- Статьи
- Science and technology
- Quantum of Mercy: how Russian scientists have changed the balance of power in the technological race
Quantum of Mercy: how Russian scientists have changed the balance of power in the technological race
Today, the world community is actively participating in the "quantum race" — dozens of states are competing for the opportunity to obtain the status of the creator of a quantum computer. This issue is of great importance, because whoever is the first to be able to organize the industrial production of a reliable quantum computer will receive the "key to all locks" — thanks to the ability to solve problems that classical supercomputers are not capable of. A country that has made a "quantum leap" will be able to control global markets, scientific discoveries, and defense systems. Even at the beginning of the decade, Russia was among the "outsiders", but in a short time it was able to become the leader of the race. How quantum technologies are being developed in the country and what is the advantage of domestic developments — in the material of Izvestia.
The most accurate calculation
The idea of a quantum computer was first formulated by the American physicist Richard Feynman: he spoke about the possibility of using quantum effects for computing back in the 1950s, and in 1982 described the principle of operation of such a computer. Almost 20 years later, scientists Isaac Chuang, Neil Gershenfeld and Mark Kubinets presented an experimental sample.
The MareNostrum Ona quantum computer inside the Barcelona supercomputing center
Despite the decades that have passed since the appearance of the first prototype, the introduction of quantum technologies in the world is still at an early stage. However, there is growing confidence among industry representatives that a "quantum leap" marking the end of the global race will take place in the next 5-10 years, after which the use of quantum methods will become widespread.
The main difference between quantum computers and classical computers is that instead of a binary system (where bits can take the values 0 and 1), they use qubits for measurement. Thanks to the laws of quantum physics, such units of information can be in a state of superposition, being 0 and 1 at the same time, and interact at a distance (quantum entanglement), which makes it possible to model complex molecular structures and sort through millions of variants in a fraction of a second.
Thanks to this, using a quantum computer, it is possible, firstly, to solve a variety of tasks related to logistics, finance and machine learning, and secondly, to model new materials, medicines and chemical compounds (medicine and pharmacy are considered one of the most promising areas of application of quantum technologies).
However, not only quantum computing is actively developing, but equally important areas are quantum sensors and quantum communications. Sensors that use the properties of quantum systems to measure physical quantities are characterized by higher sensor sensitivity compared to classical sensors, and therefore such equipment can be effectively used for navigation, mineral exploration, health monitoring, and early diagnosis of diseases. And the key areas of application of quantum communications are the financial sector, data centers, and industry (including the fuel and energy complex).
There would be no happiness
The positions of the participants in the quantum race are different today — not all countries have their own scientific school and production base for developments in this field. The United States, where IT giants like Google, IBM and Microsoft are engaged in research, and China, which is implementing large-scale national programs, have already achieved significant success. However, Russia has made the most impressive breakthrough in the field of quantum technologies in recent years.
Domestic researchers have done a tremendous job — in 2020, the Russian Federation had only one two-qubit superconductor installation, lagging 10 years behind the leaders of the quantum race. But by 2025, the country has managed to become one of those who have achieved the most serious results. Russia, in particular, already has prototypes of quantum computers on all four priority platforms: ionic, superconducting, atomic and photonic.
The large-scale sanctions pressure that fell on the Russian Federation not only did not harm quantum developments, but also gave a powerful impetus to development. Before the restrictions were introduced, Russian scientists often looked to the West, waiting for news from there about the development of a particular technology, admits Alexey Vagov, director of the Center for Quantum Metamaterials at the MIEM HSE. However, this paradigm of thinking is a thing of the past.
— Our scientists are now boldly entering the field of the unknown, including in everything related to the quantum topic. On this wave, we are quickly catching up with the achievements of Western schools in this area. There was a change in thinking. What previously seemed unattainable is now being seriously discussed as feasible plans, and in the near future," the expert notes.
