Budapest University of Technology and Economics, alongside the HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics and Eötvös Loránd University, has completed a research program that culminated in the construction of Hungary’s first multi-node quantum communication test network. The ‘Comprehensive Development of the Quantum Information National Laboratory’ project received HUF 3.275 billion from the National Research, Development and Innovation Office starting October 1, 2022, supporting advances in quantum communication, technology devices, and computing. This collaborative effort establishes a growing national capacity in quantum technologies as the field enters a period of significant development.
Hungary Builds First Multi-Node Quantum Key Distribution Network
Hungary’s first multi-node quantum key distribution (QKD) test network is now operational, a direct outcome of a research program focused on quantum information science. The network, built in collaboration with Magyar Telekom Plc, incorporates key management capabilities, moving beyond theoretical quantum communication toward practical application. Researchers also advanced quantum computing by developing new quantum and hybrid algorithms designed to solve complex optimization problems, and they made progress on the internationally competitive Piquasso photonic quantum computer simulator, enhancing Hungary’s capabilities in simulating quantum systems.
Program documentation highlights that advances in quantum technologies are opening up fundamentally new possibilities for processing, storing and securely transmitting information, with potential long-term impact on both the economy and society. The program’s focus extended beyond communication and computation to include the physical realization of quantum information science building blocks, establishing a comprehensive national capacity in quantum technologies.
QNL Advances Topological Qubits and Photonic Quantum Computing
The creation of a novel structure within superconducting quantum technologies offers a potential pathway toward implementing topological qubits, a development stemming from the recently completed research program. This network represents a practical step toward secure communication infrastructure, using the principles of quantum mechanics to guarantee data privacy. Researchers are also exploring quantum sensing devices based on specific crystal defects in diamond, expanding the potential applications of quantum technology beyond computation and communication. Significant progress in optical quantum computing was marked by the completion of the first quantum measurements on a QUIX photonic chip.
Researchers also advanced superconducting quantum technologies by fabricating a new structure intended to enable topological qubits, a promising architecture for inherent error correction. Hungarian researchers are not only building the hardware but also developing the software to harness its power.
See today’s quantum computing news on Quantum Zeitgeist for the latest breakthroughs in qubits, hardware, algorithms, and industry deals.
