About NQN
The Northwest Quantum Nexus (NQN) connects quantum researchers, industry leaders, policymakers, and investors across Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana and the Northwest to advance quantum technology, build a quantum-ready workforce, and position the region as a global hub for quantum innovation.
Microsoft Unveils Majorana 2 Chip with 1,000× Qubit Stability Gain, Targets Scalable System by 2029
June 2, 2026 · Redmond, WA · Microsoft Quantum
Microsoft released Majorana 2, its second-generation topological quantum chip, claiming a 1,000-fold improvement in qubit reliability over the original Majorana chip introduced in 2025. The redesigned materials stack — replacing aluminum with lead in the superconductors and restructuring the semiconductor — extends mean qubit lifetimes to 20 seconds, with some instances lasting up to a minute. The advance, developed in part using Microsoft's Discovery agentic AI, has allowed the company to cut its target for a scalable quantum computer from 2033 to 2029. Multiple independent physicists have responded with skepticism, arguing that the published data does not resolve longstanding questions about whether the underlying topological qubit mechanism has been conclusively demonstrated.
Majorana 2: Microsoft Discovery agentic AI and the road to 2029 — Microsoft News
IonQ Demonstrates Error-Corrected Qubits Outlasting Physical Qubits Across Nine Code Families
June 6, 2026 · Bothell, WA · IonQ
IonQ published results showing quantum error correction operating successfully across nine different error-correcting codes — five qLDPC codes, two toric codes, and a concatenated code — on a single 40-barium-ion trapped-ion processor. Logical qubits achieved memory lifetimes of 3.95 seconds, four to nine times longer than comparable superconducting implementations, and — critically — longer than the physical qubits they are built from. Reaching this "breakeven" threshold, where active error correction improves rather than degrades qubit lifetime, is a foundational prerequisite for fault-tolerant quantum computing at scale.
IonQ breakeven qLDPC and block codes on trapped-ion architecture — Quantum Computing Report
UW Researchers Use AI and Quantum Computing to Accelerate Discovery of Quantum Materials
June 9, 2026 · Seattle, WA · University of Washington
Two studies from the University of Washington demonstrate how AI and quantum computing are reshaping materials science research. In the first study, published June 2 in PNAS, UW researchers used AI to simulate large stacks of molybdenum ditelluride crystals — producing new quantum phenomena that only emerge at scale and would be impractical to model by traditional supercomputing. In the second study, published June 8 in Nature Communications, the team showed how quantum computers can create a self-improving design loop for discovering new materials that could themselves become components of future quantum computers. "We are at the start of a new era," said Di Xiao, UW professor and chair of materials science and engineering. "Things that were literally impossible a couple of years ago are now becoming routine." Both studies acknowledge support from Amazon and the Department of Energy.
AI and quantum computing accelerate materials development at UW — UW News
PNNL Convenes Global Leaders to Chart Path to Quantum Advantage in Chemistry and Materials Science
June 15, 2026 · Richland, WA · Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
With the first practical quantum computers expected within approximately two years, PNNL's Quantum Algorithms and Architecture for Domain Science (QuAADS) initiative hosted its second annual Quantum Computing for Chemistry workshop, convening DOE officials, national laboratory researchers, and industry representatives from Microsoft, IBM, IonQ, Xanadu, and NVIDIA to define what it will take to achieve genuine quantum advantage in computational chemistry and materials science. DOE Associate Director Bindu Nair challenged participants to define the parameters for a useful quantum calculation, quoting DOE Undersecretary for Science Dario Gil: "We are at an inflection point in computing and because of that we are going to be able to do science in ways that have never been done before." Workshop leader Karol Kowalski identified a threshold of more than 100 logical qubits as necessary for meaningful quantum utility, stressed the role of AI in accelerating quantum algorithm development, and announced a formal report to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.
PNNL Prepares for Quantum Advantage — Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Amazon and QuEra Announce Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer Coming to AWS Cloud by 2028
June 15, 2026 · Seattle, WA / Cambridge, MA · Amazon Web Services / QuEra Computing
Amazon Web Services and QuEra Computing announced an expanded strategic collaboration to bring Libra — QuEra's first fault-tolerant quantum computer — to Amazon Braket customers by 2028. Libra is designed as a megaquop-scale platform capable of approximately one million reliable logical quantum operations across more than 256 error-corrected logical qubits, targeting early scientific applications in quantum chemistry, high-energy physics, and materials simulation that are beyond the reach of classical computers. Amazon and QuEra have partnered since 2019; QuEra's analog Aquila processor launched on Braket in 2022. "For the first time, a dream of realizing useful, fault-tolerant quantum computers is in our direct line of sight," said Prof. Mikhail Lukin, QuEra Chief Science Officer. AWS is also developing its own superconducting cat-qubit architecture (Ocelot) at the AWS Center for Quantum Computing, which it views as complementary to the neutral-atom approach.