Catching up with the leaders of the quantum race, Russia did not try to copy foreign approaches, but followed its own path, which made its projects more autonomous. The country's most powerful physics and mathematics school played an important role. Dmitry Sluzhenikin, head of the analytical center at Gazinformservice and Secretary of the Consortium for Security Research of Artificial Intelligence Technology, is convinced that the quality of the scientific reserve left in the Russian Federation since Soviet times ensures the competitiveness of Russian quantum technologies. Russia managed not only to preserve this asset, but also to multiply it.
The development of Russian quantum computing really relies on a great fundamental foundation, Rosatom Quantum Technologies confirms. At the same time, it is important that the basis of quantum scientific teams are young specialists.
— The average age of the Quantum Project scientists is 30 years. Their dedication has largely become the key to the achieved result," the company's press service emphasizes.
Rosatom has created Russia's first "breakthrough" compact source of quantum "compressed" light
An important role in such a rapid evolution was played by the fact that the importance of the quantum race in the country is understood at the state level. In particular, in 2020, the first roadmap for quantum computing was approved, designed for the period up to 2024, which became the starting point of a breakthrough.
One of the most important features of the document is that it provides a link between scientific institutions and real customers, helping researchers to work not "on the table", but for the needs of specific companies. This approach is of great importance, because the process of transition of quantum technologies to the field of applied research cannot be imagined without the participation of two parties — researchers and practitioners, Alexey Vagov emphasizes. So far, in his opinion, there are more ideas about the application of existing scientific achievements in the academic field. However, not only scientists, but also representatives of the real sector have already believed in quantum technologies in Russia, which was not the case a few years ago.
And it is precisely the focus on real tasks, the participation of the state and the presence of large customers that make the Russian quantum program practically invulnerable to sanctions, Dmitry Suzhenikin is sure.
The Atomic Heart
24 billion rubles have been invested in the development of quantum technologies as part of the first roadmap for the development of quantum computing. The result was the successful creation of prototypes of quantum computers on the main priority technical platforms in a very short time (this variability is important, since at the moment no one can say with certainty which of the platforms will be the most promising).
Thanks to active developments, Russia was able to enter the top six countries with quantum computers with 50 qubits or more. At the same time, in 2025, the country reached a new level of dimensionality — scientists created three quantum computers with a capacity of over 70 qubits at once. We are talking about prototypes based on ytterbium ions, calcium ions and single neutral rubidium atoms. At the same time, the Russian Federation also has prototypes of computers for 40, 35, 16 and 8 qubits on various platforms.
Another significant achievement is the implementation of the world's largest quantum algorithm on qubits (a two—level analogue of a qubit) by scientists from the Lebedev Institute of Physics (FIAN). The experts demonstrated a multi-qubit logic operation on 10 ions, which makes it possible to increase the accuracy of calculations when solving practical problems. Thanks to this record, Russia became the third country in the world to implement transit computing.
Rosatom is a key customer in the field of quantum technologies in Russia today. Under the leadership of the state corporation responsible for the implementation of the roadmap, more than 750 researchers and engineers from 19 scientific institutes and universities of the country have joined forces.
— Rosatom started with itself. The first and largest industry-wide program for the early application of quantum computing has been deployed in the Russian nuclear industry. Today, the portfolio includes more than 30 pilot projects. They relate to the use of quantum computing in optimizing a wide range of production processes, modeling physical processes and chemical reactions," the press service of Rosatom Quantum Technologies tells Izvestia.
Participants of the youth reserve of the Rosatom Quantum Project got acquainted with the Russian ion quantum computer, which was created at the Lebedev Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences (FIAN). 2025
In particular, within the framework of the innovative Breakthrough project (which provides for the creation of a new generation of reactors), for the first time, a model heat transfer problem was solved on a real quantum computer (a 50-qubit ion quantum computer located at the FIAN).
The fact that industrial corporations in Russia are developing the quantum sphere, which have the opportunity to apply quantum technologies in solving their own multidisciplinary industry tasks, distinguishes the country's position from the West and China. This gives the Russian Federation the opportunity to be one of the first to identify approaches to the application of quantum computing in the real economy.
