EU unveils quantum technology 2030 roadmap to seize the next decade
The EU quantum technology strategy will be fully updated and the Quantum Flagship initiative (Quantum Flagship) has just released its initial Strategic Research and Industry Agenda (SRIA), proposing an implementation path that is aligned with various EU quantum technology initiatives. A more comprehensive strategic update is expected in the final SRIA, which will be released in 2023.
As a core, this preliminary SRIA document outlines a 2030 roadmap for the four technology pillars of quantum computing, quantum simulation, quantum communications, quantum sensing and metrology, and the cross-cutting issues of workforce development and standardization.
01Quantum Computing
The main goal is to develop quantum computing devices that outperform or accelerate existing classical computers and solve specific problems of industrial, scientific and technological relevance that can benefit from the execution of quantum algorithms.
Existing first-generation quantum computing devices are noise-containing intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) systems with noisy quantum ratios and no quantum error correction. The next five years will explore the realization of quantum advantages in near-term quantum computers without quantum error correction. In the long term, the goal is to develop fault-tolerant quantum computers and to interconnect these computers and exchange quantum information between them - to develop a "quantum Internet" based on quantum computing and quantum communication capabilities.
The Quantum Flagship divides quantum computers from bottom to top into hardware, middleware, and software, and also into quantum bits, quantum bit control, quantum compilation and quantum operating systems, quantum APIs and cloud access, quantum algorithms, users, and use cases. The middleware is linked to the hardware through quantum bit control and to the software through quantum API and cloud access.
The specific objectives of each layer are described below.
1. Quantum Bits
Enhancing NISQ processing mechanisms through error mitigation methods, enabling deeper algorithms, and moving towards error-correcting general-purpose quantum computing.
Increasing the number, density and connectivity of quantum bits. Improving the quality of quantum bits, including better coherence times and gate fidelity.
Design and implementation of new architectures, including 3D setups, and new assembly techniques.
Further miniaturization and ruggedization of quantum computers.
Development of industrial-scale manufacturing facilities that can assemble and integrate large quantum processors.
Demonstration of interconnection and information exchange between different quantum computers.
2、Quantum bit control
Increasing the number of quantum bits that can be controlled simultaneously, in accordance with the development of quantum processors.
Increasing the integration of these control devices (user interfaces, quantum bit interfaces).
Reducing delivery cycles and costs by reducing reliance on materials and components from non-European sources.
3. Quantum compilation and quantum operating systems
Development of quantum compilers with automatic scheduling, incorporating calibration and quantum error correction coding/decoding routines into the main quantum algorithms.
Demonstration of distributed programming capabilities across multiple hardware control backends.
Standardizing intermediate representation frameworks that work across multiple technologies.
Developing a hybrid classical/quantum software stack based on APIs and compiler instructions (pragma).
4. Quantum APIs and cloud access
Integration of quantum computers with classical computing systems such as HPC supercomputers.
Improving the availability of European quantum hardware in the cloud.
5、Quantum algorithms
Building use case sets using reference implementations of quantum algorithms and data preparation.
Designing new algorithms that provide acceleration, especially for problems of relevance in science, technology and industry. Perform resource analysis regarding quantum bit count, gate count, and estimated runtime for each new algorithm.
Build software that helps develop and implement quantum algorithms, for example by automatically generating gate sequences.
6. User side
Provide access to industry, academia and European start-ups.
Sourcing products and services from quantum computing solution providers.
Acting as a collaboration center between users and quantum algorithm developers.
National (and European) HPC centers are equipped with integrated quantum computing solutions and interconnect their systems to enable distributed computing capabilities.
Then there are specific goals for quantum computing in the coming years.
The goals for 2023-2026
Demonstrate practical strategies for future fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers.
Identify algorithms and use cases where quantum computing has advantages.
Enhance NISQ processing mechanisms using error mitigation methods to implement deeper algorithms.
Approach chip foundries and other hardware vendors (public or industrial) as well as the software industry, existing companies and startups.
Initiate academic and industrial research contributions in quantum device physics, quantum bit and gate control, faster and stronger gates using optimal control theory, photonics, RF electronics, cryogenic and superconducting electronics, systems engineering, integration, device packaging, etc.
Develop NISQ-based systems, quantum application and algorithm theory, software architectures, compilers and libraries, and simulation tools for cross-hardware benchmarking.
Coordinate industry, foundries and other infrastructure entities in quantum computing.
Promote EU-wide joint actions with other fields such as materials science, theoretical physics, low temperature physics, electrical engineering, mathematics, computer science and high performance computing.
