Quantum Meets 2024 Plenary PART 3C INSIGHTS
“The 30+ billion EURO quantum pledge: a globe-spanning panel on government programmes for the quantum industry” session took place at 13h45 on the 12th June 2024, straight after a tantalizing luncheon led by Executive Chef Hans Ribbens who continued to execute his exemplary touch of class by deploying his team to provide a mouth-watering selection of succulent dishes.
POLICY OF QUANTUM HEAVYWEIGHTS
Highlights from this stellar panel uncovered the success of worldwide Government efforts to streamline quantum innovation. Panel members included:
Laurent Olislager- EUROPEAN COMMISSION
Jesse Robbers- QDNL
Roger McKinlay- UK RESEARCH & INNOVATION, UKRI
Tanner J CROWDER- OSTP (White House, US Office of Science and Technology Policy)
Laurent Olislager, Policy Office for Quantum Technologies at the EUROPEAN COMMISSION highlighted the institution’s “determination to interconnect and drive connectivity between EU member states and the UK.” He further declared as paramount Quantum timelines to adhere to in order to implement the first service accessible to all European citizens in a unified manner.
Exploring the whys and buts of Quantum deployment in the age of Generative AI, Olislager further attested that Quantum is an essential alternative to the status quo and reflects a pivotal “Geostrategic technology with the potential to drive growth and transmit data ultra-securely.”
In this regard, Olislager indicated further the need for an “18-month review of processes to determine the building of a Quantum ecosystem that fosters collaborative initiatives with dynamic exchanges.” Furthermore, the aim to streamline the Quantum ecosystem and ensure more vendors are able to provide the technology persists with the EU declaring a “Connectivity Europe” open call emphasizing “DIGITAL EUROPE” as the bedrock to Quantum.
Further positive observations from the USA were welcomed, with Tanner Crowder, US National Quantum Coordination Office (OSTP), The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy concluding that there are perhaps, “too many qubit platforms” that generate some market confusion. Crowder also emphasized the importance of “the value proposition and identifying clearly product specification parameters to drive the adoption of Quantum for end users.” Crowder further attested to “market challenges the Quantum industry faced to ensure the technology is applicable and can be developed at scale.”
Doubts and challenges aside, Jesse Robbers, Director of Industry & Digital Infrastructure at Quantum Delta NL, announced that the House of Quantum had been awarded a whopping EUROS 42 million in national investments. Core to this fund is the creation of 30 international programmes to stimulate jobs, growth and further investment.
Directly tied to this objective, Roger McKinlay, leader of the Quantum Technologies Challenge at the UKRI, continued to push for the exploration of a clear path to ready-to-deploy Quantum computing, where an assessment of the early engagement of users could be identified, ensuring that markets are developed in parallel with the core technology.
McKinlay further announced co-investment opportunities in Quantum computing projects with British VCs and the British Business Bank and announced that £600m in capital had already been raised by start-ups to date for Quantum projects in the past five years. The UKRI Challenge Quantum Technologies division, under the stewardship of Roger McKinlay who called for more long-term investors, encouraged the role of the (NSI) National Securities and Investment Act 2021 that came into force on 4th January 2022 to be clarified. The NSI is likely to be pivotal in “providing businesses and investors with the certainty and transparency they need to do business in the UK.”
McKinlay expressed his desire to ensure the Quantum industry was adequately funded to facilitate the growth of supply chains as products and services mature. His mission conclusion statement positions the UKRI as being the primary vehicle tasked to “bring QKD to UK citizens.”