and Qolab published a definition of what makes a logical qubit scalable, and Infleqtion entangled 30 of them on its neutral-atom machine. IonQ showed that the classical decoding behind error correction can run on one ordinary CPU, removing a hardware bottleneck many had expected. Germany put money behind the same goal. It picked planqc and the LOGIQC consortium in its €640 million competition for error-corrected computers, and committed €122 million to a QUDORA-led project aiming for 50 logical qubits. IQM’s latest sales, in Brazil, Japan and a four-country European group, include staged upgrades toward logical operations in Finland. IonQ had the busiest week. Its Superion 256 is headed to NVIDIA’s research center, Florida International University and a new manufacturing site in South Korea. QuEra’s own survey found 45 percent of buyers now rank a fault-tolerance roadmap among their top criteria, though cost still comes first. Companies still count qubits, but buyers now want to know how many of them will be reliable. 1. Microsoft Quantum Defines Scalable Logical Qubit Characteristics Microsoft Quantum researchers, working with Qolab, have set out a definition of a scalable logical qubit. A logical qubit is one reliable unit of quantum information built from many error-prone physical qubits and kept alive by repeated error correction. The team judges them on reliability, scale, capability and performance, and says gains in one often cost ground in another. Microsoft is also working with Atom Computing and QuNorth on the Magne project, which aims to deliver a machine with more than 1,200 physical qubits encoding 50 logical qubits by late 2026. The definition gives buyers a way to compare machines on more than raw qubit count. Read more 2. IonQ Runs Real-Time Error Correction Decoder on a Single CPU IonQ has run a real-time error correction decoder on a single standard CPU. A decoder reads the error signals from a

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Quantum Computing Stocks To Watch Today - September 26th - MarketBeatquantum-computing

Quantum Computing Stocks To Watch Today - September 26th - MarketBeat

Quantum Computing Stocks To Watch Today - September 26th Written by MarketBeatSeptember 26, 2026Add As Preferred SourceShareShareShare This ArticleLink copied to clipboard.Close Image from MarketBeat Media, LLC. Key Points Five quantum-computing stocks to watch are IonQ (IONQ), D-Wave Quantum (QBTS), Quantinuum (QNT), Quantum Computing (QUBT), and Horizon Quantum Computing (HQ), selected for their recent trading volume. IonQ and D-Wave provide cloud-based access to quantum systems, while Quantum Computing focuses on photonics-based machines, quantum sensing, random-number generation, and cybersecurity applications. The sector is moving toward early commercial adoption, driven partly by rising AI-related computing demand, but remains high-growth and highly speculative due to technological, financial, and regulatory uncertainties. MarketBeat previews top five stocks to own in October. MarketBeat Week in Review – 09/21 - 09/25IonQ, D-Wave Quantum, Quantinuum, Quantum Computing, and Horizon Quantum Computing Pte. are the five Quantum Computing stocks to watch today, according to MarketBeat's stock screener tool. Quantum computing stocks are shares of publicly traded companies involved in developing quantum-computing hardware, software, components, or related services. For investors, the term generally refers to a high-growth, highly speculative sector whose companies may face significant technological, financial, and regulatory uncertainties. These companies had the highest dollar trading volume of any Quantum Computing stocks within the last several days. Get IonQ alerts:Sign UpIonQ (IONQ)IonQ, Inc. engages in the development of general-purpose quantum computing systems in the United States. It sells access to quantum computers of various qubit capacities. The company makes access to its quantum computers through cloud platforms, such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) Amazon Braket, Microsoft's Azure Quantum, and Google's Cloud Marketplace, as well as through its cloud serv

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Quantum computing’s “dark horse” just proved it can go universal - ScienceDailyquantum-computing

