Congratulations to 16-year-old Korean drone pilot Changhyeon Kang: the new FAI World Drone Racing Champion!

The talented young drone ace fought off stiff competition to climb to the top of the podium in Xiangshan Ningbo, China, alongside Australias Thomas Bitmatta, 20, in second place and French pilot Killian Rousseau, 15, in third.

Kang also scooped the Junior title and led his national team to victory in the Team category, in which last years winners Australia finished in silver medal position just ahead of host nation China.

In the Womens classification, the winner was once again Wanraya Milk Wannapong of Thailand who is just 12 years old.

She successfully defended her title to finish ahead of Korean Siyun Park, 15, and Teng Ma, 34, of the USA.

And in the Junior category, 12-year-old JaeJong Kim of Korea and Australian Sam Heeps, 17, joined Kang on the podium to claim the second and third places.

Speaking at the event, Acting Secretary-General of the FAI Markus Haggeney said: Congratulations to all the medallists, particularly the Korean team on claiming gold medals in a total of three categories, and the impressive young Thai pilot Wanraya Wannapong, who is now an FAI World Champion for the second time at just 12 years of age.

And thanks to everyone who has played a part in making this FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final such an excellent competition.

There has been a fantastic atmosphere throughout and the Aero Sports Federation of China (ASFC), the organiser Starmach, the city of Ningbo and all the officials and volunteers have done a great job.

Results

Overall

1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR) 2. BITMATTA Thomas (AUS) 3. ROUSSEAU Killian (FRA)

Women1. WANNAPONG Wanraya (THA) 2. PARK Siyun (KOR) 3. MA Teng (USA)

Juniors1. KANG Changhyeon (KOR) 2. KIM JaeJong (KOR) 3. HEEPS Sam (AUS)

National teams1. Korea 2. Australia 3. China

About the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final

The 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final (11-14 December 2019) was held at a dedicated drone-racing track, built especially for the competition in Xiangshan Ningbo, a coastal city in the south east of China about 300km from Shanghai.

Among the 112 participating pilots,103 drone pilots, including 40 juniors and nine women, competed as part of31 national teams. The other nine pilots competed as individuals.

They tested their skills on a three-level championship racetrack that was 4m wide and 6m high, with a total length of 630m.

Called Bi-Fish, it was inspired by the traditional Chinese Tai Chi symbol, and the maritime culture of Xiangshan, Ningbo a former fishing village and included lots of sharp turns, 16 air gates, and a tunnel.

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Korea flies to victory at the 2019 FAI World Drone Racing Championship Grand Final - sUAS News

Celebrated American author and motivational speaker Zig Ziglar once said,You dont build a business you build people and then people build the business. This snippet of wisdom applies to every organization, irrespective of its size or geography. Great employers across the globe believe that people they hire are what make or break their business. And a similar trend was reflected in 2019s Top-Rated Workplaces In India recently announced by job site Indeed.

As per the report, SAPhas secured the highest rank in the top-rated technology workplaces list in India this year, followed by Adobe, VMware andMicrosoftas the leading technology organizations to work for in India. Surprisingly, the only public sector company that featured in the list is Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), which secured a fifth position. Some of the other companies that were featured in the list of top-rated workplaces include, Paytm, Flipkart, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Cisco, IBM, Apple, among others.

One common observation about these companies is that each one stands out as the epitome of people-centric corporations. And thats what makes them the best places to work. From various research reports, online reviews and expert opinions, we find out some of the common attributes of these companies and the culture they create that make people excited about their jobs.

Offer Challenging and Meaningful Work

All these organizations understand the importance of keeping employees work interesting, exciting, challenging and meaningful, because consistently, top performers say that challenging and meaningful work is the number one attribute they seek in a job.

Take the example of Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) which has secured the fifth position on Indeeds chart, moving up from tenth spot last year. According to a junior scientist at ISRO, self-competitiveness plays a big part in ISROs culture. The employees aim to continually improve themselves and strive for self-development. Their independent drive to succeed, as opposed to feeling in competition with one another, could be a key factor positively influencing employee satisfaction.

Hire and Retain top performers

Great workplaces are made up of great people. Within these workplaces, top performers work alongside other top performers who are positive, hardworking, committed and loyal, believe in the organizations vision. For example, TCS believes that they are better placed than their peers in retaining the contextual knowledge gained over time, and use that to build differentiated solutions tailored to each customers unique requirements.

For the quarter endingJune 30, 2019, Milind Lakkad, Global Head, Human Resources, TCS said, The vibrant, enriching workplace and best-In-class retention rates at TCS are a key competitive differentiator. Customers value the lower attrition because it results in greater stability and fewer disruptions in our service delivery.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma said in an interview that the company makes a special effort to understandthe skills of the employees who led Paytm to success. He also believes that Paytm employees are a bunch of hard-working people, so hard work is the one word that defines Paytm culture and we have always nurtured that, he said.

Value and Reward Employee Contributions

The best workplaces show they appreciate and value employees and their contributions. They celebrate success often, and praise, recognize, and reward employees in a variety of formal and informal ways. They never miss an opportunity to say thanks for employees hard work. According to a Glassdoor report, Apple employees get an annual 25% discount when they purchase an iPod, computer, or iPad. Apple software is 50% off for its employees. The company also offers other discounts for family and friends, depending on the product.

