Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone is known as the "Silicon Valley" in Anhui province. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

In recent years, China has become a world leader in quantum science and technology breakthroughs, with many made by scientists from Hefei, capital of the eastern province of Anhui.

The latest advance comes from a research team at the University of Science and Technology of China, or USTC, in the city. The team has designed a prototype 62-quantum-bit programmable superconducting quantum computer.

Six months before news of the advance was published in the international journal Science, the scientists, led by the university's renowned physicist Pan Jianwei, created the world's first light-based quantum computer.

The scientists said the computer can reliably demonstrate "quantum computational advantage", a milestone in which a quantum machine can tackle a problem no classical supercomputer can solve within a reasonable amount of time.

Three of China's top quantum scientists－Guo Guangcan, Du Jiangfeng and Pan, all academicians at the Chinese Academy of Sciences－work at the university.

Together, they have won the nickname "GDP".

With more breakthroughs coming from local labs, the commercialization of quantum science and technology has been gathering momentum in the city.

Five private companies working in fast computing, precise measurements and long-distance secure communications using quantum technology have been founded in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone.

They are all located on a road in the zone that leads to "Quantum Avenue", a thoroughfare that is home to a large number of related companies, said Lyu Changfu, deputy director of the zone's administrative committee.

According to the Anhui authorities, more than 20 quantum-related startups are currently operating in the province.

Initially founded in the zone by USTC in May 2009, QuantumCTek was the first company in Anhui to operate in the sector.

"Our primary task is to transform quantum communication from academic papers to real products and services, especially Quantum Key Distribution, which is an important technology for information security," said Zhao Yong, the company's president.

China has now built quantum-secured communication networks extending more than 7,000 kilometers, with more than 6,000 km of those networks currently using QuantumCTek's products, according to the company.

In July, QuantumCTek listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange Science and Technology Innovation Board at a price of 36.18 yuan ($5.61) per share. Now, each share is worth about 190 yuan.

As the scope of the companies' business varies, more quantum outfits have become potential "unicorns"－startups worth more than $1 billion－and they are looking to list and trade publicly, said Lyu, adding that more such enterprises have been founded in recent years.

Pan, who began putting his team together at USTC in 2001, said, "Anhui province and Hefei city both provide good conditions for scientists to conduct cool research."

"In recent years, the Anhui provincial and Hefei municipal governments have invested a total of 4.6 billion yuan to support research, scientific facilities and education in the quantum science and technology sector," he told the 2020 China (Anhui)Transformation Fair of Scientific and Technological Achievements, which was recently held in Hefei.

In a previous interview, Pan said he was pleased to see that more entrepreneurs are willing to support fundamental scientific research, even though such activity may not appear profitable in the short run.

Luo Xisheng, vice-president of USTC, said, "Money is not a problem as many privately owned funds want to be part of the sector because they believe the technology will fundamentally reshape many industries and thus enjoy a very bright future."

Lyu said, "As these new technologies are brought closer to people's lives, these companies will lead industrial development in the future."

Zhao said his company will also assist the CAS Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, which is headed by Pan, to upgrade its quantum computing cloud platform next year to connect real quantum computers.

"Our dream is to build quantum information networks, such as a quantum internet, which will connect quantum computers, quantum sensors and other quantum terminals via quantum communication technologies," he said.

"That will enable information and communications technology systems with quantum ability to become more secure and intelligent."