In November 2025, scientists at the University of Warwick in the UK made a genuine breakthrough in semiconductor technology. Working with Canada’s National Research Council, researchers led by Dr. Maksym Myronov created a material 16,000 times faster than regular silicon chips.
They used germanium—a semiconductor material—layered on top of silicon and manipulated its crystal structure to dramatically speed up the movement of electrical charges through the material. The research team measured hole mobility at 7.15 × 10^¹ 10^¹ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, establishing a new record for group-IV semiconductors.
This discovery is significant because it opens new doors for quantum computing, which promises revolutionary advancements in processing power and computational capability. However, some news outlets initially misattributed this achievement to American scientists, underestimating the international nature of modern scientific progress.
Dr. Myronov and his Canadian colleagues Alex Bogan and Sergei Studenikin led the actual research, demonstrating how collaborative science often produces the world’s greatest discoveries. The material is compatible with existing factory equipment, allowing companies to scale production without the need to rebuild entire manufacturing systems.
This compatibility makes the breakthrough immediately practical for industries worldwide, dramatically accelerating commercialization timelines.
The Global Competition for Quantum Dominance
Quantum computing represents the next major technological battleground between nations. China, the United States, and Europe each invest billions of dollars annually to develop advanced semiconductor capabilities and secure their supply chains against disruption.
China has spent over a decade building semiconductor expertise as a national priority through its “Made in China 2025” initiative, which aims for complete independence from foreign chip suppliers. The country leads the world in quantum computing patents and operates aggressive research programs, though manufacturers still struggle with advanced production techniques and materials development.
Meanwhile, America views chip supremacy as essential to national security and economic strength. In August 2022, the US government enacted the CHIPS Act, committing $52.7 billion to American chip production and research initiatives.
The UK government invested £670 million through its Industrial Strategy to advance quantum capabilities, while US lawmakers held hearings in June 2025 focused on preparing for the quantum era and cryptography challenges. Just weeks before the Warwick result, China deployed a commercial 105-qubit quantum computer in October 2025.
China’s Tianyan quantum platform now serves users across more than 60 countries, with over 37 million visits, demonstrating that China’s quantum ambitions remain robust despite sensational headlines claiming otherwise. These competing efforts demonstrate that every breakthrough fuels national ambitions, market expectations, and legitimate security concerns worldwide.
How Collaboration Drives Real Progress
Many observers portray quantum development as a winner-take-all race, but the reality proves to be far more nuanced and complex.
Most major technological breakthroughs—from ARPANET (the internet’s predecessor, developed in collaboration with international partners) to Google’s 2019 quantum success with the Sycamore processor—emerged from international teams working together across borders.
Quantum research advances rapidly because scientists share findings openly, move freely between countries, and access shared equipment and knowledge platforms. Experts increasingly argue that “tech arms race” narratives overstate the actual level of competition between nations. Real progress happens through global teamwork combined with healthy competition among all players.
The Warwick team plans to enhance its material through partnerships with global collaborators to develop practical quantum devices for commercial markets. Currently, Chinese, European, and North American laboratories are simultaneously pursuing the same goal: making quantum systems more stable and reducing computational errors.
Market analysts predict the quantum hardware sector will reach between $10 billion and $50 billion by 2030, creating enormous incentives for investment across government agencies, private companies, and university research centers worldwide. The next quantum breakthrough could originate from any nation—or more likely, from several countries working together on shared challenges.
Competition and collaboration drive progress forward as complementary forces, not opposing ones. Understanding this collaborative reality matters more than celebrating victory in imaginary contests. Science advances most rapidly when nations recognize that shared knowledge ultimately benefits everyone through faster innovation and improved outcomes.