Each of these top-rated organizations offer competitive and fair compensation, above-average pay increases, and opportunities to earn more pay based on performance, such as bonuses, profit sharing, and other incentives to keep and reward top performing talent as well as attract new talent.

Invest in Training and Development

Great workplaces invest in training and development for their workforce to grow their talents and capabilities. They make time for learning and support it by paying for employees to participate in various opportunities and offering a variety of training and career development programs.

Through performance management practices that help guide, support, and develop exceptional performance, the best employers provide clarity on how to be a top performer, help other employees become top performers, and assist existing top performers in sustaining top performance. As a senior manager at Cisco said, Reaching for excellence each and every day is what makes great workplaces successful.

Invest in Employees Health and Wellness

The best of workplaces genuinely care about their employees well-being. They offer wellness options that help employees develop healthy lifestyle behaviors as well as provide an array of benefits which support their employees health and personal welfare. For example, Microsoft CARES employee assistance program also offers free personal and family counseling, stress management, and referrals for child and elder care. The cafs come stocked with healthy dining options, including a new Real Easy Wellness labeling system to help employees easily identify healthy food options.

Intuits Fit for Life program offers meditation and mindfulness classes as reimbursable expenses as well as incentives for employees engaging in stress-reduction habits, like taking a walk, practicing breathing exercises, or listening to calming music. Not only the companys website that offers mindfulness resources, but employees can also find mindful moment tips on the whiteboards in the conference rooms.

Top workplaces are flexible to employees work/life needs and encourage work/life balance by offering flexible schedules, providing generous paid time off, accommodating individual requests and needs, and creating a supportive work environment that understands of personal and family obligations.

Involve and Empower Employees

People-centric workplaces involve and empower employees by listening to their input, involving them in moving the organization forward, and giving them opportunities to lead initiatives, collaborate with one another, participate in decision-making, and make a meaningful difference at work. At some of the best workplaces, employees believe that their opinions matter and that they can positively impact their organizations. SAP encourages free expression, collaboration, individuality, and diversity. Its core strength as an employer, vests in the empowerment of its employees.

SAP Labs, Microsoft and IBM for example, boasts of an environment which motivates people to perform their best. Apart from employee benefits, facilities, training, employee engagement etc., it empowers employees through mentoring sessions which occur between a single mentor and mentee. The process called speed mentoring allows a single mentee to meet different mentors. Each mentoring session is based on a theme and is a series of short, focused conversations about specific questions.

Create and Sustain a Unique Culture

The best of workplaces create and sustain a unique culture. They are often described as fun, congenial, collaborative, positive, passionate, and creative. Their work environments, people, and workplace practices all help create a vibrant, positive and infectious culture. On the key ingredients to a vibrant corporate culture, renowned leadership coach and author of several management-related books, Marshall Goldsmith said in an interview, It is about leadership from the top. Leaders should make sure they are great role models and that they embody the company culture day to day. If they dont do this, leaders will have a difficult time establishing credibility.

Great workplaces are led by exceptional and inspiring leaders. Leaders set the example from the top and lead the organization well. They genuinely care about and value employees. Relationships between leaders and employees are characterized by mutual respect, trust, honesty, and support.

According to Goldsmith, Great leaders are more concerned about the growth of their employees and the organization rather than their own development. They have the courage to get feedback and to look in the mirror and ask whether their behavior aligns with what theyre teaching; they have the ability to improve and do the hard work to make those changes.

As we see Microsoft CEO Satya Nadellas effort in turning the behemoth to a people-centric company from that of a product company is a befitting example. WithNadella atMicrosofts helm, theres an emphasis on teamwork and collaboration, rather than competition. As one employee observed, Microsoft values its employees. The culture also shifted in recent years from super individual competitor to making others successful and teamwork, which reduced thestress level at work to low.

Driving openness and accountability is another key function in a people-centric organization, where leaders frequently share information about the organizations performance, its financials, the vision and direction of the organization, and other critical information. In addition, leaders regularly interact with and communicate with employees one-on-one, in small groups, and as an entire staff.

Encourage Innovation and Growth

Great workplaces are successful, growing, and innovative. They hold themselves to high standards, are focused on delivering exceptional customer service and quality, and strive to innovate and continuously improve their organizations. They are always raising the bar in their businesses and in their workplaces.

Sindhu Gangadharan, Senior Vice President and Head ofSAPLabs Indiasaid, The company has created a non-hierarchical, diverse and inclusive culture which speeds up our innovation and helps our customers to run at their best.

Adobe makes no secret of the fact they have a very creative outlook when it comes to work. Adobe knows thatfostering their employees creativityand giving room for experimentation is the key to an innovative workforce. There are multiple reasons why creativity is important for a company. Firstly, it boosts productivity. It allows employees to work faster, and provide solutions in new and interesting ways. It also boosts employee morale being creative at work is fun, and theres nothing better than truly enjoying your job.

CSR first leads to employee first.

And last but not least, best of employers make an impact on and give back to their local community. Not only do they generously donate their company resources to the community, but they also serve their communities by helping others in need and offering their staffs time and talents.

