In the global race to build the first practical quantum computer, Russia has emerged as an unexpected front-runner, with the state atomic energy corporation ROSATOM acting as its central engine.
Since 2020, ROSATOM has been tasked by the Russian government with implementing a national “roadmap” for quantum computing, a responsibility that has rapidly transformed the country’s technological landscape . Far from a simple research project, ROSATOM’s “Quantum Project” is a comprehensive, state-driven initiative to secure Russia’s technological sovereignty and future economic competitiveness.
The progress has been swift and notable. By late 2025 and early 2026, Russian scientists, working under the ROSATOM umbrella, unveiled a series of prototypes that pushed the nation into the global top tier. Most significantly, Russia became one of only a few countries to have developed operational quantum computers on all four major physical platforms: ions, neutral atoms, and superconductors . Key milestones include a 70-qubit ion-based computer and a 72-qubit machine based on neutral rubidium atoms, developed in partnership with Lomonosov Moscow State University . This flurry of activity has placed Russia among an elite group of nations that have crossed the 50-qubit threshold, the point at which quantum computers begin to have practical advantages over classical machines.
What sets the Russian effort apart is its immediate focus on industrial application. Yekaterina Solntseva, Director for Quantum Technologies at ROSATOM, has emphasized that the goal is not just to build a computer, but to “learn to live with this new reality” by integrating it into the real economy . This strategy is already bearing fruit. Quantum algorithms are being tested and applied in over 30 industrial scenarios, including optimizing production processes at ROSATOM’s own facilities and solving complex engineering calculations for nuclear power plant construction . One of the most promising applications is in medicine, where ROSATOM is using quantum computing to simulate the behavior of next-generation radiopharmaceuticals in the human body with unprecedented accuracy, a move that could revolutionize cancer treatment .
The ambition does not stop at the Russian border. ROSATOM has laid out a clear vision for the future, aiming to develop a medium-scale quantum computer with error correction by 2030 . To achieve this, the corporation is not only focused on increasing qubit counts—targeting several hundred “high-fidelity” qubits—but is also investing in novel architectures that improve the reliability of quantum operations . Furthermore, ROSATOM is looking to become a global player in the field, expecting to sign its first international contracts for quantum technologies in 2026 with partners in Asia and the Middle East . Through a combination of centralized leadership, rapid technological achievement, and a pragmatic focus on industrial and commercial applications, ROSATOM is positioning Russia as a formidable force in the second quantum revolution.
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