AWS deepens strategic collaboration with QuEra for fault-tolerant quantum — AWS Blog
IBM Uses AI to Discover 465 New Quantum Error Correction Code Candidates
June 11, 2026 · Armonk, NY · IBM Research
IBM researchers published an open-source AI-guided evolutionary framework called OpenEvolve — built on techniques from AlphaEvolve and FunSearch — that rapidly explores vast algebraic spaces to identify valid quantum error correction (QEC) codes. Focusing on bivariate bicycle (BB) codes, the framework uses large language models to generate and refine algebraic expressions, then runs candidates through a cascading verification pipeline before confirming novel codes. The initial run discovered 465 new QEC code candidates, including one with 50 logical qubits — more than three times the previous record of 16 for that code family — and several well-balanced candidates such as a [[288,16,12]] code with properties competitive with IBM's planned gross code. IBM open-sourced the full framework and code catalog on GitHub, inviting the global quantum research community to extend it.
Can LLMs discover quantum error correction codes? — IBM Research
IBM Commits More Than $10 Billion to Quantum Over Five Years, Sets 2029 Fault-Tolerant Target
June 2, 2026 · Armonk, NY
IBM announced it will invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years, covering R&D, capital expenditure, manufacturing scale-up, ecosystem partnerships, and acquisitions. The roadmap leads to IBM Quantum Starling, a system slated for 2029 designed to execute 20,000 times more operations than current hardware — a threshold IBM projects will enable practical advantage on commercial workloads. The commitment follows the U.S. Department of Commerce's May 21 announcement of $1 billion in CHIPS Act incentives for IBM to establish a domestic quantum foundry for superconducting wafers, part of a $2 billion federal quantum ecosystem package spanning nine companies.
IBM commits $10B to quantum computing — IBM Newsroom
Quantinuum Raises $1.68 Billion in Nasdaq Debut, Valuing Quantum Firm at $15.7 Billion
June 3–4, 2026 · Nasdaq: QNT
Quantinuum priced its IPO at $60 per share on June 3 — above the original $53–$55 range — raising $1.68 billion through 28 million Class A shares on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Shares opened at $68 on June 4 and closed little changed, giving the company a market capitalization of approximately $15.7 billion. Honeywell retains a majority stake following the offering. Formed from the 2021 merger of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum, Quantinuum describes itself as a full-stack quantum computing platform spanning hardware and software. The listing comes after the U.S. Department of Commerce committed $100 million in CHIPS Act funding to Quantinuum in May to address manufacturing bottlenecks in scaling trapped-ion systems.
Quantinuum closes flat in Nasdaq debut after upsized offering — CNBC
World Economic Forum Names Six Quantum Companies to 2026 Technology Pioneers Cohort
June 10, 2026 · Geneva, Switzerland · World Economic Forum
The World Economic Forum selected six quantum technology companies for its 2026 Technology Pioneers cohort — the Forum's leading program for early-stage companies shaping the future of technology. Honorees from the quantum sector span multiple modalities and applications: Denmark's Sparrow Quantum (deterministic single-photon sources), Japan's NanoQT (quantum interconnects for optical fiber networks) and OptQC (photonic quantum computers), UK-based MatNex (AI and quantum calculations for materials discovery) and Sitehop (post-quantum cybersecurity), and US-based QuSecure (post-quantum cryptography enterprise solutions). The full 2026 cohort spans 100 companies from 23 countries. Selected companies participate in a two-year engagement programme with the Forum and present at the Annual Meeting of the New Champions in Dalian, China (June 23-25, 2026).
Quantum companies join World Economic Forum Technology Pioneers — The Quantum Insider
IQM Radiance 54 Quantum Computer Goes Live at Italy's CINECA Supercomputing Center
June 11, 2026 · Bologna, Italy · IQM Quantum Computers
IQM Quantum Computers announced the official inauguration of the IQM Radiance 54 quantum processor — designated NOX — at Italy's CINECA supercomputing facility in Bologna, marking the first on-premises superconducting quantum system to go live at CINECA and IQM's 23rd global hardware sale. The 54-qubit system is co-located and structurally integrated with Leonardo, one of the world's fastest pre-exascale supercomputers (ranked 10th on the Top500 list), enabling native hybrid HPC-quantum workflows across optimization, physical simulation, and quantum machine learning. The deployment supports Italy's sovereign computing capacity and advances IQM's vertical integration strategy ahead of its planned Nasdaq listing (ticker: IQMX) via a SPAC merger with Real Asset Acquisition Corp., with a shareholder vote scheduled for June 25, 2026.