Studies have found that having a comprehensiveemployee engagementstrategy is more important to achieving higher CSR program participation than having just a CSR strategy. CSR and employee engagement strategies can help each other. Susan Hunt Stevens, CEO of Wespire, explained in an article in CSR Matters, why people friendly organizations do CSR programs better. Higher participation rates in CSR programs come from having a broad employee engagement strategyrather than a just a CSR strategy. It is the inclusive focus on the employee first and their relationship with the company. It is not just communicating about the CSR efforts, but creating comprehensive initiatives that drive employee activation, learning, and participation, she said.

To sum up, while there is no magic formula for achieving a great workplace, people-first workplaces clearly lead the way in 2019. Many more companies are catching on to the importance of investing in their people. They are increasingly realizing the power of creating people-centric organizations that value the happiness of employees as much as the bottom line.Those who still havent, its time you need to wake up.

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People-First Workplaces Lead the Way In 2019 - CXOToday.com

What are the traits of a good salesperson? Grab a pen and some paper, and write down a list of all the desirable mental and physical attributes a top-notch seller has. Now, take that list; crumple it into a ball, and throw it in the bin. In my experience, the No. 1 trait you need to think like a salesperson is to be yourself. Dont try to be somebody you are not or somebody you would like to be. I believe in this idea so much that I named my company after the concept BYS Coaching stands for Be YourSelf Coaching.

If you want to sell your services, grow your business and enjoy the adventure, you need to be yourself. Show the world who you are. Dont try to imitate what you think a good salesperson looks like and says. Failing to talk the way you talk, act the way you act and look the way you look will not serve you well. In the long run, you'll likely lose clients. Here's how to get clients authentically.

Dont compare yourself to others. It's easy to allow insecurities to fill your mind. You may not have the same services, expertise, personality or experience as other consultants or coaches, but that is a good thing! Be yourself, and play to your strengths. I was born and brought up in Scotland and therefore have a strong Scottish accent. I feared clients in London and other countries would not take me seriously, as I did not have a "posh" southern English accent. So, I practiced talking with an English accent and even considered taking elocution lessons. I must say it turned out horribly. In my naive attempts to be more like them, clients thought that I was making fun of their accent.

Be confident in your abilities. A lot of coaches and consultants forget they are service professionals and, therefore, they work in the service industry. In this industry, it is difficult to be a successful coach or consultant if you are not confident. Clients can smell nervousness a mile away. Being a little shy and a little nervous might be endearing if you are a child, or even perhaps if you are on a first date. However, it has no place in the world of consulting or coaching. It is a high-trust profession. Your clients need your guidance and look to you for the answers. Be the steady, confident expert providing the support they need.

Think positively. Visualize what you want, and work hard to get it. Positive thinking will not make you a superhero or someone who can do anything. However, it will serve you better than negative thinking would. Your outlook on life, clients and family everything, in fact is controlled by what goes on in your mind. In his book, Secrets of Closing the Sale, Zig Ziglar writes, Your business is never really good or bad out there, your business is either good or bad right between your ears. Perception is key.

Remember that you are there to sell. When I was first sent out to sell consulting services, I wouldnt know what to say. I would jabber so there were no awkward gaps and continue to speak throughout the meeting. The sales meetings would invariably wind down early and drift off without me making a concerted effort to win some work. Both the client and I would go our separate ways after the meeting, thinking that it was nice to catch up with each other, but ultimately, it was a waste of each others time.To get the business, you need to ask for it. There is, however, no point in asking for the work if you have the wrong attitude toward the client. Be honest, and before each meeting, ask yourself, "How do I view the client?" Are they somebody you can overcharge, make money from and quickly disappear, or are they someone with a set of challenges and ambitions that you can genuinely help? Is your priority to make the sale and be the primary beneficiary, or is it to make the client the main recipient of the benefits?

Salespeople who focus on themselves tend to have short careers. Those who focus on helping the customer tend to get repeat business, a strong reputation and longevity. You are a service professional in the service industry, and your profession is to serve others and not yourself.

If you make this clear, the client will likely regard you as a person who is genuinely driven to help them while promoting their service. Adopting a balanced approach encourages the client to open up and talk more freely. This, in turn, can lead to a mutually beneficial relationship, founded on authenticity.

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The Secret To Selling Consulting And Coaching Services - Forbes

Googles Sycamore quantum processor. Erik Lucero, Research Scientist and Lead Production Quantum Hardware

Multiply 1,048,589 by 1,048,601, and youll get 1,099,551,473,989. Does this blow your mind? It should, maybe! That 13-digit prime number is the largest-ever prime number to be factored by a quantum computer, one of a series of quantum computing-related breakthroughs (or at least claimed breakthroughs) achieved over the last few months of the decade.

An IBM computer factored this very large prime number about two months after Google announcedthat it had achieved quantum supremacya clunky term for the claim, disputed by its rivals including IBM as well as others, that Google has a quantum machine that performed some math normal computers simply cannot.

SEE ALSO: 5G Coverage May Set Back Accurate Weather Forecasts By 30 Years

An arcane field still existing mostly in the theoretical, quantum computers have done enough recently and are commanding enough very real public and private resources to be deserving of your attentionnot the least of which is because if and when the Chinese government becomes master of all your personal data, sometime in the next decade, it will be because a quantum computer cracked the encryption.

