By Sameer Boray, Senior Policy Manager; Joe Hoellerer, Director of Government Affairs; and Leopold Wildenauer, Senior Policy Manager
While AI remains a focal point in policy discussions around the world, quantum technologies are rapidly emerging as a transformative force and may soon join AI in these global conversations.
Quantum computing complements conventional computing and holds the potential to drive innovations across the U.S. economy. Like AI, quantum technologies are already being used daily. Companies leverage quantum physics for information storage, transmission, computing, or measurement. And like AI, quantum has transformative possibilities. Using so-called qubits which allow quantum computers to simultaneously process large data sets, the technology has the potential to revolutionize research and development (R&D), and optimize business decisions in sectors such as logistics, drug development, and manufacturing. Quantum communications can secure data transfers, protecting against digital threats with near-term commercial applications. Further, quantum sensing can advance healthcare through improved disease detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
As we mark World Quantum Day on April 14, it’s an important reminder for all governments to stay ahead of this dynamic conversation and prioritize policy considerations that ensure this technology can continue to thrive through R&D activities, international collaboration, supply chain implementation, and workforce development.
Recognizing the transformative potential of quantum technologies, the United States was an early mover in quantum policy and has taken important steps over the last decade to help the U.S. quantum leadership flourish.
In 2018, the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) set the U.S. strategy for protecting and advancing U.S. leadership in quantum information science (QIS). Moreover, the U.S. adopted a coordinated approach to QIS research through the enactment of the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act. The initial law was enacted in 2018 and subsequently amended and complemented by QIS-relevant legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal years 2019, 2020, and 2022 as well as by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022.
While the growth of computational capacity through quantum computers can lead to more innovation, this development is not without repercussions. A sufficiently mature quantum computer could generate cryptographic keys used by public key encryption algorithms such as RSA and ECC. These algorithms are widely used to secure civilian and military communications, critical infrastructure and financial transactions. To mitigate the risks to vulnerable cryptographic systems, the government issued the National Security Memorandum 10 (NSM-10) in 2022, which directed federal agencies to reconfigure as many systems as possible to utilize quantum resistant cryptography by 2035, while also recommending measures to promote U.S. leadership in quantum computing. This year, NIST is expected to release the final versions of four quantum safe encryption algorithms that agencies and commercial entities can use to protect their at-risk cryptographic systems.
While applications of quantum technologies continue to grow globally, the United States has an important opportunity to build on its leadership. Here are eight recommendations U.S. officials can leverage to prepare for a quantum future that maximizes the transformative benefits of this technology:
1. Reauthorize federal R&D activities under the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act. Lawmakers should especially focus on sections of the legislation pertaining to research and development, Quantum Information Science (QIS), national lab activities, public private partnerships, and key lab-to-market initiatives.
2. Appropriate funding for U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), National Science Foundation (NSF) and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Quantum Information Science programs. These programs support key research activities for quantum-enabled missions and help promote the U.S. quantum research enterprise. For current and future funding cycles, ITI encourages the U.S. Congress to robustly appropriate funds for DOE, NIST and NSF QIS research, the five NQIRSC as authorized by sec. 302 of the NQI Act, and the DOE’s Quantum User Expansion for Science and Technology (known as “QUEST") program.
3. Promote public-private collaboration and sandbox initiatives that enable the commercialization of quantum sensing and computing. This engagement can likely produce an innovative market for pro-social uses of quantum technologies.
4. Collaborate with allies and competitors to ensure a cohesive and coordinated approach. Quantum technologies enable countries to leapfrog current technological development. Given international governments are making significant investments, including investments in basic theoretical quantum research, workforce preparation and educational outreach, its crucial for the U.S to work with allies and competitors to a fragmented approach that could leave the U.S. behind. This can be accomplished by promoting industry stakeholder participation in international standards fora and also inviting allied nations to co-invest in quantum computing and QIS research and workforce development initiatives.
5. Establish a robust and resilient quantum supply chain. The quantum supply chain is global, highly specialized, and fragmented. Disruptions to this delicate balance could delay or otherwise jeopardize U.S. leadership in QIS. To build resilient supply chains, the U.S. Congress should adopt a risk-based approach and commission a study to analyzes global quantum supply chain risks, recommend policies to resolve supply chain barriers, and harmonize relevant global trade laws. Policymakers should work with industry to better understand what parts of the supply chain are at risk and consider funding initiatives to provide support.
6. Build a quantum-ready workforce. Investments in quantum hardware and software talent can increase the ability of human capital through education policies, training programs, tax credits and immigration policies. Policymakers can start by fully funding the NSF Quantum Education Pilot Program authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act (P.L. 117-167) which has allocated $32 million over five years to support K-12 education and teacher training in QIS.
7. Integrate quantum with classical computing, including exascale, high-performance computing (HPC) and supercomputing. Investments made in exascale and HPC will accelerate gains in innovation necessary to achieve quantum. Furthermore, classic systems play a key role in ingesting data and enabling the progression and stress testing of intricate quantum computing systems.
8. Prepare and plan for a quantum future. As Post Quantum Cryptography (PQC) standards are finalized, build on existing policies like NSM-10 and OMB M-23-02 to support the federal transition to PQC by 2035. To mitigate risks to the most vulnerable cryptographic systems, the U.S. Congress should allocate the necessary funding for government systems migration and work with research institutions, universities, and private sector entities to do research around use cases, tools, and applications for PQC.