Key Elements of a National Quantum Strategy

National Quantum Strategy Briefing Report Quantum computing has increasingly been recognized by governments as a strategic national capability with far-reaching implications for economic competitiveness, national security, scientific #leadership, and technological #sovereignty. As a result, a growing number of countries have adopted formal national #quantum strategies that converge around five pillars: sustained public investment in quantum #research, pathways for commercialization and scale-up, development of a highly skilled quantum #workforce, protection of critical infrastructure, and alignment with #standards, #cybersecurity, and #governance frameworks. Several advanced economies have already published comprehensive national quantum strategies. #Germany introduced one of the earliest coordinated national approaches and has continued to refine it through updated federal programs. #France launched its national quantum plan in 2021, emphasizing sovereignty, industrial competitiveness, and dual-use applications. The #UnitedKingdom published a 10-year National Quantum Strategy in 2023, integrating research excellence with commercialization and defense priorities. #Canada released its National Quantum Strategy the same year, positioning quantum as a cornerstone of long-term economic growth and innovation. At the supranational level, the European Union adopted the Quantum Europe Strategy, framing quantum technologies as essential to strategic autonomy and future competitiveness. #SouthKorea has similarly advanced a national strategy focused on industrial leadership and global supply-chain positioning. #China, #India, and #Australia have each adopted distinct national approaches to quantum technologies reflecting their economic models and strategic priorities. China embeds quantum development within long-term state planning, emphasizing large-scale public investment, infrastructure build-out, and technological self-reliance across communications, computing, and sensing. India advances quantum computing through its mission-driven National Quantum Mission, which focuses on capacity building, indigenous innovation, workforce development, and strategic applications aligned with national digital initiatives. Australia’s National Quantum Strategy is industry-centric, prioritizing commercialization, talent attraction, research translation, and international collaboration to position the country as a competitive global quantum #innovation hub. The United States recently took a step with a newly issued executive order on quantum technologies, mandating a whole-of-government approach and directing federal agencies to update and operationalize a comprehensive National Quantum Strategy. It emphasizes accelerated deployment of quantum computing, sensing, and networking capabilities; strengthened public–private and allied partnerships; and enhanced coordination across research, #defense, and #energy agencies.

#Quantum is now a strategic policy priority and countries are moving from vision to execution. Key takeaways from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Digital Economy Papers No. 379 (2025) on national quantum #strategies & #policy #instruments: ▪︎ Scale is significant: governments worldwide have committed an estimated USD 55.7B to quantum S&T since 2013; by Nov 2025, 18 OECD Members + the EU have formal strategies. ▪︎ Why governments invest: anticipated productivity and sector breakthroughs (sensing, computing, communications) + strategic #autonomy / #national #security, including digital security & dual-use concerns. ▪︎ Strategies help coordinate fragmented funding and increasingly use mission-oriented approaches to align programmes, end-users and deployment pathways. ▪︎ #Governance models vary widely: some strategies sit inside broader S&T agendas; others are stand-alone with dedicated bodies. In several cases, governance is placed at the **highest executive level. ▪︎ #KPIs are a differentiator: from hard tech metrics (e.g., qubit/performance targets) to ecosystem outcomes (workforce, start-ups, IP, market share, supply chain autonomy, international collaboration), with an emerging push to standardise KPIs. ▪︎ Five policy instruments underpin most “quantum policy mixes”: 1. Institutional funding for public research + infrastructures (labs, testbeds, quantum clouds) and skills 2. Project grants for public research and cross-disciplinary collaboration 3. Business R&D grants to de-risk commercialisation 4. Public #procurement to stimulate early demand and raise TRLs 5. #Equity financing to crowd-in capital for start-ups ▪︎ Policy landscape is broadening: the #OECD policy database tracks ~250 quantum policies across 40 countries + the EU. ▪︎ International dimension is changing: collaboration remains important, but cross-country co-authorship fell from ~33% to <30% (2019–2022); US–EU collaboration intensity declined ~15% (2018–2022) amid rising strategic/security constraints. ▪︎ Protection & #standards are rising together: more countries are introducing export controls on quantum-related tech/materials, while strategies emphasise participation in global standardisation (incl. post-quantum cryptography), with an open debate on how early to standardise. OECD (2025), “An overview of national strategies and policies for quantum technologies”, OECD Digital Economy Papers, No. 379, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://lnkd.in/dbQC-xPS

