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Quantum Computing Hefei

Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province in east China, is quickly becoming a leading national example of turning innovative scientific research into profitable industries. The city’s distinctive “Hefei Model” is showing how to efficiently coordinate fundamental research, governmental regulations, and supply chain development to expedite the establishment of businesses in fields that are looking to the future, such quantum technology and fusion energy.

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Residents of Hefei joke that their city has two suns: one in the sky and one in an industrial park. The revolutionary Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) mimics solar fusion, the “artificial sun”. China’s quest of commercial fusion power, a potentially endless clean energy source, centres on it. EAST set a new world record earlier this year when it successfully operated a steady-state high-confinement plasma system for 1,066 seconds. Building on this achievement, engineers are currently building the Burning Plasma Experimental Superconducting Tokamak (BEST), a new facility nearby that is expected to be the first in history to demonstrate the generation of power from fusion.

In addition to these astounding technological developments, a flourishing business has grown up around these test sites. The sector has grown significantly even if commercial fusion power may not be available for another 10 or two years. Today, Hefei is home to about 60 fusion-related businesses, many of which provide the tools and supplies needed to build experimental facilities. The domestic manufacturing of superconductors, which formerly depended significantly on imports and caused problems with supply and delivery time, is a noteworthy success. Domestic enterprises have greatly improved their output, according to Yan Jianwen, chairman of Fusion Energy Tech., who sees a “gigantic industry” if fusion energy becomes a reality.

“Laying eggs along the way” is a fitting description of this approach given by Yang Qingxi, deputy director of Fusion Energy Tech’s BEST department. This metaphor represents the creation of new high-tech businesses and beneficial spin-off effects as the process moves closer to the ultimate objective of commercial fusion power. Profits and resources that can be used to further develop the key technology are also provided by this strategy. Fusion research spin-off technologies are already being used in real-world situations:

• Hefei’s metro system now includes security check equipment that uses fusion spin-off technology.
• Soon, clinical trials will begin for a proton therapy device to treat many cancers.

Equally notable is Hefei’s rise in quantum technology, which is mostly attributable to ground-breaking research from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC). Particularly along “Quantum Avenue,” which has drawn hundreds of tech companies devoted to commercializing quantum technologies, such as quantum computing, measurement, and communication, this research has fostered a thriving application environment.

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China Telecom Quantum Group, which provides quantum-encrypted communications and phone calls, is a prime example. According to Chairman Lyu Pin, around 6 million people use these services at the moment, many of whom are business owners worried about commercial espionage. One major attraction of quantum communication is its intrinsic security, which makes data transfer practically impenetrable as any attempt to wiretap or intercept the quantum information results in its collapse and detection. According to Lyu, as people’s awareness of privacy protection continues to rise, the user base will reach tens of millions.

Strong company-researcher collaboration and a very supportive city government that approves new technologies quickly are responsible for the effective implementation of quantum technology. China Telecom Quantum Group’s chief of sci-tech innovation, Zhang Jianxiao, emphasised the need of speed, pointing out that basic science frequently takes decades to reach the market, making prompt marketisation and government support essential for producing rewards.

The following crucial elements define the “Hefei Model” and have contributed to its success:

• Early Supply Chain Building: Even before key technologies like fusion power or quantum computing reach full commercial viability, the city actively assists regional firms in creating supply chains. This vision guarantees domestic supplies and sets up regional businesses for future growth and leadership in cutting-edge industries.
• Practical Use of Research Tools: Even if the main scientific goal is still years or decades away, the model places a strong emphasis on finding and putting into practice useful applications for instruments and techniques created during laboratory research. This has an instant influence on the market and produces useful spin-off technology.
• Responsive Local Government: Businesses, researchers, and the city government work closely together and communicate directly. The city administration of Hefei has set up a special office for the transformation of research into industry, which enables new innovations to be approved and commercialised more quickly.
• “Laying Eggs Along the Way”: This tactic entails creating new high-tech businesses and making money from spin-off innovations all along the protracted process of developing significant scientific discoveries. This gives ongoing resources and impetus for additional technological development.
• Tight Coordination: The model shows that entrepreneurs, fundamental research institutes, and local and national governments are well aligned. To close the gap between scientific discovery and industrial application, this integrated approach makes sure that market incentives, legislation, and research are all in line.

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This local approach in Hefei is in line with a larger national plan in China that promotes the creation of growth mechanisms to finance investments in emerging sectors such as 6G, bio-manufacturing, quantum technology, and embodied intelligence. This national effort seeks to close the gap between fundamental scientific research and industrial application, which has historically been a problem in China’s innovation pipeline, and to encourage a quick market reaction.

As countries prepare to build quantum and deep tech ecosystems, Hefei’s success can teach them. The city’s history shows that frontier research can be the foundation of new economic sectors with the right policies and infrastructure. Hefei’s model can help other sectors commercialize scientific advances.