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NEWS In quantum computing news, Microsoft unveiled Majorana 1, a chip the company says will allow it to build quantum computers capable of solving meaningful, industrial-scale problems in years, not decades. The chip is powered by a new topological superconductor that Microsoft says can control Majorana fermions, subatomic particles that were first theorised in 1937 but whose existence scientists had struggled to prove. This is a very Microsoft announcement. On the face of it, they appear to have solved quantum computing. But teams building compute will recognise that these intermediary results don’t prove the existence of topological qubits. Still, Microsoft remains one of the most aggressive big tech players investing in quantum computing. It partnered with Canadian company Photonic in 2023 and has clearly been investing heavily in its own programme. National security organisations are rightly excited about the dual-use implications of fault-tolerant quantum computing. If Microsoft is right, the geopolitical consequences could be around the corner. In autonomy news, Anduril & Mahindra Group (India) announced a partnership to co-develop autonomous maritime systems, counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) and command and control software. This is another step in the quiet restructuring of the global defence industry. The US and its allies are increasingly looking to shift military tech production away from China and deepen ties with partners like India. Western defence startups were once focused on the US and Europe. The likes of Anduril are now looking to India as both a market and a manufacturing partner. India's push to develop its domestic defence industry could see partnerships like this shape both its military capabilities and its geopolitical alignment. For Anduril, it’s a chance to secure a foothold in a strategic market. For India, it’s a move towards military self-reliance. For the world, it’s a sign that US defence manufacturing is increasingly expanding beyond NATO. In space news, Elon Musk is calling for the end of the International Space Station (ISS). Instead he wants to focus on getting to Mars. That would be a mistake. The ISS is quite old but still crucial for research. More importantly, it’s a beacon of American leadership in space and an opportunity for collaboration with allies (and, admittedly, the Russians, who are part of the multi-nation project). This is against the backdrop of increased Chinese investment in its lunar programme. The China Manned Space Engineering Office (CMSEO) is currently inviting bids for a lunar satellite to aid future crewed missions to the moon - a belt and road in space. The recent termination of US foreign aid programmes has created space for China to increase its influence across the globe. The same could soon be true for low earth orbit. FUNDRAISING Saronic Technologies, a US-based developer of autonomous surface vessels, raised a $600m Series C round. Quantum Machines, an Israel-based developer of control systems for quantum computers, raised a $170m Series C round. Dream, an Israel-based developer of cyber resilience for nations and critical infrastructure, raised a $100m Series B round. Karman+, a US and Netherlands-based developer of autonomous spacecraft, raised a $20m Seed round. ATMOS, a Germany-based developer of infrastructure to enable cargo to return from space, raised a €13.7m Seed round. Kapta Space, a US-based developer of advanced radar technology for satellites, raised a $5m Seed round.
JOBS Nato Innovation Fund is looking for an Adoption Associate, deadline 28th February. Saronic is looking for a sales specialist. A2i is looking for a product engineer. Synnada is looking for software and ML systems engineers. Disruptive Industries is looking for a technical intelligence analyst. Alpine Eagle is looking for robotics and computer vision engineers. Labrys is looking for a senior product designer.
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