Quantum computing, a technology that uses quantum mechanics to perform computation at speeds greater than today’s “classical” computers, has the power to revolutionize private and public sector problem-solving. Pressing real-world challenges such as electrical grid resilience, port optimization, global supply-chain management, emergency management and response, infrastructure development, sustainability, and the security of telecommunication networks can all be addressed by quantum applications.
This policy report examines the current state of the quantum industry, including rapid advancements that have occurred over the past five years. Two quantum computing “modalities” will be distinguished: annealing, which is being used to solve optimization problems today, and gate-model, where the applications are mostly further off in the future. Most problems will
continue to need classical computations for parts of those problems, therefore, quantum-classical hybrid applications — where quantum computing technologies work synergistically with classical computers — are being developed to solve challenging problems.
From the policy perspective, understanding the different quantum computing technologies is important because Congress is in the process of reauthorizing and expanding the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act which expired on September 30, 2023. In addition, a variety of other quantum-related initiatives are being considered by Congress.
Up to now, the federal government has mostly focused on supporting longer-term basic research in quantum technology, which is important for long-term competitiveness. But the government also has an important role to play in supporting near-term quantum technologies such as annealing.
This paper offers policy recommendations for the reauthorization and expansion of the NQI and related legislation, including:
• Boosting investment in long-term hardware advancements to keep up with other countries.
• Ensuring that the NQI addresses the full range of near-term and long-term technologies, including regularly conducting technology readiness-level (TRL) assessments.
• Supporting the development and deployment of near-term use cases through new quantum sandbox programs.
• Enhancing access to commercial quantum systems by funding the quantum user access program (QUEST) authorized in the CHIPS and Science Act.
• Building an integrated high-performance computing and quantum computing data-center domestic infrastructure.
• Supporting domestic component and chip fabrication in addition to commercial-scale rapid prototyping research and development.
• Enhancing international quantum cooperation agreements to include commercialization, talent development, and supply chains as well as academic research.
In addition, the NQI and related legislation must support the development of a skilled workforce that can support the growing U.S. quantum industry, and the end users of the technology both in the private and public sectors. That means funding talent programs that permit students to access the variety of quantum computing training courses created by industry, and supporting academic programs that attract and retain talent from diverse and underserved populations.
