(Yicai) Nov. 27 -- Damo Academy, Alibaba Group Holding’s research and development institute, has donated its quantum laboratory and experimental gear to Zhejiang University to support the buildout of quantum technology, The Paper reported.

Damo Academy gave the lab and transferable experimental instruments and equipment to the Hangzhou-based university, as well as making them available to other universities and scientific research institutions, the report said yesterday, citing the academy.

A rumor recently said the lab may have been dissolved due to excessively high costs, as it has laid off more than 30 staff, most of whom have since joined other companies. The speculation followed the transfer of the academy’s autonomous driving business to Alibaba’s Cainiao Smart Logistics in May.

Hangzhou-based Alibaba has yet to comment on whether its laboratory staff will also make the move. Zhejiang University will take some personnel, local media reports said, citing insiders.

The Quantum Lab was jointly established by Alibaba Cloud and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in July 2015. Equipped with world-class equipment for quantum experiments and two laboratories, it has made some achievements in chip preparation, quantum error correction, and other fields. 

Editor: Tom Litting