Building the quantum computer, it is said, breathlessly, is a race to be won, as important as being the first in space (though, ask the Soviet Union how that worked out) or fielding the first workable atomic weapon (seems to be going OK for the U.S.).

And so here is a postwritten in terms as clear and simple as this human could mustersumming up these recent advances and repeating other experts predictions that the 2020s appear to be the decade when quantum computers begin to contribute to your life, by both making slight improvements to your map app, and powering artificial intelligence robust and savvy enough to be a real-life Skynet.

First, the requisite introduction to the concept. Normal computers, such as the device you are using to access and display this content, process information in a binary. Everything is either a one, or a zero, or a series of ones and zeroes. On, or off. But what if the zero was simultaneously also a one? (Please exit here for your requisite digression into quantum physics and mechanics.)

The idea that a value can be a zero, or a one, or both at the same time is the quantum principle of superposition. Each superposition is a quantum bit, or qubit. The ability to process qubits is what allows a quantum computer to perform functions a binary computer simply cannot, like computations involving 500-digit numbers. To do so quickly and on demand might allow for highly efficient traffic flow. It could also render current encryption keys mere speedbumps for a computer able to replicate them in an instant.

An artists rendition of Googles Sycamore quantum processor mounted in a cryostat. Forest Stearns, Google AI Quantum Artist in Residence

Why hasnt this been mastered already, whats holding quantum computers back? Particles like photons only exist in quantum states if they are either compressed very, very small or made very, very coldwith analog engineering techniques. What quantum computers do exist are thus resource-intensive. Googles, for example, involves metals cooled (the verb is inadequate) to 460 degrees below zero, to a state in which particles behave in an erratic and random fashion akin to a quantum state.

And as Subhash Kak, the regents professor of electrical and computer engineering at Oklahoma State University and an expert in the field,recently wrote, the power of a quantum computer can be gauged by how many quantum bits, or qubits, it can process. The machines built by Google, Microsoft, Intel, IBM and possibly the Chinese all have less than 100 qubits,he wrote. (In Googles case, the company claims to have created a quantum state of 53 qubits.)

To achieve useful computational performance,according to Kak, you probably need machines with hundreds of thousands of qubits. And what qubits a quantum computer can offer are notoriously unstable and prone to error. They need many of the hard-won fixes and advancements that saw binary computers morph from room-sized monstrosities spitting out punch cards to iPhones.

How fast will that happencan it happen?

Skeptics, doubters, and haters might note that Google first pledged to achieve quantum supremacy (defined as the point in time at which quantum computers are outperforming binary computers) by the end of 2017meaning its achievement was almost two full years behind schedule, and meaning other quantum claims, like Dario Gil of IBMs pledge that quantum computers will be useful for commercial and scientific advantage sometime next year, may also be dismissed or at least subject to deserved skepticism.

Dario Gil, director of IBM Research, stands in front of IBMs Q System One quantum computer on October 18, 2019. Misha Friedman/Getty Images

And those of us who can think only in binary may also find confusion in the dispute between quantum rivals. The calculation performed by Googles Sycamore quantum computer in 200 seconds, the company claimed, would take a normal binary supercomputer 10,000 years to solve. Not so, according to IBM, which asserted that the calculation could be done by a binary computer in two and a half days. Either way, as The New York Times wrote, quantum supremacy is still a very arcane experiment that cant necessarily be applied to other things. Googles breakthrough might be the last achievement for a while.

But everybody is tryingincluding the U.S. government, which is using your money to do it. Commercial spending on quantum computing research is estimated to reach hundreds of millions of dollars sometime in the next decade. A year ago, spooked and shamed by what appeared to be an unanswered flurry of quantum progress in China, Congress dedicated $1.2 billion to the National Quantum Initiative Act, money specifically intended to boost American-based quantum computing projects. According to Bloomberg, China may have already spent 10 times that.

If you walk away with nothing else, know that quantum computer spending is very real, even if the potential is theoretical.

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The Quantum Computing Decade Is ComingHeres Why You Should Care - Observer

The next decade promises to offer both incredible opportunity and challenge for all of us. Technologies like artificial intelligence (and its close friend, machine learning) will no longer be considered new but will instead be at the heart of some huge disruptive changes that will run right through our society. In particular, AI will start to enable the automation of many things that were previously deemed too complex or even too human.

Well see these changes at work traditional professions like accountancy, lawyers and others will, over time, see significant portions of what they do be taken over by virtual robots. Vocations such as lorry drivers, taxi drivers and even chefs may disappear as machines are introduced to perform the same function but with more consistent results and less risk.

Well also see these changes at home as AI will bring a host of new changes to how we live. AI will help us speak any language to anyone in the world, it will help us discover and create new content and maybe even help us decide what food to eat and when we should rest (and for how long!) in order to help us live lives that are not just more healthy, but more productive and of course more fun.

Well (hopefully) see these changes at school and in education too when we finally realise that in the 21st century, simply knowing stuff is no longer enough. Instead we might seek to use AI to build personalised learning schemes that tailor learning for every unique student such that they can reach their true potential regardless of their background, ability to learn or particular strengths and weaknesses. This could also mean the end of exams and tests as we know it as we move away from the unnecessary stress and futility of a single measure of knowledge taken at a single moment in time to a world of continuous assessment, where the system is able to measure progress as a by-product of the work that the student does every single day.

