The world is in the early stages of the next industrial revolution: quantum technology. The quantum-enabled technology market could be worth over $2 trillion within the next few years. Multiple sectors — chemicals, materials science, life sciences, finance, transportation, computing, security, and defense — will each benefit, making (it is hoped) the United States stronger, safer, and wealthier.
To lead and not fall behind, America should take stock of its current quantum capabilities and build upon previous efforts to accelerate quantum research and development and leadership. Aligning incentives for government, private industry, and higher education to support strategic workforce development, infrastructure partnerships, and supply chain resilience is vital to this effort and should be a priority of the federal government. We should be upfront that we’re not neutral on this. One of us is an active scientist in the field, a technologist trying to commercialize these technologies, and an operating partner at deep technology fund DCVC, with investments in quantum.
Two high-value problems are being solved by quantum technology right now, and both reveal what America should do to maintain its lead: quantum navigation and the use of quantum simulation to discover novel medical treatments.
