Quantum Showcase

100 years ago scientists discovered that nature behaves differently at extremely small scales.

This insight - quantum mechanics - enabled technologies that power the digital economy:

• Computer chips
• Lasers and fibre optics
• GPS navigation
• MRI medical imaging

This era is known as Quantum 1.0.
Today a new phase is emerging: Quantum 2.0.

Two unusual effects behind quantum technologies

Superposition

Quantum system can exist in a combination of states simultaneously, allowing many possibilities to be explored in parallel, until it is measured.

Entanglement

Quantum systems can become strongly connected, so that measuring one gives information about the others, even when they are far apart.

Three technologies are shaping the quantum future.

Quantum Computing

Solving certain complex problems dramatically faster.

Quantum Communication

Ultra-secure networks protected by the laws of physics.

Quantum Sensing

Seeing and navigating the unseen with ultra-sensitive quantum sensors.

Together they are driving a global race toward quantum advantage.

The machine that explores every path.

Some problems become exponentially complex as they grow.

Examples include:

• Logistics networks
• Financial market simulations
• Portfolio optimisation

A classical computer explores one path at a time. A quantum computer (using superposition and entanglement) can encode many possible paths in a single quantum state and evaluate them in parallel. This capability can revolutionise problem optimisation and simulation across industries.

Quantum information is extremely fragile.

Heat, vibration and electromagnetic noise can disrupt quantum states – a challenge known as decoherence.

Quantum computers therefore require highly controlled environments.

Different technologies are being explored, including:

• Superconducting qubits
• Trapped ions
• Photonic systems

The technology is advancing rapidly, but still evolving.

Quantum and Cybersecurity

Many digital systems rely on encryption that classical computers cannot easily break.

However, powerful quantum computers could eventually solve the mathematical problems protecting today's encryption.

Harvest now, decrypt later

Encrypted data intercepted today could be stored and decrypted once quantum computers become powerful enough.

This risk is driving the transition to post-quantum cryptography.

Quantum key distribution (QKD)

Enables encryption keys to be shared using quantum signals.

If a signal is intercepted, the quantum state changes – immediately revealing the intrusion.

This technology could enable ultra-secure networks for financial systems, governments and critical infrastructure.

Quantum sensing uses quantum systems to measure extremely small physical signals.

Applications include:

• GPS-independent navigation
• Discovery of underground resources
• Early disease detection
• Monitoring critical infrastructure

Some quantum sensing technologies are already being deployed today.

When quantum meets the financial system

Finance is built on computation, trust and cryptography. Quantum technologies could reshape all three.

Digital infrastructure at risk

Future quantum computers could break encryption protecting:

• Online banking
• Payment networks
• SWIFT messaging
• Digital identity systems

New computational capabilities

Quantum computing and algorithms could also help with:

• Portfolio optimisation Finding optimal asset allocation across thousands of assets.
• Large-scale risk simulation Running millions of market scenarios simultaneously.
• Fraud detection Identifying hidden patterns across massive datasets.
• Derivatives pricing Solving complex models more efficiently.

For finance, quantum represents both disruption and opportunity.

As quantum technologies advance, leading financial institutions are asking:

• Where will quantum matter most?
• How should institutions prepare?

To explore these questions, the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN) launched:

Q-Finex

(Quantum Finance Industry Experimentation) Q-FINEX is a pioneering dedicated quantum-finance testbed connecting the financial industry with quantum research.

In collaboration with the University of Western Australia, the initiative enables:

• Experimentation with real financial use cases
• Collaboration between industry and researchers
• Testing quantum-ready financial models

Why it matters

It is a practical testbed for translating quantum research into real financial use-cases before the technology reaches scale.