Kong Weicheng is the inspector general and executive director of the Quantum measurement and control department of Hefei Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co. 

During Kong’s study at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), he received four utility model patents. In Sept 2017, Kong joined Origin Quantum, the first start-up company in China focusing on the research, development and application of quantum computers. 

Origin Quantum is located in the innovation Industrial Park of the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. Kong and his team members often work late into the night, and have achieved a great deal of success in the field of quantum information technology.

Kong Weicheng, the inspector general and executive director of the Quantum measurement and control department of Hefei Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Differing from the images of scientists we see in films or on TV, Kong is handsome, polite and gentle. During his study at the university, Kong won the “excellent new student award”, the “quantum Runfeng scholarship” twice in addition to receiving the four utility model patents. He has obtained another three patents during his work at Origin Quantum. 

To some people, quantum is complicated and dryly abstract, but to Kong it is mysterious and wonderful. In the summer of 2012, an open class at the quantum information key laboratory made Kong decide to stay in the laboratory. The teacher in the open class described a blueprint of the future of quantum information in colorful language. 

Hefei Origin Quantum Computing Technology Co [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Origin Quantum was incubated by USTC’s quantum information laboratory. “We hoped to develop a concept version of a prototype “quantum computer” in three to five years, and to explore further applications through the promotion of quantum cloud computers. We settled on inventing a special quantum computer which can solve daily life demands in 10 to 20 years, and eventually make the universal quantum computer come true in another 50 years,” said Kong. 

Kong always shows gratitude to the Hefei National High-tech Industry Development Zone. To him, the zone is in rapid development, and provides supports to large number of innovative enterprises. What’s more, the launch of the National Laboratory of Quantum Information Science and the new USTC campus encourage more innovation enterprises to settle in the zone. 

“I am proud to have received my doctor’s degree and to have grown up in Origin Quantum in the 60 years’ anniversary of the USTC. I hope the USTC can be a backbone in China’s science research field, especially in the field of quantum information technology. It will undoubtedly attract more and more talents to stay in the development zone, working and doing innovative business and making it a driving force in science research and development throughout the world,” Kong added.