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WORKSHOP ON
QUANTUM TECHNOLOGIES AND INDUSTRY
6 May 2015, DG CONNECT, Avenue de Beaulieu 25, B-1049 Brussels
FINAL REPORT
Prepared by
Yasser Omar
University of Lisbon and
Instituto de Telecomunicaes
Table of Contents
Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................................... 3
The Current Investment in Quantum Technologies ........................................................................ 5
Applications for Quantum Technologies ............................................................................................... 7
Tackling the Challenges of Quantum Technologies ......................................................................... 9
Action Plans and Concluding Remarks ................................................................................................14
Appendix 1 The Workshop Agenda ....................................................................................................17
Appendix 2 The Workshop Participants ..........................................................................................18
Executive Summary
A workshop on Quantum Technologies and Industry was held by the European
Commissions Communications Networks, Content and Technology Directorate General
(DG CONNECT) in Brussels on 6 May 2015. The aim was to identify what could be the
markets for quantum technologies, and how these could be industrialised. The workshop
had more than 60 participants from different parts of Europe, representing in a balanced
way the academic, industrial and governmental sectors.
Research in quantum information sciences and quantum technologies currently involves
an estimated workforce of 7,000 researchers around the world and a yearly budget of 1.5
billion Euro. Europe accounts for 35% of these researchers and has invested significantly
in this domain over the last decade, obtaining excellent results at the scientific level,
including Nobel prizes.
Quantum technologies, such as quantum sensing, quantum cryptography and quantum
computation, have a very high strategic interest for both states and industry.
Furthermore, this domain holds the promise of a wide range of applications, with the
potential for technological leaps in sectors as diverse as energy, security and healthcare,
amongst others. And despite the very strong scientific expertise established in Europe
the USA, Canada, China, South Korea and Singapore are taking leadership positions in
the research, development and innovation in quantum technologies. There are now
several very large initiatives in Europe promoting the industrialisation of quantum
technologies, namely in the UK and in the Netherlands, but an EU-wide common strategy
and plan are lacking.
Following several presentations where this situation was discussed, the workshop
moved to a participatory mode, with the goal of collectively identifying what could be the
markets for quantum technologies, and how these could be industrialised in Europe. In
particular, after getting input from all the participants, the following six key areas of
quantum technologies were identified:
Quantum Metrology
Quantum Sensing
Quantum Communications
Quantum Memories
Quantum Simulation
Quantum Computation
Groups were set to discuss and prepare a pitch for each of these areas, and all
participants were invited to determine what could be the hurdles to the industrialisation
of these technologies. The audience then came to a consensus on what are the key
challenges that need to be addressed, and discussed in groups concrete measures to
tackle those issues. Finally, all the participants contributed to prioritise these measures,
and the workshop concluded with the proposal and discussion of the following key
action plans for the development of a quantum technologies industry and market in
Europe:
1. Improve the dissemination about the potential benefits of quantum technologies.
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Walter van de Velde, from DG CNECT/C2 FET, one of the organizers of the workshop,
then addressed the audience and set the goals of the meeting, asking why there is still
not a large quantum technologies industry in Europe, and what would be necessary steps
to establish it.
The final talk of the first part of the workshop was delivered by Freeke Heijman-te Paske,
who presented Global developments on Quantum Technologies, a study conducted for the
Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands. There are currently around 7,000
researchers worldwide publishing scientific work on quantum technologies (excluding
those doing classified work, for states or in the private sector). The EU leads with a work
force of almost 2,500 researchers and an accumulated investment of more than half-abillion Euro by the EC, namely from the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)
programme, the Marie Skodowska-Curie Actions, and the European Research Council.
However, the USA, with around 1,200 researchers and a public investment of around 360
million Euro, leads by far in terms of publications in very high-impact journals, as well as
in the number of citations.
It is also North America which is leading the industrial investment in quantum
computing, namely with D-Wave The Quantum Computing Company in Canada, and
IBM, Google and Microsoft in the USA, amongst others. And several countries are making
governmental investments in quantum technologies considered of strategic interest for
the state, namely in quantum communications, quantum cryptography and quantum
computation, and their corresponding industrialisation. These include, amongst others,
the USA, China, South Korea and Singapore. In Europe, the UK has recently launched a
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Quantum Metrology
Quantum Sensing
Quantum Communications
Quantum Memories
Quantum Simulation
Quantum Computation
The participants were then divided into six groups, one for each of these areas, to discuss
them in more detail. After the discussion period, one representative from each group
made a three minute pitch to gain support from industry and investors for their quantum
technology, as summarised below.
Quantum Metrology aims at achieving the ultimate precision measurements, namely at
the quantum scale. It is establishing new standards for time, distance, etc., which are not
only of fundamental interest, but furthermore have very important applications,
allowing, for example, for more precise positioning and navigation technologies.