Turning Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse Europe has been the cradle of quantum mechanics, the revolutionary science born from the genius of Max Planck, Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Erwin Schrödinger, and other visionaries who rewrote the rules of physical reality. On 2 July 2025, in the year marking a centenary since the initial development of quantum mechanics, the Commission has adopted an ambitious European Quantum Strategy, integrating Europe's unique scientific heritage with its vibrant quantum ecosystem of startups, SMEs, large industries, research and technology organisations, academia and research institutes. The mission is clear: turn Europe into a quantum industrial powerhouse that transforms breakthrough science into market-ready applications, while maintaining its scientific leadership. We are imagining a Union where medical scans can detect illnesses at the earliest stages, accelerating from weeks of uncertainty to mere seconds of precise diagnosis; where sensors are able to warn about volcanic activity or water shortages before they happen; and where unprecedented computational power will be available to solve complex problems in logistics, finance and climate modelling. A safer Europe, where our personal data, critical infrastructure, and businesses will always remain private and well-protected; where transport systems are optimised to reduce congestion and prevent accidents; and air travel is guided by quantum-enhanced precision navigation, pinpointing objects' locations down to the centimetre. A greener Europe, where sustainable energy grids can flawlessly manage millions of electric vehicles charging simultaneously overnight. These tangible, transformative technologies are within reach through support from the EU Quantum Strategy. The quantum community has clearly outlined what's needed to achieve this future: · Combine Europe's scientific excellence to bring quantum breakthroughs rapidly to market · Develop advanced quantum supercomputers like the ones we are supporting under the Quantum Flagship and are acquiring under the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking to operate as accelerators next to our leading network of supercomputers · Deploy secure communication networks such as those under EuroQCI, our secure quantum communication infrastructure that will be spanning the whole EU, composed of a terrestrial segment relying on fibre communications networks linking strategic sites at national and cross-border level, and a space segment based on satellites · Support quantum startups and SMEs, enhancing supply chain resilience, and foster supranational innovation clusters · Integrate quantum advancements into strategic capabilities for security and defence, protecting citizens and infrastructure · Educate Europe's workforce through specialised initiatives like the European Quantum Skills Academy Quantum is not one more technology to add to the list; is a high tide that will deeply transform our society and economy.

Most quantum boardroom conversations end without an agenda. They end with a posture — "we're monitoring quantum developments," "we're taking it seriously". Neither statement produces a plan. The distinction matters because quantum creates three problem classes, each with a different urgency and a different cost of inaction. A generic posture misaddresses all three at once. The right response, for most leadership teams, has three parts. The first is to defend now. Post-quantum cryptography belongs on the enterprise risk agenda as a current priority. That means building visibility into cryptographic dependencies across the enterprise, identifying migration priorities, and mapping third-party exposure. This is the part of the quantum agenda that cannot wait. The second is to explore selectively. Most leadership teams do not need a wide portfolio of quantum pilots. They need a small number of focused efforts on high-value problems where the workload aligns with quantum's actual strengths — evaluated against the strongest available classical alternative. Each effort should be a targeted test: one specific problem, one clear classical benchmark, one honest evaluation. The third is to build options. For companies in simulation-relevant sectors — pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, energy — the right posture is modest investment in partnerships and early hardware collaborations. The goal is R&D workflows that are ready to integrate quantum subroutines when the technology matures. The companies that benefit most will not necessarily be those spending the most today. They will be the ones best positioned to move when the moment arrives. The most common failure on quantum is conflating the urgency of the three classes — treating all three as equally distant or equally immediate, when each has a different clock running. The organizations that get this right understand early which problem classes matter to their business, which ones to set aside, and what the distinction demands of them starting Monday morning. https://lnkd.in/gkymW7Xm

🚀 Europe’s Quantum Moment Has Arrived and It’s Time to Act. Quantum technologies are no longer a distant promise, they are the next frontier of innovation, industrial competitiveness, and strategic sovereignty. 💥 The recently published Quantum Europe Strategy lays out a bold and coordinated vision to position Europe as the world’s quantum powerhouse. I had the opportunity to review this strategy in depth, and it’s a comprehensive blueprint that spans infrastructure, research, industry, skills, and global partnerships. From deploying 10 EU-built quantum computers by 2028 to launching a Quantum Skills Academy and integrating quantum tech into Galileo and IRIS², the EU is committing to full-stack development (hardware, software, talent, and security). This strategy doesn’t just talk research, it’s about converting breakthroughs into real-world applications across healthcare, energy, logistics, and defence. Importantly, Europe is also creating the conditions for quantum startups to scale, offering a mix of grants, equity, and infrastructure support to transform deep science into competitive business. 🚀 What makes this particularly timely is the global context: China, the US, and Canada are scaling fast. For Europe, the choice is clear, either we lead or risk falling behind. With 120+ startups, strong academic leadership, and coordinated EU–Member State governance, the strategy offers the scaffolding needed to scale our ambitions. Quantum is no longer just about science, it’s about sovereignty, resilience, and economic impact. And I’m thrilled as a European and as a Digital EU Ambassador to see Europe move with this level of clarity and commitment. EU Digital & Tech 📎 For more details on the strategy and public consultation: https://lnkd.in/e5TJpuNQ The image below was created by Adobe Stock

