The tech industry needs more funding from the U.S. government, not just the Pentagon, to outpace China in the quest for quantum sensors. The U.S. currently spends about $900 million on quantum sensing each year, most of it going to the Defense Department. A new report by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium argues for increased funding to boost the industry and answer defense leaders’ calls for new instruments.
A recent workshop by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium highlighted the need for federal investment to support the technology’s development and adoption. Key insights included the importance of collaboration among federal agencies and the need for increased standardization of quantum sensors. Celia Merzbacher emphasized the importance of government funding to accelerate progress and meet stringent requirements for government use cases.
One of the challenges facing the quantum sensing industry is the lack of standardized testing and performance metrics. Comprehensive testing and federal funding of testbeds could dramatically accelerate development and adoption of quantum sensors. Workshop participants also recommended federal funding for photonic integrated circuits to address size, weight, power, and cost issues.
To be a primary driver in creating cost-effective, scalable quantum solutions for national security needs, the federal government, beyond just the Pentagon, should work to be an early adopter. However, funding for agencies like the Department of Energy and NASA is controversial and could face cuts depending on the outcome of the presidential election. Meanwhile, China has been heavily investing in quantum sensing, overtaking the U.S. in the number of published research papers on the topic.