Oxford Quantum Circuits Closes Europe's Largest-Ever Private Quantum Round at £260 Million
June 3, 2026 · Oxford, UK
Oxford Quantum Circuits (OQC) closed an oversubscribed £260 million (approximately $350 million) Series C on June 3, which the company describes as the largest fundraise ever completed by a European quantum computing company. The round was led by Bullhound Capital, with participation from the British Business Bank, Oxford Science Enterprises, and Chevron. Capital will support OQC's expansion of superconducting quantum infrastructure globally, with a focus on Quantum-AI data center deployments. The same week, Finland's IQM upsized its PIPE financing to $146 million in preparation for a dual listing on Nasdaq and Nasdaq Helsinki — which would make it the first European quantum hardware company traded on both exchanges.
OQC Series C: Europe's largest private quantum funding round — OQC Newsroom
Swedish Universities Deploy 303 km Trusted-Node QKD Over Live Telecom Fiber, Validating EuroQCI Architecture
June 2026 · Linköping–Stockholm, Sweden
A consortium of Linköping University, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm University, and Chalmers University of Technology demonstrated quantum key distribution over 303 km of live deployed Swedish telecom fiber using a trusted-node architecture. The system ran continuously for 92 hours while sharing fiber with live Ethernet traffic, with integrated Key Management Systems executing automated trusted-node key relay. The result directly validates the architecture under consideration for EuroQCI, the European quantum communication infrastructure program — whose next-phase consultation closes June 24, 2026.
Field demonstration of trusted-node QKD over 300 km deployed fiber — Quantum Computing Report
Texas Governor Appoints Five to Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee to Build State's Quantum Economy
June 4, 2026 · Austin, TX · Texas Quantum Initiative
Governor Greg Abbott appointed five members to the Texas Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee on June 4, tasked with developing a strategic plan to position Texas as a national leader in quantum computing, networking, and sensing. The appointees bring expertise from academia, defense, and industry, including leaders from Texas Tech University, NVIDIA, UT San Antonio, and the Texas Research Alliance. The committee is established under HB 4751, the Texas Quantum Initiative Act signed into law in 2025. Texas Tech University's CIO was among those named, alongside representatives from North Texas and San Antonio.
Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park Appoints Philip Makotyn as Deputy CTO to Guide Technical Strategy
June 3, 2026 · Chicago, IL · Bloch / Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park
The Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP) appointed Dr. Philip Makotyn as Deputy Chief Technology Officer on June 3, a senior leadership role focused on shaping the 128-acre development's technical strategy, infrastructure build-out, and commercialization partnerships. Makotyn brings nearly twenty years of experience from Colorado's quantum ecosystem, including executive roles at CUbit Quantum Initiative (CU Boulder), Lockheed Martin, Honeywell Quantum Solutions, and Vexlum US, a semiconductor laser supplier to the quantum industry. His appointment comes as IQMP — which broke ground in Fall 2025 — advances toward its first construction milestones and continues recruiting world-class tenants to Chicago's South Side under the "Year of Illinois Quantum" initiative.
IQMP appoints Philip Makotyn as Deputy CTO — The Quantum Insider
Quantum.Tech World 2026
June 25–26, 2026 · Encore Boston Harbor, Everett, MA
The annual Quantum.Tech World conference brings together enterprise leaders, investors, and government representatives to assess commercial quantum readiness. This year's program includes a dedicated session on quantum sovereignty and supply chain security featuring MassTech Quantum Initiative Director Steven Hubbard. Strong relevance for NW organizations engaged in federal quantum programs and export considerations.
Quantum.Tech World 2026 — registration and program
IEEE Quantum Week 2026 (QCE26)
September 13–18, 2026 · Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Toronto, ON
The seventh annual IEEE International Conference on Quantum Computing and Engineering (QCE) is the premier venue for quantum computing research, standards, and engineering. QCE26 includes technical papers, workshops, tutorials, and industry panels spanning all hardware modalities and applications. Submission deadlines have passed; registration is open.