As for the technology itself, its going to continue to get quicker, cheaper, more powerful and smaller. Your huge smartphone may not be so huge by the time we get to 2030, in fact it may not be a phone at all but instead a small implant that you have inserted under your skin, just like the one we use today for our pets

Well also see the introduction of new game changing technologies like Quantum Computing. Dont be fooled, this is not just another computer but faster, the power and potential Quantum Computing offers us is almost unimaginable. Todays quantum computers are limited, complex machines that require an extreme environment in which to run, (most early quantum computers need to run at -273 degrees centigrade so dont think youre going to see one in your office or your home any time soon. But they are important because of the scale at which they operate. In simple terms, the power of todays quantum computers is measured at around 50 cubits (a cubit is a quantum computers measure of power, a bit like the digital equivalent of horse power), scientists believe that when we can get Quantum computers to 500 cubits, those computers will be able to answer as many questions as there are atoms in the world and at the same time! This is a kind of computational power that we cant even begin to imagine.

Oh and robots too. These wont be the industrial robots youre used to seeing, they might not even be the science fiction looking robots (you know, the ones that start as friends and then take over the world). These robots are going to be not just our friends, theyll be a part of our families. Its already started. If you have a smart speaker at home, youve got an early ancestor of something that will end up becoming your own personal C3PO, not just there to help you but there to provide companionship and friendship while you go about your busy lives.

But all this wont be without some risks.

Massive parts of our current labour market will be challenged by the rise of the machines. Our kids will continue to lack the skills theyre going to need to thrive and we adults are going to struggle to make sense of it all at home and at work.

The machines wont be perfect either, seeing as theyre created by humans, they end up with some human problems as a result, algorithmic bias will be one of the defining challenges of 2020 and beyond and its going to take a lot of human effort to get all of us to a point where we can trust our lives to the algorithms alone.

The good news in all of this is that the end result is still ultimately down to us humans. The real answer to what 2020 will hold for technology and how it affects us in our everyday lives will continue to be all about how we humans choose to use it. Im hopeful for a new era in 2020, one where we turn the corner in our relationship with technology and look not for dystopia, but instead we seek to ensure everyone has the right skills and ambition to build the utopia we deserve. To get there we need to teach our kids (and ourselves!) to break free of the technology that traps and disconnects us, an instead use the same technology to elevate what we could achieve not by replacing us, but by freeing us to do all of the amazing things that the technology alone cannot do. The best future awaits those that can combine the best of technological capability with the best of human ability.

Dave Coplin is former Chief Envisioning Officer for Microsoft UK, he has written two books, worked all over the world with organisations, individuals and governments all with the goal of demystifying technology and championing it as a positive transformation in our society.

Excerpt from:

2020 and beyond: Tech trends and human outcomes - Accountancy Age

IBM (NYSE:IBM) and the University ofTokyo announced today an agreement to partner to advance quantum computing and make it practical for the benefit of industry, science and society.

IBM and theUniversity of Tokyowill form theJapan IBM Quantum Partnership, a broad national partnership framework in which other universities, industry, and government can engage. The partnership will have three tracks of engagement: one focused on the development of quantum applications with industry; anotheron quantum computing system technology development; and the third focused on advancing the state of quantum science and education.

Under the agreement, anIBM Q System One, owned and operated by IBM, willbe installed in an IBM facility inJapan. It will be the first installation of its kind in the region and only the third in the world followingthe United StatesandGermany. The Q System One will be used to advance research in quantum algorithms, applications and software, with the goal of developing the first practical applications of quantum computing.

IBM and theUniversity of Tokyowill also create a first-of-a-kind quantumsystem technology center for the development of hardware components and technologies that will be used in next generation quantum computers. The center will include a laboratory facility to develop and test novel hardware components for quantum computing, including advanced cryogenic and microwave test capabilities.

IBM and theUniversity of Tokyowill also directly collaborateon foundational research topics important to the advancement of quantum computing, and establish a collaboration space on the University campus to engage students, faculty, and industry researchers with seminars, workshops, and events.

Quantum computing is one of the most crucial technologies in the coming decades, which is why we aresetting up this broad partnership framework with IBM, who is spearheading its commercial application,said Makoto Gonokami, the President of theUniversity of Tokyo. We expect this effortto further strengthenJapans quantum research and developmentactivities and build world-class talent.

Developed byresearchers and engineers fromIBM Researchand Systems, the IBM Q System One is optimized for the quality, stability, reliability, and reproducibility of multi-qubit operations. IBM established theIBM Q NetworkTM, a community of Fortune 500 companies, startups, academic institutions and research labs working with IBM to advance quantum computing and explore practical applications for business and science.

This partnership will sparkJapansquantum researchcapabilities by bringing together experts from industry, government and academia to build and grow a community that underpins strategically significant research and development activities to foster economic opportunities acrossJapan, saidDario Gil, Director of IBM Research.

Advances in quantum computing could open the door to future scientific discoveries such as new medicines and materials, improvements in the optimization of supply chains, and new ways to model financial data to better manage and reduce risk.

