Quantum is critical to US tech leadership—ignoring it risks economic, scientific, and national security setbacks.
The tip of the spear for technological dominance in the battle between the United States and China is not limited to AI, but in the future application of quantum physics to computing, measurement, and communications.
The economic and scientific opportunities presented by quantum are unparalleled. For example, its ability to simulate molecular interactions at the atomic level could significantly accelerate drug discovery. Its capacity to solve complex mathematical problems has applications across sectors ranging from materials science to space travel. Quantum optimization algorithms could also transform financial risk assessment and enhance supply chain logistics.
Quantum’s Economic Promise Is Massive, But Public Understanding Still Lags
A 2022 McKinsey report estimates that the quantum technology market could exceed $1 trillion by 2035, with industries such as pharmaceuticals, finance, and materials science poised to benefit the most. That translates into job creation, with some estimates predicting over 800,000 jobs by 2035 in the US as the demand for quantum engineers, cryptographers, and specialists in quantum materials science increases.
But, quantum suffers from a lack of useful analogies – and so is difficult to market. Its game-changing potential relies on the seemingly strange rules of quantum mechanics. In 1935, Schrödinger’s paradoxical thought experiment about a cat in a sealed box is still one of the only ways the concepts are explained.
Quantum Holds Major Promise for National Security and Defense Innovation
The security and defense capabilities that quantum communication and measurement could bring are hugely exciting.
Take encryption, perhaps one of the most looming national security threats. A sufficiently powerful quantum computer could likely break these cryptographic protocols in polynomial time, rendering existing encryption methods obsolete, and researchers are already racing to develop post-quantum cryptographic standards.
As the US races to become less dependent on China and others for hardware, Quantum algorithms could also help optimize logistics and supply chain resilience, significantly enhance artificial intelligence applications in intelligence analysis, and enable the precise modeling of complex physical and chemical processes, including the design of new materials for military and aerospace applications.
US Leadership in Quantum Requires Strategic Investment and Global Collaboration
At the national level, the latest window into the White House’s game plan came after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s visit to Washington in mid-April, where she and Trump agreed to explore “opportunities for enhanced partnerships” in industries like 6G, AI, and — perhaps most notably — quantum computing.
Washington needs to stay ahead of the curve if it wants to lead the industry, with both China and the European Union pledging some $10 billion and $1 billion to quantum initiatives, respectively. Luckily, many government and tech leaders are already investing in the future of quantum, such as allocating over $1.2 billion through the National Quantum Initiative Act and establishing regional quantum hubs.
With support from the government, the private sector is also preparing for a quantum boom, such as the establishment of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), which includes major players like IBM, Google, and startups such as IonQ and Rigetti. The National Science Foundation has further allocated over $700 million in research grants for quantum-related advancements, while private sector investments have surged, with companies such as Amazon and Microsoft committing billions to quantum research.
Colorado Emerges as a National Hub for Quantum Innovation and Workforce Development
Colorado is leading the way. Military applications from Space Command and Northern Command, to the Air Force and Space Force, create a significant customer base, and the School of Mines is setting up a quantum research facility in its Edgar Experimental teaching mine.
Educational institutes like the Colorado School of Mines will serve as the pathway for a new generation of quantum experts, having recently introduced a master’s program in Quantum Engineering. Similarly, Elevate Quantum has attracted over $100 million in investments aimed at accelerating quantum commercialization and supporting quantum startups, critical for fostering innovation and ensuring that the US remains a global leader in quantum technology development.
We Can’t Sidestep Quantum
There are clear advantages for advancing quantum systems — from supercharging the economy to helping the US defend itself from its adversaries. But quantum can’t be sidestepped for other technologies like AI if the US wants to be a true leader in perhaps the most critical technology of this generation.
About the Author: Morgan Bazilian
Morgan D. Bazilian is the Director of the Payne Institute and Professor at the Colorado School of Mines, with over 20 years of experience in global energy policy and investment. A former World Bank lead energy specialist and senior diplomat at the UN, he has held roles at NREL, the Irish government, and advisory positions with the World Economic Forum and Oxford. A Fulbright fellow, he has published widely on energy security and international affairs.
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