It was another banner year for quantum computing research, development, application and regulation.

For example, in 2023, the Cleveland Clinic installed an IBM quantum computer that is uniquely dedicated to healthcare research, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released three draft standards for post-quantum cryptography (PQC), and U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act into law.

As Dell Technologies Global CTO John Roese urged, organizations should act now to invest in quantum talent, simulations, and security, otherwise “you will miss this technology wave.”

Here are the top 10 quantum computing stories we covered this year, based on aggregate page views:

Academic medical center Cleveland Clinic installed the first quantum computer in the world that is uniquely dedicated to health care research – IBM’s Quantum System One. It’s also the first on-site IBM-managed quantum computer for the private sector in the United States.

Cleveland Clinic unveiled the quantum computer in the Lerner Research Institute on its main campus in Cleveland. IBM Fellow and Director of Quantum Infrastructure Jerry Chow noted the company’s quantum computer can be deployed in different environments, and typical research institutes have the ability to meet the environmental requirements. Read more.

Deloitte’s managing director of risk and financial advisory Colin Soutar anticipates that in 2024, “post-quantum cryptography (PQC) will come of age,” driven by the upcoming PQC standard release from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Organizations across various sectors, led by federal and financial entities, are preparing for this transition. Soutar also shed light on the expanding ecosystem of PQC vendors and the role they play in this transition. Read more.

U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Preparedness Act into law to address the migration of federal agency systems to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) that can better resist attacks from quantum computers.

The legislation required the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to prioritize the post-quantum cryptography migration within a year after the National Institutes of Standards and Technology (NIST) issues post-quantum cryptography standards, which are expected to publish by 2024. It also asked OMB to submit a strategy to address the security risk posed by the vulnerabilities of agency information technology systems to the potential capability of a quantum computer and report ongoing coordination efforts with international standards development organizations for PQC standards. Read more.

Quantum computing is one of the long-term trends that CIOs should take action on in 2023, otherwise “you will miss this technology wave,” Dell Technologies Global CTO John Roese argued.

Roese saw patterns forming this year “where we’re starting to see some very long trends culminating with something that needs to be done.” For CIOs and IT decision-makers, “it’s not okay to just be aware anymore, there are certain things that you actually have to act on,” he told SDxCentral.

And quantum computing is a good example. This year, organizations should invest in quantum talent, simulations, and security. Read more.

The quantum computing industry is booming and is expected to generate nearly $700 billion in value by 2035, but the shortage of skilled workers is threatening to stall progress. To address the exponential growth of quantum jobs needed over the next two decades, top players such as IBM, Microsoft, and Google are racing to address the quantum skills gap and build a diverse workforce.

Currently, only one qualified quantum candidate is available for every three quantum job openings. And the situation is expected to only worsen, with less than 50% of quantum computing jobs predicted to be filled by 2025 unless significant interventions occur, according to a research from McKinsey. Read more.

China claims to have the capability to deliver a homemade, fully-functional quantum computer, making it the third country to do so after the United States and Canada. Despite quantum computing experts calling the announcement “formidable,” a GlobalData analyst argues China’s latest quantum computer won’t have a significant impact on the global market.

Origin Quantum Computing Technology, headquartered in China’s Anhui province, has delivered a 24-qubit quantum computer based on superconducting chip technology – dubbed Wuyuan – to an unknown user. The company also built an ecological chain for the computer including software, an operating system, and a cloud platform, according to a report from the South China Morning Post. Read more.

To future-proof data and thwart hackers using quantum-based technologies, Verizon conducted trials deploying a quantum key distribution (QKD) network and tested quantum-safe virtual private networks (VPNs), while internally preparing its networks against post-quantum threats.

Verizon tested the QKD network deployment in the Washington D.C. area in 2020 and the company is working on another one in the Boston area, Lee Sattler, distinguished engineer in product strategy and operations at Verizon, told SDxCentral, claiming it’s one of the first carriers to pilot QKD in the U.S. Read more.

Salesforce‘s corporate venture arm – Salesforce Ventures – announced its first quantum technology investment as part of quantum sensing vendor Q-CTRL’s $27.4 million Series B extension funding.

Salesforce Ventures claims the quantum software startup’s technology uses artificial intelligence (AI) to bolster quantum computing enterprise adoption.

“Q-CTRL’s technology stands above the rest of the industry in tackling the most foundational challenge in quantum computing,” Salesforce Ventures Managing Director Robert Keith said in a statement. “Q-CTRL’s products are essential for enterprise adoption of quantum computing, and their use of AI is delivering critical insights across hardware platforms that no one else can match. With their additional leadership in pioneering quantum sensors, we came to see Q-CTRL as one of the most consequential businesses in the sector for their ability to deliver value through quantum technology.” Read more.

The basis of much of modern security relies on cryptography, with the ability to keep data shielded from prying eyes.

RSA, the company behind the big RSA Conference 2023 held in San Francisco, was literally built on the foundation of the RSA cryptographic algorithm. A highlight of any given year at the RSA Conference is the Cryptographer’s Panel, where experts debate issues and have been known to go on long tangents about security issues. During the 2023 event, the panel tackled a dizzying array of topics including the enduring impact of the Snowden NSA data leaks, the relevance of blockchain and the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). Read more.

Three U.S. national cyber agencies published a joint factsheet to encourage organizations to plan early for the migration to post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standards, followed by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) releasing three draft PQC standards.

The development of building quantum computers has been steady over the past few years, NIST noted in the release. “The security of many commonly used public-key cryptosystems would be at risk if large-scale quantum computers were ever realized,” the institute warned. “In particular, this would include key-establishment schemes and digital signatures that are based on integer factorization and discrete logarithms (both over finite fields and elliptic curves).” Read more.