Quantum Computing: Top Countries Participating in Quantum Race
Global Tech Outlook features the top countries participating in the quantum race for effective quantum computing
The advent of digital transformation and disruptive technologies has introduced several races such as AI race, Quantum race, 5G race, AI Chip race, and many more across the world. This is a critical stage that shows the competition among countries for the quantum race with millions of dollars as allocated budgets for several quantum projects in a five-year plan. Allocating budgets is a call to action for other governments to enhance the speed of developing quantum technology. Let’s go through the top countries in the quantum race that are competing against each other to boost productivity as well as discover some unapproachable problems at first through quantum computing.
China
The Government of China aims to be at the first position in the AI race as well as the quantum computing race in the nearby future. China has named quantum informatics a key aim in its 13th five-year plan and the Made in China 2025 plan. It is the first country to build a quantum science satellite known as Micius as well as a quantum network that connects Beijing and Shanghai reaching 4,600 km. It is also focused on developing the world’s first-ever largest quantum laboratory. China is one of the top countries with quantum technology through multiple R&D projects and over 3,000 patents. The Government of China has allocated a budget of US$10 billion for the Chinese Academy of Sciences Center for Excellence in Quantum Information and Quantum Physics, the Quantum Experiments at Space Scale, National Quantum Laboratory, as well as the Beijing-Shanghai Quantum Secure Communication Backbone. In 2021, China announced that there is an increase in R&D investment by more than 7% per year.
Germany
Germany is focused to be one of the top countries in the quantum race through the roadmap quantum computing for the groundwork for a German quantum computing ecosystem. The Government of Germany has allocated US$2.4 billion to collaborate with research institutions, industry, government agencies, and the community. Multiple eminent universities are focused on quantum research to become a leading European country in quantum computing. Ten leading German corporations are co-founding the Quantum Technology and Application Consortium to develop the fundamentals of quantum computing into use cases. The recent partnership with IBM has secured a place in the quantum race for Germany.
Canada
Canada is determined to be the leading country in quantum technology by allocating US$360 million over seven years for a National Quantum Strategy to boost the power in quantum research and be one of the leading countries in the quantum race. Canada has ranked fifth in the G7 and first per capita as an aspiring leader in quantum research. In 2020, IBM launched its first IBM Quantum Hub in Canada in partnership with Sherbrooke University. More than 11 Canadian start-ups are exploring the scope of quantum computing to transform several industries. The mission of Quantum Industry Canada is to ensure that domestic quantum technologies and innovation are translated into Canadian business success to enhance the economic scenario. The Government of Canada provided US$2,210,000 to encourage the establishment of the Quantum Algorithms Institute to increase innovation and be one of the top countries in quantum technology.
USA
The Government of the USA has allocated hundreds of millions of dollars to establish 12 quantum research centers to boost the productivity of quantum computing. Five quantum computing centers under the Department of Energy are funded with a US$625 million project along with US$340 million worth of help from multiple tech giants such as IBM, Intel, Microsoft, and many more. These allocated funds came out of US$1.2 billion from the National Quantum Initiative Act.
India
The Government of India allocated Rs. 8,000 crore for the National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications in the Union Budget 2020. Being a developing country, India is gradually becoming a part of the quantum race against the highly developed countries with quantum technology. The Quantum Measurement and Control Lab in TIFR is the only established experimental group in India focusing on quantum computing. The aim of India is to build a 50-qubit quantum computer within five years. The researchers have released 100 global international journal publications on quantum computing. IBM also partnered with some of the top Indian educational institutes to offer complete access to quantum computing systems. India has also announced its quantum computing partnership with Finland between IISER and Aalto University.
Japan
Recently, IBM and Tokyo University have disclosed the first leading-edge quantum computer of Japan for commercial applications and to be present in the most competitive quantum race. The Government of Japan has determined to invest US$276 million in ten years to be one of the leading countries in quantum technology. There are multiple quantum computing R&D strategies of Japanese companies as well as different government policies to support the R&D efficiently and effectively with the Quantum Leap Flagship Program and many more. This country is focused on launching quantum cryptography into practical use from 2025 onwards across Japan with a budget of US$14 million.