Targeting standards bodies (EU, international).
Targets 2027-2030
Demonstrate quantum processors equipped with quantum error correction and robust quantum bits with a set of universal gates that outperform classical computers.
Demonstrate quantum algorithms with quantum advantages.
Establish foundries capable of manufacturing the required technologies, including integrated photonics, cryogenics, and superconducting electronics.
Support established and start-up instrument manufacturers and software companies.
Coordinate research, development, and integration in materials, quantum device physics, quantum bit and gate control, quantum memory, photonics, RF cryogenic and superconductor electronics, systems engineering, and device packaging.
Extended suite of quantum algorithms for software and hardware agnostic benchmarking, including digital error correction systems, and optimized compilers and libraries.
Demonstration of automated system control and tuning.
Development of integrated tool chains (design to fabrication) and module libraries for integrated optical, cryogenic and superconductor electronics (including coherent optoelectronic converters).
Coordinate EU-wide joint actions with other areas such as materials science, theoretical and low temperature physics, electrical engineering, mathematics, computer science, and increasingly scientists working in potential applications and industries (small, medium and large entities).
Targeting standards bodies (EU, international).
Integration of industries (SMEs and large companies) and foundries.
Engaging with EU infrastructures, large laboratories and projects, and research and technology organizations (RTOs).
02Quantum Simulation
Quantum simulations are dedicated machines focused on design and optimization for specific applications. In particular, quantum simulators are highly controllable quantum devices that allow one to gain insights into the properties of complex quantum systems or to solve specific computational problems that cannot be solved by classical computers. These techniques promise applications in quantum chemistry, nuclear physics, materials science, fluid mechanics, logistics, routing, and the broader field of optimization. Recent programmable devices and quantum simulators are also expected to provide acceleration in instances of machine learning problems, including quantum kernels and quantum classification schemes.
An important goal of quantum simulators is to achieve
Higher levels of control
Higher fidelity of state preparation
Large-scale systems
Programmability at lower entropy
The different approaches to quantum simulation can be classified as follows.
Digital quantum simulators: they approximate quantum dynamics or, more generally, quantum processing by combining different gates. Thus, digital quantum simulators are inherently programmable due to the fact that the target dynamics is approximated starting from a few fundamental building blocks.
Simulated quantum simulators: They reproduce the behavior of other interacting quantum systems under precisely controlled physical conditions. These devices can simulate complex systems of practical interest, such as complex networks in industrial environments. They go beyond the quantum bit-based computing paradigm, for example, by working directly with fermionic particles. This makes them less versatile, but significantly reduces overload and requirements in terms of control.
Heuristic quantum devices: They are designed to provide approximate solutions to optimization problems. Examples are programmable quantum simulators, annealers, variational optimizers or variants of quantum approximate optimizers and NISQ devices. Here, usually in hybrid schemes without quantum error correction, both classical and quantum components come into play.
The following are specific goals for quantum simulation in the coming years.
Goals for 2023-2026
Demonstrate "quantum dominance" in simulations for a range of tasks - this is seen as an important milestone, but not a practical application.
Increase the level of control and scalability to further reduce the entropy of various platforms.
Develop quantum-classical hybrid architectures that allow quantum simulators to handle industrial and research innovation-related applications.
Expand and enhance the supply chain and the development of key enabling technologies.
Initiate certification and benchmarking of the most promising quantum simulators.
Develop software solutions to match the development of quantum simulators and their specific application focus.
Goals for 2027-2030
Establish strong links with end users and develop more practical applications.
Design error correction and mitigation techniques suitable for quantum simulators.
Develop quantum simulators that provide a higher degree of control and programmability.
Create a bridge between industry and quantum simulation research, translating industry's problems in the language of the simulation paradigm.
Provide a general approach to the certification and benchmarking of quantum simulators.
03Quantum Communication
The field of quantum communication aims to design tools and protocols for exchanging quantum information between remote users.
One of the main recent applications of quantum communication is the design of encryption schemes with security based on the laws of quantum physics.
Two options are available to provide quantum-secure security: on the one hand, although not related to quantum communication per se, quantum-resistant cryptography (PQC) promises a way to protect data based on the difficulty of specific mathematical constructions. On the other hand, QKD provides security based on quantum physics and requires quantum communication. Although different in nature and maturity, PQC and QKD offer complementary advantages, but also disadvantages. In the near future, PQC and QKD may coexist and be used together in a quantum security environment.