China’s latest quantum policy signals make one thing clear: quantum technology continues moving from the laboratory to the core of national strategy. Over the past weeks, Beijing approved the framework for its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026–2030), where quantum technologies are positioned among the most critical “future industries” shaping the next phase of economic and technological development. The plan calls for accelerated investment in quantum computing, quantum communications, and related frontier technologies as part of a broader push toward technological self-reliance and advanced industrial capability. (Reuters) This policy direction comes on top of a rapidly expanding ecosystem. China’s quantum sector has been growing at more than 30 percent annually, with the number of companies in the field increasing significantly in recent years as commercialization begins to take shape. (China Briefing) At the same time, research groups continue to report scientific milestones. Chinese teams have recently demonstrated advances in scalable quantum networks and in quantum teleportation experiments, illustrating progress across both communication and information processing capabilities. (Chinese Academy of Sciences) The broader strategic objective is clear: to build an integrated ecosystem that spans quantum computing, quantum communications, and next-generation network infrastructure. Long-distance quantum communication experiments, including intercontinental satellite links, are already pointing toward the future architecture of secure global networks. (NetMission.Asia) For policymakers, industry leaders, and researchers worldwide, these developments underline a deeper transformation underway. Quantum technologies are no longer viewed solely as a scientific frontier. They are increasingly embedded in industrial strategy, national security planning, and global technological competition. The next decade will likely determine which countries succeed in translating quantum science into scalable infrastructure, secure communications, and practical computational advantage. Resources in the comment section! #QuantumTechnology #QuantumComputing #QuantumSecurity #DeepTech #TechnologyPolicy #Innovation

The National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science has released a strategic plan titled "Bringing Quantum Sensors to Fruition," aiming to advance quantum sensor technologies from research to practical application. Key Recommendations: 1.     Accelerate Development: Federal agencies leading Quantum Information Science and Technology (QIST) research and development should expedite new quantum sensing approaches and collaborate with end-users to enhance the technology readiness of quantum sensors. 2.     Conduct Feasibility Studies: Agencies utilizing sensors should perform feasibility studies and jointly test quantum prototypes with QIST R&D leaders to identify promising technologies that address their specific missions. 3.     Develop Components and Subsystems: Support the engineering research and development of broadly applicable components and subsystems, such as compact reliable lasers and integrated optics, to facilitate the advancement of quantum technologies and promote economies of scale. 4.     Streamline Technology Transfer: Agencies should simplify technology transfer and acquisition practices to encourage the development and early adoption of quantum sensor technologies. Implications: Implementing these recommendations is expected to enhance the accuracy, stability, sensitivity, and precision of measurement tools across various sectors, including national security, healthcare, and environmental monitoring. The strategic plan underscores the importance of interagency collaboration and partnerships with industry and academia to transition quantum sensors from laboratory research to real-world applications. For a comprehensive understanding, you can access the full report here: https://lnkd.in/g737EVze

