The University of New Mexico has launched its new Quantum Photonics and Quantum Technology (QPAQT) graduate program, made possible by a $3 million grant from the National Science Foundation. All students admitted to QPAQT will receive training perks which may include a conference travel budget, computer and software supplies, textbooks, and funds for activities like cleanroom training. In addition, a select number of students will receive 12-15 month fellowships with a stipend of $34,000 per year to begin in their second year. One of IKZ’s crystal growth stations. Courtesy of Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung. BERLIN — Leibniz-Institut für Kristallzüchtung (IKZ) and Oxide Corporation, a spinoff venture company from the National Institute for Materials Science, have signed a joint research and development contract on the technology transfer of advanced single crystalline materials for laser applications. This collaboration sets the stage for further collaborative research and development initiatives between the two entities focused on crystalline materials. TOKYO — Integrated solutions company TOPPAN has launched a collaboration with Vietnamese system integrator FPT Information System Corporation along with its Japanese subsidiary that will focus on creating new services and driving global expansion in the metaverse business. The collaboration will combine TOPPAN's rendering technologies for metaverse space and extended reality, as well as its communication design know-how with FPT’s system and infrastructure development capabilities and local marketing expertise to drive business development and expansion in various fields in the Southeast Asia market. Qunnect software engineer Gabriel Bello and EPB executive corporate technical consultant Shane Sexton. Courtesy of EPB Quantum Network. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Quantum networking hardware companies Qubitekk and Qunnect have conducted a compatibility demonstration showcasing the first demonstrated interoperability between hardware developed by independent companies in supporting entanglement-based quantum communication on a commercial network. This was done using municipal electric power and fiber optics-based communications provider EPB Quantum Network revealing an ability to maintain 99% fidelity with 99%+ channel uptime as well as the ability to restore the system instantaneously as the quantum bit error rate increased. KARLSRUHE, Germany — Kipu Quantum, a German quantum software company, has raised seed round funding totaling €10.5 million ($11.6 million) led by HV Capital and DTCF. Kipu will use the funding to grow its team of scientists, researchers, and engineers with the goal of reducing the development time to achieve industrially useful quantum computers. The startup develops compressed algorithms needed for operating high-performing quantum computers. CHARLOTTE. N.C. — Industrial technology company Enpro Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire application-specific analyzers and sensing technologies company Advanced Micro Instruments, Inc. (AMI) for $210 million in cash. Upon closing, the deal will see AMI be included in Enpro’s Sealing Technologies segment. The transaction is expected to close in early 2024.