Quantum computing’s “dark horse” just proved it can go universal - ScienceDaily

Science News from research organizations Quantum computing’s “dark horse” just proved it can go universal Date: September 25, 2026 Source: University of Chicago Summary: Researchers have shown that exotic quantum particles called non-Abelian anyons can perform the full range of operations needed for universal quantum computing. Using 54 qubits on Quantinuum’s H2 processor, they combined braiding and fusion to unlock capabilities that braiding alone could not provide. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Exotic quantum particles just demonstrated a new path to universal, potentially far more efficient quantum computing. Credit: Shutterstock A practical quantum computer must eventually be able to handle any type of quantum algorithm, much like a conventional laptop can run many different kinds of software. Researchers have now demonstrated a new way to reach that level of flexibility using unusual quantum objects known as non-Abelian anyons. Scientists from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (UChicago PME), Harvard, Stony Brook University, and Quantinuum created and tested a full set of operations based on non-Abelian anyons. Their results provide the first experimental demonstration that this approach can support the broad range of operations required for universal quantum computing. "We demonstrated a so-called universal gate set -- meaning that if you store information in these emergent versions of quarks, and you move them around, you can do any quantum computation you might want to do," said Ruben Verresen, assistant professor of molecular engineering at UChicago PME and a co-author of the new study published in Nature. A Possible Shortcut Around Costly Quantum Error Correction The strategy could do more than help create a general-purpose quantum computer. It may also offer a more efficient route toward reliable quantum machines. Quantum computers are extremely vulnerable to errors, so researchers typically p

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Quantum hardware makerspace opens in Maryland with Fermilab’s helpquantum-computing

Quantum hardware makerspace opens in Maryland with Fermilab’s help

Credit: Ryan Postel, Fermilab · news.fnal.gov Fermilab’s open-source Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, or QICK, is now central to a new quantum hardware makerspace established by Microsoft Quantum in Maryland’s Discovery District. The center aims to connect researchers from academia, industry, and government, providing hands-on experience with real quantum systems. Fermilab plans to expand QICK’s capabilities, adapting the control and readout system for use with a wider range of qubit types, and this work marks a step in broadening access to quantum tools and fostering development within the emerging field. Microsoft Quantum Makerspace Launches with Fermilab Partnership This collaboration directly addresses a need for hands-on quantum training, providing researchers across academia, national laboratories, and industry with a flexible tool for developing quantum applications. The makerspace will offer access to real quantum hardware alongside the expertise needed to utilize it effectively, which is a critical step in fostering growth within the emerging quantum community. Anna Grassellino, chief technology officer and associate laboratory director for the Technology Directorate at Fermilab, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “We are thrilled that Microsoft has chosen QICK to be part of the quantum hardware makerspace and look forward to working with them on other projects as well.” Fermilab’s commitment to maintaining QICK as an open-source resource is central to this effort, allowing a broad range of users to contribute to its development and tailor it to their specific needs. Over 500 scientists worldwide already use QICK to refine qubit performance, demonstrating its existing value to the field and potential for expansion. The partnership extends beyond simply providing a tool for training; Microsoft and Fermilab are actively working to broaden the applicability of quantum-control technologies across diverse hardware platforms.

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Fermilab joins Microsoft Quantum Research Center as initial partnerquantum-computing

Fermilab joins Microsoft Quantum Research Center as initial partner

Fermilab is joining Microsoft Quantum as an initial partner in a new quantum hardware makerspace at Microsoft’s quantum research center in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. As part of its broader collaboration with Microsoft, the QICK kit will have expanded tools to broaden access to quantum-control technologies across hardware platforms. The post Fermilab joins Microsoft Quantum Research Center as initial partner appeared first on News.

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Transparent Domain Walls through Information Convex Setsquantum-computing

Transparent Domain Walls through Information Convex Sets

--> Quantum Physics arXiv:2609.26892 (quant-ph) [Submitted on 22 Sep 2026] Title:Transparent Domain Walls through Information Convex Sets Authors:Jintae Kim, Amanda Gatto Lamas, Jacopo Gliozzi, Bowen Shi, Taylor L. Hughes, Jong Yeon Lee View a PDF of the paper titled Transparent Domain Walls through Information Convex Sets, by Jintae Kim and 5 other authors View PDF HTML (experimental) Abstract:In $(2+1)$-dimensional topologically ordered many-body states, transparent (topologically deformable) domain walls are invisible to local topological probes, yet can modify the ground state degeneracy (GSD) and transmute anyons transported across them. Here, we develop an entanglement-bootstrap framework using information convex sets (ICSs) on local and noncontractible annuli to extract information about transparent domain walls directly from ground state wavefunctions at fixed points of Abelian topological phases on a torus, without taking categorical defect data as input. We derive fusion rules governing the action of anyons on extreme points of ICSs on noncontractible annuli and determine their quantum dimensions. Extreme points invariant under transport around the complementary cycle correspond one-to-one to minimum entropy states (MESs), and their number equals the GSD. The maximal topological entanglement entropy (TEE), $\gamma_{\rm LW}^{\max}=\log({D}/d_\alpha)$, probes the net effect of walls crossing the chosen annulus, where ${ D}$ is the total quantum dimension and $d_\alpha$ is the quantum dimension of an extreme point of its ICS. In contrast, the maximal entanglement asymmetry is $\Delta S_X^{\max}=\log\mathrm{GSD}$. This value is the same for both annulus orientations and reflects the combined effect of the transparent domain walls. We further show that transparent domain walls can give rise to symmetries supported jointly on the two chosen fundamental cycles that cannot be decomposed into a product of two $1$-form symmetry operators, one supported on each cycle