TheUniversity of Tokyowill lead theJapan IBM Quantum Partnership and bring academic excellence from universities and prominent research associations together with large-scale industry, small and medium enterprises, startups as well as industrial associations from diverse market sectors. A high priority will be placed on building quantum programming as well as application and technology development skills and expertise.

For more about IBM Q:https://www.ibm.com/quantum-computing/

AboutUniversity of Tokyo

TheUniversity of Tokyowas established in 1877 as the first national university inJapan. As a leading research university, theUniversity of Tokyooffers courses in essentially all academic disciplines at both undergraduate and graduate levels and conducts research across the full spectrum of academic activity. The University aims to provide its students with a rich and varied academic environment that ensures opportunities for both intellectual development and the acquisition of professional knowledge and skills.

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IBM and the U. of Tokyo launch quantum computing initiative for Japan | - University Business

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and the University of Tokyo announced today an agreement to partner to advance quantum computing and make it practical for the benefit of industry, science and society.

IBM and the University of Tokyo will form the Japan IBM Quantum Partnership, a broad national partnership framework in which other universities, industry, and government can engage. The partnership will have three tracks of engagement: one focused on the development of quantum applications with industry; another on quantum computing system technology development; and the third focused on advancing the state of quantum science and education.

Under the agreement, an IBM Q System One, owned and operated by IBM, will be installed in an IBM facility in Japan. It will be the first installation of its kind in the region and only the third in the world following the United States and Germany. The Q System One will be used to advance research in quantum algorithms, applications and software, with the goal of developing the first practical applications of quantum computing.

IBM and the University of Tokyo will also create a first-of-a-kind quantum system technology center for the development of hardware components and technologies that will be used in next generation quantum computers. The center will include a laboratory facility to develop and test novel hardware components for quantum computing, including advanced cryogenic and microwave test capabilities.

IBM and the University of Tokyo will also directly collaborate on foundational research topics important to the advancement of quantum computing, and establish a collaboration space on the University campus to engage students, faculty, and industry researchers with seminars, workshops, and events.

"Quantum computing is one of the most crucial technologies in the coming decades, which is why we are setting up this broad partnership framework with IBM, who is spearheading its commercial application," said Makoto Gonokami, the President of the University of Tokyo. "We expect this effort to further strengthen Japan's quantum research and development activities and build world-class talent".

Developed by researchers and engineers from IBM Research and Systems, the IBM Q System One is optimized for the quality, stability, reliability, and reproducibility of multi-qubit operations. IBM established the IBM Q NetworkTM, a community of Fortune 500 companies, startups, academic institutions and research labs working with IBM to advance quantum computing and explore practical applications for business and science.

"This partnership will spark Japan's quantum research capabilities by bringing together experts from industry, government and academia to build and grow a community that underpins strategically significant research and development activities to foster economic opportunities across Japan", said Dario Gil, Director of IBM Research.

Advances in quantum computing could open the door to future scientific discoveries such as new medicines and materials, improvements in the optimization of supply chains, and new ways to model financial data to better manage and reduce risk.

The University of Tokyo will lead the Japan IBM Quantum Partnership and bring academic excellence from universities and prominent research associations together with large-scale industry, small and medium enterprises, startups as well as industrial associations from diverse market sectors. A high priority will be placed on building quantum programming as well as application and technology development skills and expertise.

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IBM and the University of Tokyo Launch Quantum Computing Initiative for Japan - Quantaneo, the Quantum Computing Source

Its not easy to say that any particular space or astronomy development was the most important in a given year. But if we had to choose some highlights, wed opt for these unforgettable events and findings.

You probably know the broad outline of the story: 66 million years ago, a giant meteorite landed in what is now the Gulf of Mexico, and ended the dinosaurs. This year, various teams of scientists, working independently, helped fill in the picture of exactly what happened on that fateful day.

The biggest discovery was a site in North Dakota that preserved a jumble of fossilized fish and plant life that may have been thrown together by a tsunami on the very day of the meteorite strike. Closer to the impact site, scientists also cataloged a geological timeline of disasters that befell Earth that day. And researchers detailed evidence found in Europe that the Chicxulub event acidified the ocean in a flash, extinguishing much of Earths ocean life at the time.

An exhaustive analysis of hundreds of bird species in the United States and Canada contained a warning: The majority of bird species are in decline, many by huge numbers. The likely culprits? Habitat loss and pesticides.

This year we met a new extinct human relative, Homo luzonensis. It was discovered in a cave on Luzon Island in the Philippines, and adds further complexity to the story of human evolution.

It really does. Clive Wynne, a psychologist specializing in dog behavior, contends that what makes your furry friend special is not its intellect but its ability to bond with you. And not just with you. The dogs ability to bond across species with sheep, goats, even (horrors!) cats makes them an evolutionary success story.

Your cat may or may not like-like you. But it is strongly bonded to you, and in an unfamiliar situation, when it feels threatened, it is likely to turn to you for comfort.

Almond milk is over. Oat milk is canceled. Whats in? Spider milk. Burying beetle milk. Great white shark milk. Flamingo milk. Which raises the question: what exactly is milk? Not all experts agree, but some scientists say that if a substance is synthesized or highly modified by a parent, and the offsprings life depends on it, thats milk. Now excuse us while we put out cookies and pink flamingo milk for Santa.

