The laboratory donation , indicative of a growing trend among tech companies to support academic and government-backed research initiatives, comes as part of a collaboration between Baidu and BAQIS.
Chinese tech giant Baidu has announced its plan to donate a quantum computing laboratory and associated equipment to the Beijing Academy of Quantum Information Sciences (BAQIS). This move aligns with the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing quantum computing research and development in China.
The decision to donate the laboratory comes as part of a collaboration between Baidu and BAQIS, and the details are currently being finalised. Baidu’s initiative follows a similar step by Alibaba, another major player in China’s tech industry. In November, Alibaba announced it would wind down its quantum computing laboratory within its research division as part of a broader company restructuring. The laboratory and its experimental equipment were donated to Zhejiang University.
Baidu has been active in the field of quantum computing since 2018, with its research centre led by Duan Runyao, an alumnus of Tsinghua University where he earned both his bachelor’s and doctorate degrees. One of the notable achievements of Baidu’s quantum computing research centre is the development of Qian Shi, a quantum computer unveiled in 2022.
The BAQIS was established in December 2017 through an initiative of the Beijing municipal government, receiving support from leading academic institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University. It has been a focal point for quantum information science research in China.
Prior to this donation, Baidu and BAQIS had already been collaborating in the quantum field. In March of the previous year, they jointly launched the first quantum computing industry intellectual property alliance in China, marking a significant step in the country’s efforts to foster innovation and development in quantum technology.
Baidu’s donation to BAQIS is indicative of a growing trend among tech companies to support academic and government-backed research initiatives, especially in cutting-edge fields like quantum computing. This collaboration not only benefits the academic and scientific community but also contributes to the broader advancement of quantum technology, potentially leading to significant breakthroughs and applications in various sectors.