Associated to that is also the development of very sensitive quantum accelerometers and
gyroscopes. However, a regulatory framework will be needed to test, validate and certify
the new standards and measures.
Quantum Sensing is a very promising quantum technology. For example, cold atoms
systems are very sensitive to gravitational distortions from varying mass densities and
can thus be used for prospecting natural resources and for finding buried assets and
constructions. A timeline of 18 months was proposed to develop a portable
demonstrator to image gravity. Note this technology can also be exploited for inertial
navigation, where GPS satellite signals are not available, for example indoors, or in
tunnels and underground parking lots. The ultrasensitive measurement of magnetic
fields, in the range of femtotesla, can also have medical applications, for example for
brain imaging using magnetic encephalography. Finally, quantum enhanced imaging
exploits squeezed or entangled light sources for a wide range of applications, including
sub-shot noise detection, seeing around corners, low light levels for biological/medical
imaging to minimise damage, and detecting light at wavelengths where there are no
single-photon detectors (or no cheap single-photon arrays).
Quantum Communications can be used to ensure privacy against eavesdropping. In
principle, quantum cryptography can also be exploited to keep secrets secure
indefinitely. In fact, quantum cryptography is currently the most developed quantum
technology, being already a commercial product, albeit with a limited range (around 300
km in cable communications) and with a very limited number of customers. However, it
is a growing field, expected to gain a larger market share over the next three to five
years, finding customers amongst large companies, namely in the health and finance
sectors. Furthermore, it may also become increasingly present in government
communications, and in the management of infrastructures such as smart electricity
grids. Quantum cryptography will eventually be available for ordinary consumers. And it
raises issues of state security which will have to be dealt with.
Quantum Memories are a crucial ingredient for building quantum repeaters. These, in
turn, are necessary for the development of long-distance quantum communication
without the use of classical trusted nodes. Furthermore, new technologies are necessary
for the development of quantum networks and the corresponding routing of quantum
information. Finally, quantum memories will also be very important for quantum
information processing.
Quantum Simulation exploits quantum systems to efficiently simulate the dynamics of
other quantum systems. Currently it still does not beat a classical computer, but it is
believed it may do so within the next three years or so. This could then lead to faster
quantum chemistry and materials simulations, with potential applications for the
development of new drugs, as well as of new superconducting materials that could make
energy distribution much more efficient.
Quantum Computation is the hardest of the quantum technologies to develop and a
longer term goal, possibly decades away. Once available, it would allow for the fast
solving of very complex problems, such as optimisation problems with a wide range of
applications, namely in machine learning, in medicine (protein folding), etc. However,
the development of scalable hardware is still a major challenge, although there are many
research groups tackling it. One potential spin-off of this experimental effort is the
development of more energy-efficient (cryo)electronics.
During these presentations all participants were invited to note the challenges they
believed would be an obstacle to the ideas being pitched. These challenges were then
discussed in the next session of the meeting.
Are there other applications for quantum technologies, namely for daily use?
What are the societal benefits of quantum technologies? How to raise quantum
awareness and counter quantum "phobia"?
Why invest now in quantum technologies? And how to establish
academic/industry partnerships to develop these technologies?
How to create a quantum technologies supply chain?
What skill set do we need in Europe? How to get it?
Who should be the industrial players? Large companies or SMEs?
How much will be the return on investment in quantum technologies? And when?
What will be the market size?
What level of standardisation will be necessary? When and how can it be
achieved?
The participants were then divided into eight groups, to discuss and find answers to
these questions, with one rotation allowing each participant to contribute to two groups.
A set of measures were distilled from these discussions, as summarised below for each of
the questions.
Are there other applications for quantum technologies, namely for daily use?
Quantum technologies have applications in many sectors, including small applications
for daily use, not only large scale ones. The following potential applications were
identified, presented per sector:
- Security/Defence: random number generators, quantum cryptography for all,
detection of objects underground and across walls, long term data storage, gas
sensors for pollutants, detection of drugs and explosives.
- Transport: inertial navigation, without GPS satellite signals.
- Computing: faster algorithms, namely for factoring, searching and machine
learning.
- Retail: secure financial transactions, product authentication, magnetic skin type
determination for adequacy of cosmetics, functional sensing in packaging.
- Finance: time stamping, time synchronisation, holdover clocks, secure
communications.
- Healthcare: drug development, biomolecular readout, precision dosimetry, higher
resolution medical imaging, faster artificial intelligence diagnostics, long term
storage of medical records.
- Energy: more efficient photovoltaics, fossil fuel exploration, carbon sequestration
supervision, cryoelectronics, high-temperature superconducting materials for
energy efficient distribution, secure smart energy networks, timing for phase
synchronisation.
- Education: teaching quantum physics with demonstrations, quantum toys.
- Gaming: magnetic brain interface, faster artificial intelligence computing, random
number generators.
