Trade association techUK is advocating for the propagation and commercialisation of quantum technologies and industry across the nation.
In its report ‘Positioning the UK for success’, techUK calls on the UK government and the technology industry to set “clear commercial ambitions together”.
Topics discussed in the report include the current quantum ecosystem, emergent technologies in quantum and related fields, the development of a collaborative spirit between nations in the field, and why “ethical innovation” should lead this ongoing commercialisation of quantum technologies.
The quantum tech industry has been bubbling up in recent years and is expected by some to shoot up like a geyser in the near future. As an example, a 2021 report by The Quantum Insider projected the Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS) industry to reach a valuation of $4 billion (£3.1 billion) by 2025 then skyrocket to $26 billion (£20 billion) by 2030.
However, what is quantum technology? In short, quantum technology is a relatively nascent field of physics and engineering which utilises concepts in quantum mechanics to realise its innovations. It sounds very Star Trek, but applications of quantum tech such as quantum computing have been around since at least 1998.
However, quantum tech has by-and-large been the realm of researchers and academics for most of the 21st century. This is why one of the major goals outlined by techUK’s report is accessibility. In its words: “As commercialisation becomes a tangible goal, it is imperative to give businesses the ability to experiment and scope out the use cases which will be most effective.”
- Post-Quantum Computing Is Coming – Is Your Security System Up to it? Read the article here.
Widespread adoption (and the resultant commercialisation) can only really become viable if more small businesses and SMEs gain access to the same resources the likes of IBM already enjoy. IBM, in fact, actively supports efforts to increase accessibility through its own Quantum Accelerator Program.
The report also talks about the benefits quantum technology can have in cross-disciplinary use. An example outlined in the report is AI, which is traditionally limited by the speed of the training algorithms currently in use. With quantum computing, these limitations could be lifted and allow for faster and more optimised algorithms to become the industry standard.
Though the report is calling on further support from the government, quantum technology has its backers there already. techUK quoted Science Minister George Freeman – who says: “The advances being made in quantum technology offer some of the most exciting opportunities in the innovation pipeline for the years ahead, potentially revolutionising everything from medical diagnostics and autonomous vehicles, to military navigation and cybersecurity.”
On top of that is the UK National Quantum Technology Programme, which the government has invested into more than £1 billion over ten years. In November 2021 alone, the UK Quantum Industry received £50 million in funding from the programme.
The effects of a post-quantum world are already being considered by some major organisations as well. In March 2022, NATO reported that it was testing new cybersecurity measures, as current methods would be functionally useless in the wake of widespread quantum computing adoption.