The long-term goal is to achieve a quantum communication infrastructure or quantum Internet, which will provide entirely new technologies by enabling quantum communication between any two points on Earth. In concert with the "classical" Internet, the quantum Internet will connect quantum processors to achieve unparalleled capabilities that have proven impossible using classical communications. The main components of this network will be
Quantum Repeaters: In order to connect many users over continental distances, quantum repeaters can be used to generate entanglement over long distances through fiber optic networks.
Satellites: For an ultra-long distance backbone, satellites can be used to distribute entanglement between different points of the network.
End nodes: quantum analogs of laptops and cell phones connected to the Internet - need to be able to execute applications so that end users can use quantum Internet technology.
From an implementation perspective, quantum communication requires the development of a wide variety of techniques to create, store, and manipulate quantum states. The control and manipulation of photons, matter and their interactions are critical to the realization of quantum-secure networks and the quantum Internet. These include.
Photonic sources with important characteristics, including very stringent wavelength and bandwidth requirements, as well as purity and efficiency specifications.
Photonic detection techniques need further improvement in single-photon systems and continuous variable systems.
Quantum memories and interfaces between quantum information carriers (quantum states of light) and quantum information storage and processing devices (atomic, ionic, solid-state systems).
The overall vision of the Quantum Flagship is to develop a European-wide accessible quantum network that complements and extends the current digital infrastructure and lays the foundation for the quantum Internet. To achieve this goal, quantum communications will be advanced in three fundamental directions.
1. Performance: improving the bit rate, fidelity, link distance and robustness of various quantum communications.
2. Integration: Integrating quantum communications with traditional network infrastructure and applications.
3. Industrialization: realizing technologies that can be manufactured at attractive prices and create wealth and jobs in Europe.
The following are specific targets for quantum communications in the coming years.
Goals for 2023-2026
Improving the performance, key rate and range of QKD solutions.
Photonic integrated circuits with efficient and cost effective experimental devices for quantum communications.
Deployment of prototype QKD payloads in space.
At least two industrialized QKD systems manufactured in Europe, mainly based on the European supply chain.
Deployment of several QKD metropolitan networks.
Deployment of large-scale QKD networks with trusted nodes.
Operation and enhancement of measurement device-independent QKD, such as dual-field QKD with a range of 500 km or more, without repeaters or trusted nodes.
Advances in QKD: testing, certification, proof and availability conditions (e.g., laboratory) to ensure robustness to side channel attacks at the optical level.
Development of joint QKD and PQC solutions.
Several telecommunication companies selling QKD services on a sustainable business model.
Demonstrating the use of quantum channels in other cryptographic applications, such as private data mining, secure multi-party computing, long-term secure storage, and unforgeable cryptosystems.
Integration of reliable, small and inexpensive quantum random number generators into classical and quantum communication systems.
Large-scale communication and entanglement distribution systems outside the laboratory, including network management software.
Development of quantum Internet subsystems such as quantum memory and processing nodes.
Demonstration of functional fundamental quantum repeater links at telecommunication wavelengths and at fully independent nodes.
Design of new application protocols, pilot use cases, software and network stacks for the Quantum Internet.
QKD coexistence with traditional communication solutions, including multiplexing, allowing one optical channel for multiple services (quantum and classical).
Goals for 2027-2030
Low cost development, maintenance and power consumption of QKD systems.
Scaling of QKD solutions due to increased market demand.
Small pluggable (SFP) QKD transmitter/receiver pairs for key distribution.
Robustness of QKD systems to side channel attacks, including power consumption and thermal noise, for independent transmitters and receivers (no physical security).
Remote deployment of measurement equipment-independent QKDs as industrial products.
Deployment of a QKD network "backbone" connecting major European city networks;
Certification of the security of quantum security by at least one national security agency, including QKDs that may be combined with PQC.
Certification of SFP services and software for generic plug-ins.
Mature quantum communication infrastructure for universal use by organizations and citizens.
Space-based quantum communications infrastructure.
Multi-node quantum networks supporting basic quantum Internet applications.
Deployment of reliable interfaces between quantum bits at rest and in transit in the network.
Reliable industrial-grade quantum memory and quantum repeater demonstrations that extend communication distances.
Long-range fiber optic backbones using quantum repeaters capable of connecting metropolitan networks hundreds of kilometers away.
Integration of advanced quantum network applications into classical network infrastructure (i.e. orchestration platforms) through quantum networks that include quantum repeaters.