At home, Russia, like the United States and other countries around the world, has embraced the promise of 5G, the next generation of cellphone technology. But in the U.S., RT America, the broadcast network run by the Russian government, has been warning American viewers that the telecommunications technology will kill and disable children. Many alarming claims about 5G technology are linked to bad, debunked science. The U.S. intelligence agencies describe RT America as the Kremlins principal international propaganda outlet. The network has taken aim at fracking, vaccination and even the U.S. electoral process; now it has applied its playbook to cellphones.

Thirteen species of salmon and steelhead trout are considered threatened or endangered in the Northwests Columbia basin region. Wild Chinook salmon could disappear within the next 20 years, according to one Forest Service expert. The fish are a keystone food source for other species, and an endangered population of orcas may be starving for lack of enough wild salmon to eat. Many scientists favor removing dams on some rivers to save the orcas and the fish. But the idea faces resistance from government agencies that manage the rivers.

A video of salmon traveling through a long tube went viral in 2019. You probably watched it. But the Whooshh cannon its actual name is a serious tool that conservationists are testing not only to help fish migrate, but to contain invasive carp that foul North American waterways. If it doesnt work, scientists have other ideas, like koi herpes.

Robert Ballard, the ocean explorer who found the wreck of the Titanic, set his sights on solving the enigma of Amelia Earharts fate. Following an irresistible hint, his crew headed to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, spending weeks searching for her crashed plane by air, land and sea. They returned empty-handed, but with one bit of solace: A blurry clue from an old picture, which had driven years of speculation about Earharts final resting place, can probably be dismissed for good.

The north magnetic pole, the point on the Earth where a compass needle would point down, is sliding about 35 miles closer to Russia each year.

The North Pole is at the very top of the world, right? Actually, the planets magnetic north is a considerable distance from 90 degrees north, and it moves around. Lately it has moved more than expected, requiring scientists to update the World Magnetic Model a year earlier than planned. The tinkering ensures that modern navigation tools will continue to function properly, but it is a reminder of the geoscience mysteries deep beneath Earths surface.

When does life end and death begin? Scientists seem to have blurred that line when they managed to restore cellular activity in brains removed from slaughtered pigs. Although the pig brains did not exhibit any higher functions, some cells regained metabolic activity. The research is preliminary, but it upends standard medical thinking about the brain and raises more than a few metaphysical conundrums.

Happy 150th birthday to the Periodic Table of Elements! As scientists celebrated Dmitri Mendeleevs enduring array of chemical elements this year, some also wondered whether there might be a better way to organize the stuff of the universe. A New and Improved Table could come in handy: As more superheavy elements are discovered, their behaviors could challenge the integrity of Mendeleevs memorable chart.

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What We Learned in Science News 2019 - The New York Times

Dublin, Dec. 16, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "The Future of Quantum Computing, Quantum Networking and Quantum Sensors" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

The World of Quantum Technology Business Opportunities

Quantum technology is developing rapidly, from interesting technology to use-cases to business development. Some quantum technologies are already earning money. According to the research division, Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), will reach revenues of around $140 million in 2020 and the market for Quantum Computers will reach approximately $110 million. Quantum technology now embraces quantum computing, QKD, post-quantum cryptography (PQC) and quantum sensors; and of course, all the related software.

As these markets evolve Business people and Professionals in the quantum technology field must keep track of all relevant information to make strategic choices. This third quantum technology event will be held in New York, at one of the city's most modern conference facilities. It will be a must-attend event for strategic planners, marketing executives, designers, product managers, engineers, investors, government executives, and others in the quantum technology field. New York is the center of the financial world and this means enhanced attention to the conference from both investors and media outlets.

This NY event is a follow-on to the highly successful 2019 events in Boston and Europe in 2019. The event in New York in April 2020 will offer:

The Future of Quantum Computing, Quantum Networking, and Quantum Sensors - New York will provide comprehensive insights into the commercial future of all areas of quantum technology, presenting both opportunities available today and future applications for businesses and government.

The Future of Quantum Computing, Quantum Networking, and Quantum Sensors - New York will be jointly organized with 3DR Holdings, which organized the other highly successful quantum technology events. It will be a major learning experience on how quantum technology is evolving, in which marketing and deployment strategies are being pursued and which near-term steps will be taken by everyone from researchers to end-users.

Topics Covered

Quantum Computing Hardware & Software

Specifically:

Quantum Computing Applications

Specifically:

Agenda

April 2nd, 2020

8.30 am Plenary: Keynotes

Symposium I: Quantum Computing Hardware

9:15 am Panel 1: When will quantum supremacy arrive? What will it mean? 9:55 am Panel 2: Whither quantum annealers? 10:35 am Panel 3: Future uses of quantum simulators 11:15 am Coffee break 11:35 am Panel 4: Quantum computing hardware startups: What are the opportunities? Speaker: John Randall Zyvex - President Zyvex Labs 12:15 pm Talk: Quantum Computing Hardware Forecasts

Symposium III: Quantum Networks

9:15 am Panel 1: Second generation QKDs and QRNGs: New products and market forecasts 9:55 am Panel 2: Quantum-based cybersecurity in mobile networks and payment systems 10:35 am Panel 3: What will the Quantum Internet look like? 11:35 am Panel 4: Early-stage quantum networks: Some case studies