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Photonic Inc. and Microsoft Partner to Advance Quantum Resource Estimation for Distributed Architecturesquantum-computing

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft Partner to Advance Quantum Resource Estimation for Distributed Architectures

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft Partner to Advance Quantum Resource Estimation for Distributed Architectures Vancouver-based quantum hardware provider Photonic Inc. and Microsoft have announced a technical collaboration to integrate Photonic’s distributed quantum computing models and Quantum Low-Density Parity Check (QLDPC) error correction algorithms into the open-source Microsoft Quantum Resource Estimator (QRE). The initiative aims to enable researchers and software developers to accurately model physical qubit counts, execution runtimes, and networking overhead required to run fault-tolerant algorithms across modular, multi-chip quantum computing systems. The joint project addresses a major gap in conventional QRE frameworks, which historically modeled monolithic, single-processor quantum computers. By embedding Photonic’s proprietary SHYPS QLDPC code family into Microsoft’s framework, the platform accounts for non-local optical interconnect latencies, state distillation overhead, and high-connectivity topologies. Compared to traditional surface codes that rely on nearest-neighbor qubit connectivity, SHYPS QLDPC codes leverage optically linked silicon spin qubits to significantly reduce the physical-to-logical qubit overhead, allowing developers to model complex quantum algorithms with substantially lower hardware footprints. [ Microsoft QRE & Photonic SHYPS Integration Profile ]Framework SubsystemTechnical Implementation & StackResource Estimation ImpactMicrosoft QRE Engine• Open-Source Fault-Tolerant Compiler• Configurable Qubit & QEC Profiles• Physical Qubit Count & Runtime Modeling• Comparative Hardware BenchmarkingPhotonic SHYPS Codes• Quantum Low-Density Parity Check (QLDPC)• Optically Linked Silicon Spin Qubits• Up to 20× Reduction in Physical Qubit Overhead• Accounts for Inter-Module Optical Latency Led by Paul Terry (Chief Engineering Officer, Photonic) and Matthias Troyer (Technical Fellow and CVP, Microsoft Quantum), the co-innovation proj

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The Qubit Report: September 23, 2026quantum-computing

The Qubit Report: September 23, 2026

IonQ will put a Superion 256 at NVIDIA's Accelerated Quantum Research Center, with reporting pointing to a 2027 install next to a GB200 NVL72. Microsoft opened 15,000 square feet in Discovery District Maryland for Majorana 2 tests with DARPA, while a six-consortium survey found 90 percent of quantum firms buy at least one part abroad. Click for the QICK makerspace, the 104 NGCC findings, and the gas-network run on Forte-1. The post The Qubit Report: September 23, 2026 appeared first on The Qubit Report.

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The Geography of Quantum: What Maryland Is Actually Buildingquantum-computing