Human capital
Russia does not plan to stop at the achieved results. In August 2025, the government approved a new roadmap for quantum computing, designed for the period up to 2030. More than 29 billion rubles have been allocated to finance its activities.
According to the plan, domestic quantum computers should reach a volume of 300 qubits by the end of the decade. The development and implementation of 54 new domestic quantum algorithms is also among the targets.
The development of quantum software is one of the priorities, according to Rosatom Quantum Technologies. This is necessary both for the development of the practice of applying quantum computing, and for strengthening Russia's position in the global quantum sphere. Currently, approximately 100 types of quantum algorithms are known, of which about 20 are considered basic, and the remaining 80 are their modifications. The Russian Federation has domestic versions of all major quantum algorithms and about 30 modifications.
— That is, we have already covered the quantum software stack quite well. And now we are coming to learn how to use the available developments for practical tasks," the company's press service notes.
At the same time, special attention in the plans for the next five years is paid to the issue of staffing — by 2030, the country expects to train more than 8,300 graduates who have received education in programs in the field of quantum technologies.
However, for a balanced dialogue with the scientific community, it is time for Russian business to start developing the competencies of corporate teams, Rosatom Quantum Technologies emphasizes. To introduce quantum computing into the practice of various industries, not only scientists, engineers and algorithmists are needed, but also managers, HR specialists, and experts in strategic development.
— We need to learn how to formulate queries to quantum scientists and algorithmists. To identify the tasks in which quantum processors and algorithms, more broadly, the methods of quantum computer science, can provide significant breakthroughs. After all, when an industrial quantum computer is created, it will be too late to "learn quanta": by that time, quantum algorithms for practical work and specialists who can apply them in various industries should be ready, the press service warns.
Alexey Vagov also points out the importance of having people in the real sector who can formulate direct applied tasks and will be able to build the process of proper interaction with the scientific community.
— For us, as scientists, the biggest shortage today is good and correctly formulated tasks. The tasks should develop, and then the process of creating technologies will go quite quickly. The state has done everything it should and could. We have the tools, access to quantum computing power, and funding for basic research. Now we are waiting for the people who need it," he emphasizes.
Beyond the distant horizon
Serious work awaits Russia on its way to a "quantum future" — the effectiveness of using existing "pilots" to solve real-world problems has yet to be confirmed in practice. Dmitry Sluzhenikin admits that 70 qubits is not enough to completely outperform classical supercomputers. But the threshold of practical significance, according to him, has already been passed — the rule has begun to work, according to which each new qubit will give an exponential jump in power.
According to Izvestia's interlocutor, the main external challenge for Russia lies not so much in technology as in management: it is important not to bury scientific and engineering potential under an avalanche of meaningless reporting. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully look at the actions of competitors — it is strategically dangerous to go into isolation, he warns.
— A cold and pragmatic analysis of world practices is needed: to study, reverse, adapt or eliminate, but create a critical mass of your own solutions, — the expert emphasizes.
In addition, it is fundamentally important for Russia to formulate an image of the result that will be both mobilizing and realistic. On the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2026, Alexey Likhachev, head of Rosatom, highlighted among the targets for the development of quantum computing in the country entering the top 3 in the field of quantum science and technology by 2036, entering the top 5 in the production of quantum computing systems and services, as well as the coverage of the use of quantum computing top-100 Russian companies.
On the 2050 horizon, the key long-term effects include achieving 1-2% of GDP due to the impact of quantum and heterogeneous technologies on the economy and contributing to active human longevity. Important goals also include the development of a full stack of sovereign quantum software and the formation of a zone of advanced application of quantum technologies in the space of friendly countries (based on Russian competence development centers). In international cooperation, the Russian Federation intends to enter the top 3 countries in the export of goods and services in the field of quantum technologies.
"Our future contribution to the development of quantum knowledge is the creation of large quantum alliances. By adding up our capabilities, we can assemble not just a complete, but the best mosaic of quantum technology applications in the world," concluded the head of the state corporation.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
