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Exclusive | Quantum entanglement: how US-led sanctions are turning Russia’s genius scientists to China for collaboration

  • Cooperation between Russian and Chinese scientists is leading to huge advances in quantum technology
  • Putin is proposing a joint effort through BRICS to develop various future technologies

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Illustration: Henry Wong
Stephen Chenin Beijing
Maxim Ostras’ quantum sensor can detect brain signals with record-high sensitivity. Backed by the largest bank in Russia, he plans to take the sensor to commercial production and enter the Chinese market.

Alexey Akimov is intrigued by some anomalies in the periodic table that he believes could lead to the discovery of new materials. He gave up a tenure position in the United States last year and returned to Russia to pursue his dream of a quantum simulator, in which some critical components were sourced from China.

Alexey Fedorov was commissioned to build a new generation quantum laboratory in Russia 10 years ago, when he was a fourth-year university student. Now, as a research group leader with the Russian Quantum Centre and the youngest full professor in the history of the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Fedorov is working closely with some Chinese researchers on quantum algorithms and cryptography.
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“The world will be changed because of these technologies,” he said.

The three men were among hundreds of Russian scientists who met their international colleagues in Moscow at the Future Technologies Forum this month to share the latest breakthroughs in quantum research. To the surprise of many participants, Russian President Vladimir Putin even showed up at one of the panel discussions at the Moscow World Trade Centre on July 13.
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“This is the first time I have seen the head of state in a quantum meeting. People formed long lines to enter the conference room to see him in person,” said a Chinese quantum scientist who took part in the event but, like the other researchers from China, requested not to be named due to Beijing’s media policy.

03:02

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