2008. The world-renowned quantum scientist Pan Jianwei returned to China and was allocated a lab at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) to kickstart China’s quantum programme. Fast forward a decade and China is the leading power in quantum communications and making consistent leaps in other areas of quantum technology.
Due to the use of the superposition (multiple states at the same time) principle, quantum computers are very adept at solving certain optimisation and scheduling problems that deal with enormous data sets, making them invaluable areas such as cybersecurity, cryptography, and blockchain technology, among many other emerging application domains. The last decade has seen exciting technological breakthroughs in the field of quantum computing due to the massive investments being poured by the public and private sectors. A wide array of sectors have benefitted from quantum computing to create simulation modelling (aeronautics and aviation), large-scale data analytics (space and cosmology programmes), forecasting (weather and climate), and building encryption systems (military and defence).
Also Read: With Eye on China, India Joins Race To Weaponise Quantum Tech in Future Military Conflicts
While major technology giants have thrown their hats into the ring with their own in-house quantum computer programmes, states and their governments around the world are not far behind each having launched its own quantum initiative. The bulk of the funding…