Quantum isn’t the future. It’s the foundation. AI is the engine—but quantum is the fuel. While the headlines obsess over AI’s latest parlor tricks, Washington is quietly retooling America’s entire tech stack for something far more transformative (and dangerous to ignore): Quantum Computing. In 2025, the U.S. finally started treating quantum not as research novelty but as existential infrastructure. 📜 National Quantum Initiative Act reauthorized: $2.7B in funding ⚡ Quantum Leadership Act – establishing new national research centers 🤝 Quantum LEAP Act – bipartisan alignment across both chambers 🧩 Biden’s Executive Order – mandates post-quantum cryptography across federal systems This isn’t about robots taking your job. It’s about foreign adversaries cracking our data vaults in a decade unless we act now. While D.C. gears up... 🚨 Texas is launching. 📘 House Bill 4751, authored by Rep. Giovanni Capriglione, creates the Texas Quantum Initiative, attached directly to the Governor’s Office. That matters. It’s not buried in a task force. It’s treated as a state priority. 🔹 Establishing a strategic plan for Texas to lead globally in quantum 🔹 Forming an executive committee of industry experts 🔹 Investing in infrastructure (labs, systems, networks) 🔹 Prioritizing commercialization—not just research 🔹 Expanding workforce training and education 🔹 Coordinating statewide with universities, companies & feds 🔹 Mandating public transparency via regular reports This is how government can operate when it serves the future by staying close with the private sector. As I argued earlier this year in Quantum or Bust: The Playbook for Post-Silicon Economic Dominance, “Quantum doesn’t just solve problems faster—it solves problems we previously thought were unsolvable. From climate modeling to national defense, it opens doors AI can’t even find.” 🧠 AI, for all its hype, runs on legacy hardware. The silicon ceiling is real—and we’re hitting it. Quantum? It’s not an upgrade. It’s a paradigm shift. I want the #Texas Quantum Corridor: Engineered, a deliberate ecosystem fusing university research, defense contracts, fiber-optic backbones, and compute infrastructure. Because here’s the real question... Is quantum more important than AI? Without it, AI is just elegant math running on overtaxed machines. With it, we unlock an entirely new dimension of intelligence. The race isn’t to build more models. It’s to build the foundation they’ll require next. 📣 Come see for yourself: 📍 June 17 | 6:15–7:45 p.m. | Google Austin (in-person) Join the The Austin Forum on Technology & Society for a special evening with William Hurley, CEO of Strangeworks. No PhD required; just curiosity.

📌 European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) has published the "Strategic Industry Roadmap 2025: A Shared Vision for Europe’s Quantum Future"   This massive document (218 pages) covers all quantum technologies (Computing and simulation, Communications, and Sensing and Metrology). For each of them it presents an overview, describes the state of the art and provides roadmaps to 2035 split in Immediate future (2025), Near term (2025-2029), and Long term (2030-2035). All sections end with a summary under "Key messages".   There is a chapter also for enabling technologies, a piece often missing in other reports. The same schema as before describes the landscape for cryogenics, photonics, and control electronics.   The last part covers more policy related contents: Workforce development, Standards, Intellectual Property, Funding in Europe, Governance Principles, Sustainability and Ethical Values.   This document is presented as a companion to the "QuIC Position Paper - Recommendations for the EU Quantum Strategy" presented some weeks ago.   Strategic Industry Roadmap: https://lnkd.in/dSy7dQdd Recommendations for the EU Quantum Strategy: https://lnkd.in/dcKhnnvH #quantum #quantumcomputing #quantumcommunications #quantumsensing

⚛️ #𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮’𝘀 #𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗠𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗛𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲: 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱 By 2035, quantum technologies are expected to influence $1–2 trillion of global economic value. Over 20 countries already have national quantum missions. More than $40+ billion in public funding has been committed worldwide. Quantum is no longer experimental. It is becoming economic, strategic and geopolitical. This roadmap by NITI Aayog lays out what it will take for India to move from quantum ambition to quantum advantage. 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱 𝗧𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 • Computing, communication, sensing, materials • Moving from labs to early adoption • Hybrid classical-quantum systems emerging 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗰𝗸 • Chips → systems → software → applications • Value created only when the full chain connects 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 • Security, export controls, and trust are central • Governance must evolve with capability • Delay creates strategic exposure 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟯𝟱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱: 𝗔 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗺-𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗱 #𝗜𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗠𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 • Talent pipelines at national scale • Indigenous quantum infrastructure • Commercial use cases, not just research wins 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 • Compete with, not depend on, global players • Shape standards, IP, and supply chains • Export capability, not vulnerability 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗿𝘂𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀, 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀 • Compute limits • Encryption and cybersecurity • Materials discovery and optimisation • Security asymmetry • Talent concentration • Global dependency chains 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿 𝗪𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁 • Finance: risk modelling and optimisation • Healthcare: drug discovery and genomics • Energy & climate: simulation and materials • Defence & space: sensing and secure comms 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 ✅ Prioritise 3–5 high-impact quantum domains ✅ Align research with national needs ✅ Scale talent fast ✅ Build shared infrastructure ✅ Patient capital for deep tech ✅ Procurement as a catalyst ✅Global collaboration with sovereignty 𝗕𝗼𝘁𝘁𝗼𝗺 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗲  Quantum has crossed the line from research to national consequence. By 2035, strategic strength will be measured not by experiments run, but by sovereignty secured, ecosystems built, and long-term advantage sustained. 📌 When quantum breaks today’s encryption, will we be ready or reactive? #Quantim #QuantumEconomy #DeepTechIndia #QuantumComputing #FutureOfIndia #TechStrategy #InnovationPolicy #DigitalSovereignty Follow Shalini Rao for more.