Shanghai-based photonic quantum firm TuringQ has officially initiated pre-IPO tutoring with the Shanghai branch of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, positioning itself as a leading contender in the race to become China’s first publicly listed quantum computing company. Advised by Guotai Haitong Securities, the move reflects both a broader rush among Chinese hard-tech enterprises to tap public capital markets and a pivotal transition for the domestic quantum ecosystem from early-stage venture funding toward commercialization. Founded in February 2021 by legal representative Jin Xianmin and controlled by Shanghai Siliang Quantum Technology, TuringQ has distinguished itself by focusing on photonic quantum architectures rather than the more common superconducting or trapped-ion routes. Photonic approach benefits include room-temperature operation, high scalability, and direct compatibility with existing optical communications infrastructure. The company’s commercialization efforts reached a significant milestone in June 2025, when a pilot production facility in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province, began operating to produce thin-film lithium niobate photonic chips. This facility enabled wafer-scale manufacturing with thousands of optical components integrated on a single chip, marking a crucial step in translating laboratory prototypes into industrial-scale production. TuringQ’s financial momentum has accelerated sharply, with the firm securing nearly 1 billion yuan ($148 million USD) in 2026 alone. A Series C funding round in April pushed the company’s valuation past 7 billion yuan ($1.04 billion USD). Capital from these rounds is earmarked for advancing practical photonic quantum computers, cultivating a broader quantum algorithm ecosystem, and expanding quantum-powered intelligent computing infrastructure. The listing ambition comes amid broader structural support from Chinese regulators. In April 2026, the Shanghai Stock Exchange explicitly designated quantum technology as a strategic emerging industry under its STAR Market listing rules, providing quantum startups with a clearer framework for going public. TuringQ joins a crowded pipeline of domestic peers pursuing public listings, including Origin Quantum, Ciqtek,