The Geography of Quantum: What Maryland Is Actually Building

By Mohamed Abdel-Kareem Most states compete for quantum companies by offering incentives. Maryland appears to be doing something in addition to that. It is building the infrastructure underneath the companies so that each new arrival increases the value of the ones already there. The evidence has been accumulating for eighteen months. What looked like a series of unrelated announcements now reads as a clear strategy. The Evidence January 2025: Governor Wes Moore proposed $27.5 million in the FY26 budget to launch the Capital of Quantum initiative, targeting $1 billion in total state, federal, and private investment over five years. IonQ was named anchor partner, with plans to grow its Maryland headquarters to 100,000 square feet and double its workforce. April 2025: DARPA and Maryland signed a memorandum of agreement establishing the Capital of Quantum Benchmarking Hub at UMD’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security. Each side committed up to $100 million over four years, contingent on progress. The hub’s purpose is explicit: independent evaluation of whether commercial quantum approaches can achieve utility-scale performance. September 2025: Microsoft announced a 15,000-square-foot Quantum Research Center in the Discovery District, including classified research zones, a hardware makerspace, and direct DARPA access for its Majorana topological chip. April 2026: IQM opened its first U.S. Quantum Technology Center, focused on integrating superconducting processors with HPC providers. May 2026: Maryland’s FY27 budget allocated $20 million toward IonQ’s new global headquarters, $22 million for UMD’s Quantum Startup Foundry and national testbeds, $20 million for a dedicated Deep Tech Facility, and $12 million for ARLIS and quantum faculty recruitment. June 2026: Quantum Motion established a silicon-CMOS hardware base in the Discovery District, joining the DARPA benchmarking pipeline. September 2026: Riverlane announced its U.S. headquarters in College

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Fewer qubits needed as Photonic’s SHYPS code cuts error overhead in Microsoft Colabquantum-computing

Fewer qubits needed as Photonic’s SHYPS code cuts error overhead in Microsoft Colab

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft are combining expertise to tackle a critical challenge in scaling quantum computers: accurately estimating the resources needed for complex algorithms. The companies are integrating Photonic’s SHYPS code family, a new approach to error correction, with Microsoft’s Quantum Resource Estimation framework to model qubit counts, runtime, and system overhead in distributed architectures. “As the industry moves from individual quantum processors toward interconnected, distributed systems, understanding the resources required to run meaningful applications becomes increasingly important,” said Paul Terry, Chief Engineering Officer at Photonic. This collaboration aims to provide a clearer picture of the infrastructure needed for practical quantum applications. SHYPS Code Reduces Qubit Overhead for Scalable Quantum Computing Photonic Inc.’s SHYPS code family reduces the qubit overhead needed for large-scale quantum computation, a critical step toward practical applications. The code, a Quantum Low-Density Parity Check (QLDPC) error-correction approach, allows systems to potentially achieve more computational power with fewer physical qubits, addressing a key bottleneck in scaling quantum processors. This advancement is being integrated with Microsoft’s Quantum Resource Estimation (QRE) framework to provide a more accurate picture of the resources required for future quantum algorithms, the company says. Photonic’s Breakthrough Demonstration of Efficient QLDPC Logic Published in Nature Communications — Source: globenewswire.com The collaboration between Photonic and Microsoft focuses on understanding how architectural choices and networking requirements impact the scalability of quantum systems. Resource estimates must now account for the complexities of running algorithms across interconnected, modular systems, which the companies are specifically addressing with this combined effort. The Microsoft Quantum Resource Estimator, an open-source tool, a

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Photonic’s error correction helps Microsoft estimate quantum costsquantum-computing

Photonic’s error correction helps Microsoft estimate quantum costs

Photonic Inc. and Microsoft are collaborating to refine estimates of the resources needed for practical, large-scale quantum computers. By combining SHYPS with Microsoft’s Quantum Resource Estimation (QRE) framework, the companies aim to account for the costs of running algorithms across interconnected, modular systems, a growing trend in the field. “As the industry moves from individual quantum processors toward interconnected, distributed systems, understanding the resources required to run meaningful applications becomes increasingly important,” said Paul Terry, Chief Engineering Officer at Photonic. Photonic’s QLDPC Code Family Reduces Qubit Overhead Photonic’s Quantum Low-Density Parity Check (QLDPC) code family, specifically SHYPS, is demonstrably reducing the qubit overhead needed for practical quantum computation, enabling potentially more efficient large-scale systems. This advance directly addresses a critical bottleneck in scaling quantum computers beyond the experimental stage, as fewer physical qubits are required to represent a logical qubit capable of reliable computation. The impact extends beyond simply reducing hardware demands; it allows for more complex algorithms to be explored within current technological constraints. Microsoft’s Quantum Resource Estimation (QRE) framework is now being used in collaboration with Photonic to rigorously assess how architectural decisions and networking impact the resources needed to run quantum algorithms at scale. This partnership isn’t simply about improving existing estimation tools, but about adapting them to account for the emerging trend of modular, distributed quantum systems. “Quantum resource estimation helps developers understand the real-world requirements of quantum applications before large-scale quantum computers are available,” said Matthias Troyer, Technical Fellow and CVP, Microsoft Quantum.