03Quantum Sensing and Metrology
Quantum sensing and metrology is based on the use of natural quantum properties, quantum phenomena, quantum states, their universality and intrinsic reproducibility, quantization of relevant physical quantities or their high sensitivity to environmental changes. Quantum sensors will provide the most accurate measurements in many areas, enhancing the performance of consumer electronics and services, from medical diagnostics and imaging, high precision navigation, earth observation and monitoring, to future applications in the Internet of Things. There are a wide variety of quantum sensors, including, for example, gas sensors, solid-state sensors, and single-atom sensors.
The core concept of a sensor is that a probe interacts with a system carrying a property of interest and then changes the quantum state of the probe. Measurements of the probe can reveal the parameters of that property. Quantum-enhanced sensors either exploit the absence of classical noise processes and use quantum algorithms to extract relevant information, or they use probes prepared in specific non-classical states. The control of all relevant degrees of freedom and long coherence times achieves a resolution in the quantum limit that exceeds even the standard quantum limit (SQL).
To achieve the core goal of "demonstrating quantum sensing beyond classical capabilities for real-world applications", the following core challenges will need to be addressed.
Develop techniques to achieve full control of all relevant quantum degrees of freedom and protect them from environmental noise and malicious interference.
Identify correlated quantum states that outperform uncorrelated systems in noisy environments, and methods to prepare them reliably.
Leverage interdisciplinary expertise and collaborate with other fields, such as signal processing, to further improve the limits of sensor sensitivity and resolution, and implement optimal control protocols, statistical techniques (e.g. Bayesian) and machine learning algorithms.
Applications of quantum sensors are relevant to many different fields, such as but not limited to high precision spectroscopy, imaging, gravimetry or gyroscopy, high resolution microscopy, magnetic measurements, clocks and their synchronization, localization or temperature measurement. Due to the wide range of potential applications and their specificity, a wide range of physical platforms need to be considered, including (but not limited to):
Trapped ions
Ultra-cold atoms
Warm atomic vapor
Nano- and micromechanical oscillators, optical machine systems
Superconducting and semiconductor nanocircuits
Artificial systems such as quantum dots and spin defects in the solid state
Rare-earth ions in solid-state matrices
All-optical devices involving non-classical states of light
The following are specific targets for quantum sensing and metrology in the coming years.
Goals for 2023-2026
Company-supported development of key enabling technologies and materials, from spin-offs to large companies, and the establishment of a reliable and efficient supply chain, including first-time standardization and calibration efforts.
Development of chip-integrated photonics, electronics and atomics, miniaturized lasers, traps, vacuum systems, modulators and inverters Materials engineering using nanofabrication, functionalization and surface chemical modification, e.g. for biosensing; synthesis of ultrapure materials (e.g. diamond, SiC), doped nanoparticles, color centers.
Establishing standardization, calibration and traceability of new sensor technologies.
Prototypes of compact electrical quantum standards with an expanded range of applications.
Prototypes of portable optical clocks and their long-range comparisons, as well as atomic gravimeters and gyroscopes that exceed existing (classical) devices in terms of statistical and systematic uncertainties.
Prototypes of portable electric, magnetic, RF field, temperature and pressure sensors based on artificial atoms (e.g., color centers, quantum dots) or quantum opto-mechanical and electronic systems.
Desktop prototypes for quantum-enhanced, super-resolution and/or subscattered particle noise microscopy, spectroscopy and interferometry, and quantum lidar and radar.
Laboratory demonstrations of practical uses of engineered quantum states (e.g., entangled states) in real-world applications supported by theoretical modeling of real-world noise scenarios and identification of noise-resistant quantum states and algorithms, such as sensing by employing machine learning algorithms, Bayesian inference, and quantum error correction.
Goals for 2027-2030
Continued development of enabling technologies and materials engineering to improve technology readiness and bring quantum sensors to market.
Integrate quantum measurement standards for self-calibration in instrumentation.
Establish custom processes for key technologies in foundries to provide innovation opportunities for a wider range of researchers and companies
Fabrication of optical and electronic integrated chip lab platforms based on functionalized materials for biomedical applications or integrated atomic chips for sensing electric and magnetic fields.
Laboratory prototypes of quantum-enhanced measurement and imaging devices, entangled clocks, inertial sensors, and quantum light machine sensing devices.
Commercial products such as magnetometers for improved magnetic resonance imaging, quantum-enhanced super-resolution and/or subscattered particle noise microscopes, high-performance optical clocks and atomic interferometers, quantum radar and lidar.
Development of quantum sensor networks and on-board quantum-enhanced sensors, including optical clocks, atomic and optical inertial sensors.
Full report：
https://qt.eu//app/uploads/2022/11/Quantum-Flagship_SRIA_2022.pdf
