Insider Brief
- In a recent interview with RIA Novosti, Ruslan Yunusov, adviser to Rosatom and co-founder of the Russian Quantum Center, outlined Russia’s quantum computing achievements, challenges and plans for technological innovation through 2030.
- Russia has developed multiple 50-qubit quantum computers, including ion-based systems, and plans to scale to 75 qubits by 2025 as part of a roadmap to surpass classical supercomputers by 2030.
- Despite international restrictions, Russia leveraged its Soviet-era quantum physics expertise, young scientific talent and state-backed infrastructure to achieve progress in quantum technology.
- Future goals focus on improving qubit accuracy, advancing materials science for quantum chip production, and fostering a new generation of technologists to bridge research and commercialization gaps.
Russia has positioned itself among the global leaders in quantum computing, achieving significant milestones despite external challenges, said Ruslan Yunusov, adviser to the general director of Rosatom and co-founder of the Russian Quantum Center, in an interview with RIA Novosti that was computer translated into English. The country’s advances include the creation of multiple 50-qubit quantum computers and prototypes, with plans for further innovation through 2030.
Russia’s recent successes were highlighted by Rosatom CEO Alexei Likhachev during an October meeting with President Vladimir Putin. Likhachev announced the completion of a 50-qubit ion-based quantum computer, with plans to build additional devices using nuclear and alternative platforms. Yunusov explained in the November interview with the Russian state-owned domestic news agency that pursuing multiple quantum computing platforms, such as superconductors, photons, and ions, allows researchers to identify the most efficient and accurate systems for various tasks.
“On the one hand, universal quantum computers should not differ from the point of view of the execution of algorithms, they are universal,” Yunusov told RIA Novosti. “But, in order to solve a specific problem well, it is necessary to have at the same time a lot of qubits, and good quality of operations, that is, accuracy. When we compare different platforms with each other, it turns out that they have different accuracy, and the advantages of one or another are manifested depending on the particular type of tasks. Therefore, improving the quality of the platforms is also one of the key tasks that we face now.”
Achieving the 50-qubit milestone, Yunusov added, is a “psychologically important mark,” placing Russia among a select group of nations capable of developing advanced quantum technologies. The leap from just two qubits to 50 within a few years underscores the country’s rapid progress, he told the news agency.
Overcoming External Barriers
Yunusov acknowledged that external factors, including international restrictions, have posed significant challenges to Russia’s technological development. However, he credited the country’s progress to its strong foundation in quantum physics, built during the Soviet era, and the talents of young scientists trained at leading Russian universities. He emphasized that these elements, combined with substantial state investment in scientific infrastructure, enabled Russia to overcome obstacles and achieve rapid development.
“We have a powerful and interconnected competitive advantage,” Yunusov said in the interview. “The Soviet school of quantum physics was one of the best in the world, and our young graduates today are world-class specialists.”
A Vision for 2030 and Beyond
Looking ahead, Russia’s quantum roadmap extends five years, with ambitious goals to solve practical industrial problems using quantum computers. Yunusov outlined plans to increase the number of qubits and improve their operational quality, aiming to surpass classical supercomputers in performing specific calculations.
Achieving this requires not only scaling the number of qubits but also developing quantum interconnects to link clusters of qubits into larger, unified systems. By 2025, Russia aims to create a 75-qubit quantum computer as a step toward achieving computational accuracy rates of 99.7% or higher, which are necessary for tackling real-world industrial challenges.
“In order to solve a useful industrial problem, it is necessary, on the one hand, to increase the number of qubits, to improve their quality, and on the other hand, when we talk about the real problem, it is necessary to develop or optimize existing algorithms so that they work as well as possible,” Yunusov said, as reported by RIA Novosti, adding, “And the error rate should be unambiguously less than 1%, and, in a good way, the accuracy of the operation should be 99.7-99.9%. This is the level at which you can already actively deal with errors and show good results.”
The Role of Materials and Infrastructure
Quantum computing’s future also depends on advancements in material science, Yunusov suggested. He highlighted the importance of developing materials with properties that meet the stringent requirements of quantum chip production, including precision at the atomic level. The upcoming Future Technology Forum will focus on identifying and creating next-generation materials, which Yunusov described as critical for technological sovereignty and innovation.
“The possibilities of silicon are almost exhausted,” Yunusov said. “A new generation of materials is necessary to meet the growing demand for computational power while addressing energy efficiency challenges.”
Yunusov also emphasized the need for interdisciplinary collaboration among physicists, chemists, biologists and engineers to tackle material science challenges, including developing biological materials with regenerative properties and improved compatibility for biomedical applications.
Addressing Barriers to Commercialization
Despite the technological advances, Yunusov reports that scaling quantum technologies for industrial use remains a significant hurdle. He described a cultural resistance to innovation within organizations, where risk-averse management structures often impede the adoption of new technologies.
“The management system in companies can be so arranged that it becomes unprofitable to engage in innovation,” Yunusov told RIA Novosti. “A person in some department works, receives a salary, bonuses, he is doing well. And here he will introduce a completely new thing. If possible, he will receive the same prize, maybe a little more. If it doesn’t work, he’ll be fired. Why would he want that? It seems to be such a simple thing, but it very often blocks advanced innovations that could find their place in the business. That is, it turns out that it is not only to make the working technology, but also somehow integrate it into the work of the company.”
He called for fostering a new generation of technologists who possess both technical expertise and the entrepreneurial skills to bridge the gap between research and commercialization. Programs at Russian universities, such as Phystech’s technological business department, aim to address this need by training graduates to manage and promote advanced technologies, he added.
A Broader Paradigm Shift
Yunusov concluded with a call to rethink humanity’s relationship with nature, advocating for a shift from dominating nature to collaborating with it. He cited examples from material science and quantum computing as areas where learning from natural processes could yield transformative results.
Again, he points to the importance of materials to aid this transformation.
“The fact is that the level of development of civilization is determined by the level of ownership of certain materials,” Yunusov said. “The Stone Age, the Iron Age, the Bronze Age is an epoch of different materials. Now they say that our century is informational, and from the point of view of materials it is called silicon. But the possibilities of silicon are almost exhausted. Now the need for calculations is growing, and the ability to ensure them rests on materials.”
Not unlike a lot of other global quantum companies, Yunosov identifies 2030 — five years away — as a critical milestone on the Russian roadmap for practical quantum computing.
“By 2030, we just want to show the solution of several useful tasks for the economy,” Yunosov told the news agency. “So that a quantum computer beats a supercomputer. But we must understand that for this it is not enough to simply increase the number of qubits; it is necessary to radically improve their quality. This work will be carried out in parallel.”
The Russian Quantum Center operates as an independent research organization dedicated to advancing quantum physics and its practical applications. Established in 2012, the center focuses on quantum computing, simulation, communication, and sensing, while also developing and commercializing innovative quantum-based technologies and devices. With more than 170 researchers working across 12 laboratories near Moscow, RQC drives both fundamental discoveries and technological progress.according to The Quantum Insider Intelligence Platform.