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State, university officials tout opening of new quantum research center - Maryland Mattersquantum-computing

State, university officials tout opening of new quantum research center - Maryland Matters

5:01 News Story State officials, University of Maryland leaders and quantum research representatives celebrated the opening of the Microsoft Quantum Research Center in the university’s Discovery District Tuesday. The lab is the latest step in the state’s Capital of Quantum initiative, launched in January 2025 to accelerate investments in quantum computing research through a public-private partnership between the state, the university and the private sector. “Maryland’s moving fast. The Discovery District is moving fast, and companies in this space are starting to take note,” Gov. Wes Moore (D) said in remarks at the ribbon-cutting. “When we invest in quantum, we’re creating new opportunity for the student who has the skills to build a career in the space.” Since last year’s announcement that Microsoft would locate its quantum lab in the Discovery District, an area just east of the College Park campus, Moore said IQM, Quantum Motion and Riverlane – three leading quantum companies – have also established or announced facilities there. Charlie Tahan, a Microsoft quantum partner, touted the university’s emphasis on quantum research and its proximity to Washington, D.C., as reasons the center is located in College Park. “There’s a lot of talent here, and in the world… there’s not that much quantum talent,” Tahan said in an interview. “You want to be in the places where you can hire the best people.” The Microsoft Quantum Research center houses “chandeliers” that perform quantum computations. (Photo by Pera Onal/Maryland Matters) He said he’s appreciative of the state’s partnership with the lab and is impressed by the speed at which the facility was built. The lab was announced at last September’s Quantum World Congress with the project being greenlit a day before the event, Tahan said. The facility’s design was completed in April, and on-site construction followed soon after.

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Fermilab and Microsoft Partner on Quantum Hardware Toolsquantum-computing

Fermilab and Microsoft Partner on Quantum Hardware Tools

Insider Brief PRESS RELEASE — The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is joining Microsoft Quantum as an initial partner in the company’s new quantum hardware makerspace in its newest quantum research center in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. Here, researchers within the academia, industry, and government sectors will provide access to […]

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Microsoft Quantum opens Maryland research center with DARPA testingquantum-computing

Microsoft Quantum opens Maryland research center with DARPA testing

Microsoft Quantum has opened a research center in Maryland, providing its Majorana 2 quantum chip for independent testing and evaluation by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The center, built in collaboration with the University of Maryland and supported by Governor Wes Moore’s Capital of Quantum Initiative, includes a dedicated hardware makerspace and will fund quantum postdoctoral positions at UMD. Dr. Charles Tahan, Partner, Microsoft Quantum, stated that as advances in AI and quantum accelerate scientific discovery, bringing together talent, skilling, infrastructure, and execution is becoming increasingly important. This new facility aims to accelerate the move from quantum research to practical implementation, with DARPA gaining full access to Microsoft’s latest topological system on site. Maryland Center Hosts DARPA Testing of Topological Qubits This delivery follows Microsoft’s advancement to the final stage of DARPA’s Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing program, part of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, signaling external scrutiny of its hardware development. The Majorana 2 chip utilizes a new material stack, replacing aluminum with lead for increased performance, a change Microsoft hopes will demonstrate improved qubit stability and coherence. Dedicated areas within the center accommodate Microsoft’s proprietary research, DARPA’s topological system and future prototypes, and collaborative spaces for partner companies, fostering a shared environment for innovation, the company says. Microsoft’s topological hardware with a covered fridge in the background — Source: quantum.microsoft.com Microsoft views DARPA’s test and evaluation team as uniquely positioned to assess the entire computing stack, from hardware controls to software applications, providing comprehensive feedback on the system’s capabilities.

