National Agenda for Quantum Technology National Agenda for Quantum Technology
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
NATIONAL AGENDA FOR QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AGENDA FOR QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY September 2019 Foreword My name is Robbert Dijkgraaf. I'm a big fan of both science and the Netherlands, which this National Agenda for Quantum Technology brings together in an exciting way. I often say that the future is already here: it's in our labs and in the heads of our scientists and engineers. And quantum technology is a key part of that future. As well as providing the basis for developing fantastic new devices and industries, quantum technology can enable us to resolve the big problems facing our society, such as climate change, health care and security. All over the world people are investing in quantum technology, but here in the Netherlands we're privileged to host a number of fantastic initiatives. Outstanding, world-leading research institutes such as QuTech in Delft, QuSoft in Amsterdam and QT/e in Eindhoven, excellent research groups in Leiden, Nijmegen, Groningen, Twente and Utrecht, coordinating bodies such as TNO and StartupDelta, and a range of exciting industrial partnerships and startups. Now is the time for putting all those pieces together, for taking up the gauntlet and for investing in new talent, new researchers, new infrastructure and industry – in other words, in the entire ecosystem. This document sets the agenda for working on breakthroughs in research and innovation, on the development of new applications and 3 markets, on the competences required in fields such as systems engineering, and on the ethical, legal and social aspects of quantum technology. If we action that agenda, by 2030 we'll have a cool, exciting and new science, plus a new industry, and maybe new solutions for building a better world as well. I therefore hope that you'll enjoy reading this National Agenda for Quantum Technology, and that you'll give it your support. Because we're going to need help realizing the initiatives and activities described, and help creating the envisaged Dutch Quantum Delta, QΔNL! Robbert Dijkgraaf Director and Leon Levy Professor, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton Contents Foreword ...................................................................................3 Summary ...................................................................................9 1 A NATIONAL AGENDA FOR QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY 13 1.1 The potential of quantum technology ........................................................13 1.2 Development of Quantum Delta NL ..........................................................14 1.3 Formulation of this agenda ..................................................................14 1.4 Urgent action required .....................................................................16 1.5 Structure of the agenda .....................................................................17 2 WHAT MAKES QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY SO SPECIAL? 19 2.1 The key principles of quantum technology ....................................................19 2.1.1 Entanglement ..............................................................................19 2.1.2 Superposition ..............................................................................19 2.2 Four promising application areas ............................................................21 2.2.1 Universal quantum computers ...............................................................21 5 2.2.2 Quantum simulators ........................................................................23 2.2.3 Quantum communication ...................................................................24 2.2.4 Quantum sensors. 26 2.3 Fundamental and technological challenges ...................................................27 2.3.1 Universal quantum computers ...............................................................27 2.3.2 Quantum simulators ........................................................................30 2.3.3 Quantum communication ...................................................................31 2.3.4 Quantum sensors. 33 2.3.5 Challenges in other fields. .35 2.4 Conclusion ................................................................................35 3 THE SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF QUANTUM TECHNOLOGY 37 3.1 Short and long-term impacts ................................................................37 3.2 Impact on all social missions ................................................................39 3.2.1 Security and privacy ........................................................................40 3.2.2 Energy and sustainability ....................................................................42 3.2.3 Health and health care ......................................................................43 3.2.4 Agriculture, water and food supply ............................................................44 3.2.5 Mobility and Logistics .......................................................................45 3.3 The economic impact of quantum technology ................................................46 3.3.1 An ecosystem for quantum-based products and services ........................................47 FOTO COVER 3.3.2 The market for quantum technology ..........................................................49 A highly sophisticated 'cryostat' cooling system, in which qubits are cooled to -273°C. Extremely low temperatures are required for qubits 3.4 Ethical, legal and social impact ..............................................................51 to retain a quantum state for long enough to enable them to be used for calculations. 3.5 Conclusion ................................................................................53 Contents 4 THE DUTCH QUANTUM LANDSCAPE IN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTEXT 55 4.1 Braiding of government, science, industry and wider society ...................................55 4.2 The Netherlands as 'Quantumland' ...........................................................56 4.2.1 The QuTech, QuSoft and QT/e research centres ................................................56 4.2.2 Dutch knowledge institutions and universities ..................................................61 4.3 The global playing field .....................................................................64 4.3.1 Developments in Europe ....................................................................65 4.3.2 Developments in Canada and the United States ................................................66 4.3.3 Developments in China .....................................................................66 4.4 The balance between national strength and international collaboration .........................67 4.5 Conclusion ................................................................................69 5 FUTURE AGENDA FOR THE QUANTUM DELTA NL 71 5.1 Four action lines and three CAT programmes .................................................71 5.2 Action line 1 | Realization of research and innovation breakthroughs ............................72 5.2.1 Quantum computing ........................................................................73 6 5.2.2 Quantum simulation ........................................................................74 7 5.2.3 Quantum communication ...................................................................75 5.2.4 Quantum sensing ...........................................................................75 5.2.5 Quantum algorithms ........................................................................76 5.2.6 Post-quantum cryptography .................................................................76 5.3 Action line 2 | Ecosystem development, market creation and infrastructure ......................78 5.4 Action line 3 | Human capital: education, knowledge and skills .................................82 5.5 Action line 4 | Starting social dialogue about quantum technology ..............................82 5.6 Three CAT programmes .....................................................................83 5.6.1 CAT 1 | Quantum Computing and Simulation ...................................................84 5.6.2 CAT 2 | National Quantum Network ...........................................................86 5.6.3 CAT 3 | Quantum Sensing Applications ........................................................89 6 CRITERIA FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF THE AGENDA 93 6.1 Organization and governance. 93 6.2 Funding ..................................................................................93 Colophon .................................................................................96 Summary Quantum technology is a key technology that enables Valley was the driver and epicentre of semiconductor radical new products and services. Quantum computers, technology and its applications, the Netherlands aims to quantum simulators, quantum networks and quantum become the focal point for quantum technology. Ground sensors will soon be able to do things that 'classical' devices breaking research, high-quality education, state-of-the- can't, such as perform molecular and materials calculations art facilities and programmes for bringing technology to and enable geolocation without GPS. We are therefore at market are required to attract talented people and dynamic the dawn of a technological revolution, which is expected businesses, and thus to generate a vigorous quantum to make a major contribution to the resolution of social ecosystem prominent on the European and global challenges in fields such as energy, food supply and health landscape. care. The Netherlands is in the scientific