The Defense Authorization Act seeks to add $100 million to quantum computing
While suppressing the development of quantum computing in China, the United States is also actively taking measures to support its own quantum computing research.
The U.S. Senate will begin consideration of the annual defense policy bill this week. A provision in the bill will increase funding for U.S. quantum computing research. The Senate version of the U.S. Defense Authorization Act will add $100 million to the $430 million sought by the Pentagon for information and communication technology projects.
Explaining the need for additional funds, the report attached to the Senate Bill said that these funds would be used to "accelerate the deployment of large-scale quantum computing systems to help ensure that the United States remains a world leader in quantum computing capabilities."
This fund will be allocated to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) of the United States, requiring DARPA to "provide one or more grants to entities that propose reliable large-scale quantum computing system development plans." however, the House version of the defense bill does not have provisions matching quantum computing, and this issue must be resolved in the meeting and negotiation of the two chambers.
The United States is worried that China is investing a lot of resources and is committed to becoming a global leader in quantum computing.
Britain has expressed similar concerns. On November 30, Richard Moore, director of the British Army Intelligence 6 (MI6), one of the world's four major intelligence agencies, made a rare appearance and warned that, "The level of technological progress in the next decade may surpass that of the previous century. Our competitors are investing a lot of money and are determined to master technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing and synthetic biology, because they know that mastering these technologies will bring them advantages."
The BBC mentioned that Moore's "opponents" refer to China, Russia and Iran.
Terrill Frantz, an associate professor at Harrisburg University of science and technology, said at the recent IqT autumn meeting that he welcomed the competition between China and the United States in the quantum field.
"I'm happy to compete with China. I think it's the best thing in history. It will make us Westerners work harder because now we have competitors. It's not a bad thing."
Frantz added: "this competition makes us all better, and I'm trying to look at it in two ways."
He has lived and worked in China for many years. He is now an associate professor of e-commerce and network security in the quantum information science program at Harrisburg University of technology.
Similarly, it is not necessarily a bad thing for China that the United States regards us as the largest competitor in the quantum field, which will encourage China to accelerate the realization of independent control of key core technologies.
In fact, in recent years, China's quantum technology has made a breakthrough in self-control. For example, GuoDun quantum, which has just been listed in the "entity list" by the United States, announced that the core components of the company's quantum confidential communication related products and quantum computing control systems have been localized, and a small number of general imported components have localization alternatives.
Finally, Frantz called on us not to let geopolitics undermine the fun of competition.
He said: "Unfortunately, in my opinion... There is a lot of evidence that standard setting has begun to enter the geopolitical dialogue, which worries me because it is not healthy competition. In the past 20 years, we have had a healthy competition with China, and we all benefit from it. Some people benefit more than others, but now we are moving from healthy competition to ugly competition, which makes me feel sad To worry. "
Link:
[1] https://www.rollcall.com/2021/11/30/quantum-computing-would-get-boost-in-senate-defense-bill/
[2] https://www.zdnet.com/article/spy-chiefs-warning-our-foes-are-now-pouring-money-into-quantum-computing-and-ai/
[3] https://www.insidequantumtechnology.com/news-archive/frantz-quantum-moon-race-with-china-will-make-all-of-us-better-2/