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Microsoft Opens 15,000-Square-Foot Quantum Research Center and Hardware Makerspace in Maryland Discovery Districtquantum-computing

Microsoft Opens 15,000-Square-Foot Quantum Research Center and Hardware Makerspace in Maryland Discovery District

Microsoft Opens 15,000-Square-Foot Quantum Research Center and Hardware Makerspace in Maryland Discovery District Microsoft Quantum has officially opened its 15,000-square-foot Quantum Research Center within the Discovery District in College Park, Maryland. Developed in partnership with the University of Maryland (UMD) and supported by Governor Wes Moore’s state-backed Capital of Quantum initiative, the facility combines classified research zones, a hardware makerspace, and dedicated testing infrastructure designed to accelerate full-stack quantum system integration and workforce training. A primary operational objective of the Maryland center is providing physical hardware access for independent testing and evaluation by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) under its Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC) program and broader Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI). Microsoft delivered its latest Majorana 2 topological quantum processing chip—which incorporates a lead-based material stack replacing aluminum for improved topological protection—to the facility for site-level verification by DARPA and its evaluation partners, including the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHU-APL), and Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, Lawrence Berkeley, and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories. [ Microsoft Quantum Research Center & Ecosystem Integration Framework ]Facility SubsystemHardware & Partner InfrastructureStrategic Mission & DeliverablesDARPA Testbed• Majorana 2 Topological QPU (Lead Material Stack)• Dilution Refrigerator Infrastructure• Independent hardware verification for US2QC/QBI• Fault-tolerant topological qubit validationHardware Makerspace• AMD, Bluefors, Intel, IQM, Fermilab, Riverlane• Quantum Motion & Fermilab QICK Control Stack• Hands-on hardware assembly and debugging• Cross-modality control sequence synthesisQDK Analytics Preview• Quantum Tensor PCA Algor

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The Qubit Report: September 22, 2026quantum-computing

The Qubit Report: September 22, 2026

Quantum computing wrap-up for September 22, 2026. The Qubit Report Staff analyzed, sorted, and synthesized this quantum computing news wrap-up. IonQ booked a Superion 256 and silicon-vacancy memory into South Korea, then posted a real-time decoder benchmarked at 408 logical qubits on one CPU. Microsoft opened 15,000 square feet in Discovery District Maryland and put Majorana 2 chips in front of DARPA. QuEra signed HPE for on-prem Cray hookups and took a desk in the same cluster. The crypto vendors started shopping to the October 22 federal filing date. Miss a link and you brief last week’s stack.

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Fermilab and Microsoft partner to provide new quantum tools and expand quantum researchquantum-computing

Fermilab and Microsoft partner to provide new quantum tools and expand quantum research

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is joining Microsoft Quantum as an initial partner in the company’s new quantum hardware makerspace in its newest quantum research center in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. Here, researchers within the academia, industry, and government sectors will provide access to real quantum hardware and expertise for students and others in the emerging quantum community. Through its broader collaboration with Microsoft, Fermilab also aims to add new capabilities to the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, or QICK, an open-source hardware and software toolkit it developed to control and read out information from quantum bits. The Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit — or QICK — an open-source quantum control and readout system developed at Fermilab. Photo: Ryan Postel, Fermilab “We are thrilled that Microsoft has chosen QICK to be part of the quantum hardware makerspace and look forward to working with them on other projects as well. Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and build applications on top of QICK,” said Anna Grassellino, chief technology officer and associate laboratory director for the Technology Directorate at Fermilab. Originally designed for superconducting qubits, the Fermilab QICK development team worked with partners to adapt QICK to use with trapped ions, cold-atoms, silicon-spin qubits, quantum-dot and biological qubits.   Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and build applications on top of QICK. Anna Grassellino, chief technology officer and associate laboratory director for the Technology Directorate at Fermilab Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and buil

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Microsoft Gives DARPA Access to Majorana System, Opens Maryland Quantum Research Centerquantum-computing

Microsoft Gives DARPA Access to Majorana System, Opens Maryland Quantum Research Center

Insider Brief Microsoft has opened a quantum research center in Maryland that will house one of its topological quantum systems for independent testing by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, widening the government’s role in evaluating the company’s path toward large-scale quantum computers. The 15,000-square-foot center, located in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, combines […]

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Microsoft Quantum, QOLAB Propose Higher Bar For ‘Scalable’ Logical Qubitsquantum-computing

Microsoft Quantum, QOLAB Propose Higher Bar For ‘Scalable’ Logical Qubits

Insider Brief A framework from Microsoft Quantum and QOLAB proposes that quantum computing’s next progress reports should be judged by more than a rising count of logical qubits. The paper, posted on arXiv by Microsoft Quantum researchers Matthias Troyer and Chetan Nayak and QOLAB’s John Martinis, introduces the term “scalable logical qubit” for an error-corrected […]

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