Yunfei Road has been dubbed "Quantum Street." [Photo/WeChat ID: hefeigaoxinfabu]

On both sides of Yunfei Road in the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone, there are dozens of quantum technology companies like Origin Quantum, CIQTEK, and Guosheng Quantum, which cover quantum computing, quantum communication, quantum measurement, and other related sectors.

Since its establishment, CIQTEK has focused on quantum precision measurement, continuously made key breakthroughs in core technologies, and developed well in the quantum industry and high-end scientific instrument industry, becoming a unicorn company in this field.

This year's government work report proposes to actively foster emerging industries and future-oriented industries, step up development of innovative drugs and other cutting-edge sectors, and open up new fields such as quantum technology and life sciences. The development of quantum technology asks for not only sci-tech innovation and technological breakthrough, but also expansion in application scenarios.

In August, Bengbu Medical University (BMU) in Anhui province signed an agreement with Origin Quantum to develop China's first quantum-computing-powered application for molecular docking. Relying on the third-generation superconducting quantum computer, the application is expected to accelerate the development of small molecule drugs and improve drug design efficiency, more effectively predicting the properties of drug molecules and their interactions with one another.

Quantum computing technology can be used for pharmaceutical research and development, optimizing supply chain management, and helping Internet of Things devices become more intelligent. Quantum communication can realize secure transmission of information, and provide quantum secure access services for users in finance, energy, and other industries. With its application scenarios continuously being expanded, quantum technologies developed in Hefei have already provided services in many aspects, including finance, chemical engineering, and biomedicine.

In recent years, Anhui has made great efforts to advance quantum technology, and accelerate the large-scale deployment of the quantum industry, achieving a number of new results as well as creating new momentum in this regard. At present, the province is home to more than 70 quantum technology companies, and more than 60 of them are in the Hefei high-tech zone, helping to create the first quantum industrial cluster in the country.