12:35 pm Lunch

Symposium II: Quantum Computing Software

2:05 pm Panel 1: Evolution of quantum computer operating systems: Proprietary or multi-vendor 2:45 pm Panel 2: Applications software for quantum computers: Types and market prospects 3:25 pm Coffee break 3:45 pm Panel 3: AI, machine learning and quantum computing 4:25 pm Panel 4: Post-quantum encryption software Speaker: Reza Azarderaksh - PQSecure - Co-founder and President 5.30 pm Networking Reception 6.30 pm Startup Forum

Symposium IV: Quantum Sensors

2:05 am Panel 1: New quantum sensor technologies and materials 2:45 pm Talk: Quantum network applications and forecasts 3:45 pm Panel 2: Atomic clocks: Quantum directions 4:25 pm Panel 3: Quantum lidar and quantum radar Speaker: Maria Thoma Hall - Velodyne - President

April 3rd, 2020

8.30 am Plenary: Keynotes

Symposium V: End Users and Applications

9:15 am Panel 1: Quantum technology for healthcare: imaging, therapy, and planning 9:55 am Panel 2: Quantum technology for the materials sector: pharmaceuticals, the chemical industry, and oil and gas Speaker: Govinda Bhisetti Biogen - Head of Computational Chemistry 10:35 am Panel 3: Quantum technology for automotive, aerospace and transportation planning Speaker: Dr. William Clark - General Dynamics Mission Systems - Technical Director of Quantum R&D 11:15 am Coffee break 11:35 am Panel 4: Quantum technology in banking and financial services Speaker: Carlos Kuchkovsky Jimenez - BBVA - Chief R&D and Technology Officer - New digital business 12:35 pm Lunch

Symposium VI: Policy, Regulation, and Standards

9:15 am Panel 1: Quantum processors -- architectures 9:55 am Panel 2: Quantum processors -- materials 10:35 am Panel 3: New developments in cooling: components, materials, and systems Speaker: Jacob E. Grose - BASF Venture Capital - Investment Manager 11:35 am Panel 4: Quantum repeaters, quantum memories, and trusted nodes Speaker: Mehdi Namazi - Qunnect - CEO 12:35 pm Lunch

Symposium V (part 2): End Users

2:05 pm Panel 5: Quantum computing software for the financial services industry 2:05 am Panel 1: Quantum technology and the China question 2:45 pm Panel 6: Quantum computing and optimization applications 2:45 pm Panel 2: US national quantum technology policy Speaker: Terrill Frantz - Harrisburg University - Associate Professor of eBusiness and Cybersecurity 3:25 pm Coffee break 3:45 pm Panel 7: Early users of QKD and quantum networks 3:45 pm Panel 3: Quantum technology policy in Europe 4:25 pm Panel 4: The quantum technology business worldwide: Where to next?

For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/lrnk75

Research and Markets also offers Custom Research services providing focused, comprehensive and tailored research.

Originally posted here:

2-Day Conference: The Future of Quantum Computing, Networking & Sensors (New York, United States - April 2-3, 2020) - Benzinga

Dec 17, 2019

Intel Labs has unveiled what it believes to be a first-of-its-kind cryogenic control chip code-named Horse Ridge that is aimed at speeding up the development of full-stack quantum computing systems.

According to Intel, Horse Ridge will enable control of multiple quantum bits (qubits) and set a clear path toward scaling larger systems a major milestone on the path to quantum practicality.

Developed together with Intels research collaborators at QuTech, a partnership between TU Delft and TNO (Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research), Horse Ridge is fabricated using Intels 22nm FinFET Low Power (22FFL) technology. In-house fabrication of these control chips at Intel will dramatically accelerate the companys ability to design, test and optimize a commercially viable quantum computer.

Quantum computers promise the potential to tackle problems that conventional computers cant handle by leveraging a phenomena of quantum physics that allows qubits to exist in multiple states simultaneously. As a result, qubits can conduct a large number of calculations at the same time dramatically speeding up complex problem-solving.

While there has been a lot of emphasis on the qubits themselves, the ability to control many qubits at the same time had been a challenge for the industry," said Jim Clarke, Intels director of Quantum Hardware. "Intel recognized that quantum controls were an essential piece of the puzzle we needed to solve in order to develop a large-scale commercial quantum system. Thats why we are investing in quantum error correction and controls. With Horse Ridge, Intel has developed a scalable control system that will allow us to significantly speed up testing and realize the potential of quantum computing.

Intel says that in the race to realize the potential of quantum computers, researchers have largely focused extensively on qubit fabrication, building test chips that demonstrate the exponential power of a small number of qubits operating in superposition.

However, it says, in early quantum hardware developments including design, testing and characterization of Intels silicon spin qubit and superconducting qubit systems it has identified a major bottleneck toward realizing commercial-scale quantum computing: interconnects and control electronics.

With Horse Ridge, Intel says it is introducing an elegant solution that will enable the company to control multiple qubits and set a clear path toward scaling future systems to larger qubit counts a major milestone on the path to quantum practicality.

For more information, go to http://www.intel.com.

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Intel Achieves Milestone in Quantum Practicality with 'Horse Ridge' - Database Trends and Applications