Quantum computing and more generally Quantum Information Science (QIS) are more than ever on the global agenda. <\/p>\n\n\n
We focus here on the UK National Quantum Technologies Programme and policy, and how the UK fares in the race to quantum technologies. This article is part of our ongoing research on the issue. With the first item of the series, we started covering the Netherlands, the EU, Germany (briefly), the U.S., China, and, for the private sector, IBM and the Softbank’s mega Vision Fund, with an interesting participation of Saudi Arabia and the UAE (see Quantum, AI, and Geopolitics (3): Mapping The Race for Quantum Computing<\/a>, 17 December 2018).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read also the follow up article adding to the mapping:<\/p> \u2605 The Chinese BATX in the Race to Quantum Computing: from Research to Venture Capital through Drugs and Fintech<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n At the end of the article, we update our evaluation of the race to quantum with two series of graphs showing the evolution of public funding over time. A first series focuses on countries in Europe plus the U.S., then, a second, adds China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In February 2012, the UK “National Security Through Technology<\/a>” white paper recommended that the defence and security R&D should evolve to meet the new threat (DSTL\/PUB098369<\/em> – 2016: 5.2.12, 6.1.12, 6.1.13). As a result, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) decided to emulate the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – DARPA (Ibid.). Between 20% and 30% of MoD research will be devoted “to investigate, and develop rapidly, promising technologies which have the potential to achieve game changing and disruptive advantage” (Ibid.). <\/p>\n\n\n\n Quantum technologies were now directly part of the British security agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Indeed, this led not only to development within the MoD, as it developed specific quantum programs, but also spurred the evolution towards a nation-wide quantum policy. Incidentally, the UK showed more agility than the U.S., which only started a comprehensive “quantum 2.0” policy much later, in 2018 (see Mapping The Race for Quantum Computing<\/a> first article).<\/p>\n\n\n\nAn early start, driven by the Ministry of Defence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
A National Security Concern<\/h3>\n\n\n\n