In a significant leap toward scalable quantum computing, China’s QuantumCTek Co has claimed to have developed a self-developed superconducting quantum measurement and control system, the ez-Q Engine 2.0, capable of supporting quantum computers with over 1,000 qubits.
The development places China within striking distance of the global quantum elite, marking what may be the third-largest operational quantum system in the world, behind only IBM and Atom Computing.
China’s 1,000 qubits quantum computing
The system was delivered on Monday to leading Chinese research institutions, including the University of Science and Technology of China and China Telecom Quantum Group. It is set to provide over 5,000 qubits of control services in its initial rollout.
The device was developed in Hefei, Anhui Province, the nexus of China’s national quantum program, and tested on the country’s 504-qubit superconducting quantum computer, setting new benchmarks for stability, signal fidelity, and system integration.
According to Tang Shibiao, Director of the Anhui Quantum Computing Engineering Research Center, the ez-Q Engine 2.0 is a generational leap from its predecessor, which powered the Zuchongzhi 3.0, a 105-qubit processor that previously claimed quantum computational advantage over classical supercomputers.
The new system integrates ten times more efficiently than the 1.0 version. It features indigenous Chinese components, reducing physical footprints and operational costs by more than half compared to foreign counterparts.
Superconducting quantum computers rely on precision measurement and control systems to modulate qubits, synchronize clocks, and suppress noise, all crucial for scaling quantum operations.
Challenging US quantum leadership
The ez-Q Engine 2.0 has reportedly overcome long-standing technical hurdles in RF direct sampling and clock synchronization, achieving low-noise, high-precision signal handling at levels previously seen only in US and European systems.
This move puts China closer to challenging US quantum leadership. IBM’s Condor chip, unveiled in late 2023, was the world’s first superconducting quantum processor to surpass the 1,000-qubit threshold, featuring 1,121 qubits within its Quantum System Two architecture.
Built upon the 127-qubit Eagle design, IBM’s quantum stack now leads in operational scale. Closely following, Atom Computing introduced a 1,125-qubit neutral atom-based system, securing the current world record for qubit count.
The Chinese platform, if validated independently, could now rank third globally.
QuantumCTek’s deputy director Wang Zhehui confirmed to the Chinese state-run Global Times that the firm is already developing a control system for 10,000-qubit scale quantum processors with embedded error correction capabilities, a requirement for achieving quantum advantage in real-world applications.
“The ez-Q Engine 2.0 is not just a lab innovation,” Wang said. “It is the foundation for a self-reliant, industrial-grade Chinese quantum ecosystem.”
While Chinese authorities have long publicized ambitions to lead in quantum technologies, this is one of the rare moments where hardware delivery matches strategic rhetoric.
The development directly aligns with similar efforts in the US, where quantum systems are being integrated into national defense, AI acceleration, and cryptographic resilience.
In the broader context of the quantum race between China and the US, the ez-Q Engine 2.0 demonstrates that China is no longer just replicating Western technology; it is now competing in core infrastructure design.
Although IBM and Atom remain ahead in raw qubit counts, the Chinese system’s domestic design, cost efficiency, and control precision suggest a narrowing technological gap.
As quantum systems shift from demonstration to deployment, China’s entry with what may be the world’s third most capable quantum control platform signals a strategic shift.
The era of quantum sovereignty is here, and the competition is accelerating.