To help develop these promising quantum technologies, the following measures were
proposed:
What are the societal benefits of quantum technologies? How to raise quantum
awareness and counter quantum "phobia"?
The potential societal benefits of quantum technologies are enormous, given all their
possible applications, as described in the previous question. Furthermore, the
development of quantum technologies offers also a deeper understanding of nature and
new fundamental knowledge. To achieve these societal benefits, the following measures
were proposed:
Launch an EU initiative to build a market/supply chain.
Identify existing EU research and innovation programmes to which quantum
technologies can contribute.
Academia and industry should communicate the benefits of their discoveries.
Why invest now in quantum technologies? And how
academic/industry partnerships to develop these technologies?
to
establish
10
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market on quantum technologies. As a conclusion it can be stated that all the players are
required to contribute.
Several large companies, such as Thales and Airbus, already have some activity in the
domain of quantum technologies. However, there is need to foster the SMEs as well. To
achieve progress on the industrial side within Europe, the following measures were
proposed:
Support the existing industry by the means of Horizon 2020 and other programs
to accelerate efforts in performing research and development on quantum
technologies and in its related fields.
National and EU agencies should coordinate efforts and strategic directions in
what fosters the creation of new quantum technology companies and start-ups.
Educate people for industry, but in particular as customers and consumers for the
new quantum technologies.
How much will be the return on investment in quantum technologies? And when?
What will be the market size?
The EU offers some good advantages for the development of quantum technologies,
namely good collaborative R&D mechanisms and culture. Furthermore, it has the
European Space Agency (ESA) as an early adopter, as well as many national metrology
institutes working on quantum metrology. On the other hand, the EU has a more limited
defence R&D and less focussed research programmes compared to the USA and China.
Sensing and metrology quantum technologies correspond to a 100 1,000 MEuro global
market, with a time scale of a few years, and approaching return on investment. In this
domain, the EU is in a good position.
Quantum communications is a very large global market, in the range of billions of Euro,
and still emerging. The EU is in a good position, but Asia, and China in particular, are
catching up quickly. The return on investment will be medium term.
Finally, quantum computing is potentially an even larger market, but will take a long
time to develop, and the return on investment is hard to predict at this stage. The EU
position at the purely scientific level is excellent, but in terms of the technological
developments it is behind the USA, where IBM, Google and Microsoft have been investing
consistently in this area.
To grow the quantum technologies market size and return on investment in Europe, the
following was proposed:
Fund quantum technologies in the Horizon 2020 programme, including
collaborations between academia and industry.
Possibly create a large centre of excellence or grand project on quantum
technologies at EU level.
Further coordinate and share academic progress in this domain.
What level of standardisation will be necessary? When and how can it be
achieved?
The establishment of standards for quantum technologies, be it for communications or
for sensing or metrology, is crucial for their development. In particular, standardisation
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These conclusions, from each of the eight groups, were presented to and discussed by
the whole audience. After that, each participant was invited to choose the five measures
he or she considered as priority measures for the industrialisation of quantum
technologies in Europe. Finally, once the key next steps were identified, the participants
gathered to identify who should be responsible to promote each of these steps: the
European Commission, the Member States, academia or the industry sector. The
concrete actions to be taken, and by whom, are described in the following section.
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suggested. It will be important to train a new generation of individuals in this area, with
the necessary scientific and technical skills, as well as with a development and
innovation culture. Additional support should also be made available to foster
entrepreneurial and spin-off initiatives.
6. Develop standards for quantum technologies
(ETSI, academia and industry)
The establishment of standards will be key for the development and maturing of
quantum technologies. Standards are needed to address a global market and support the
emergence of supply chains and quantum technology eco-systems.
Important work has already been started at the level of quantum communications,
namely for quantum key distribution, but it needs to be expanded to other types of
quantum technologies. In particular, it was suggested that (pre)standardisation should
be started as early as possible and continuously pursued as the research, development
and innovation proceed, as otherwise there is the danger this will become a too
expensive and too slow process. The European Telecommunications Standards Institute
(ETSI) will play a key role at global level in this effort, and Gaby Lenhart volunteered to
lead this initiative.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EU is in an excellent position to develop a quantum technology
industry and market. It currently benefits from unique assets at a global level: a very
strong culture and mechanisms for collaborative research, development and innovation,
as well as a very strong expertise in quantum information sciences in particular, and in
fundamental science in general. Building on these, the concrete action plans that resulted
from this workshop, with the committed intervention of the EC, Member States,
academia and the industrial sector, and their corresponding leaders, can make the EU a
world leader in quantum technologies, with the potential for very important economical
and societal impacts.
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Name
Organisation
Marc Almendros
Klitos Andrea
Signadyne (ES)
Univ York (UK)
JRC, Institute For Reference Materials and
Measurements (EU)
Siemens (DE)
Univ Warsaw (PL)
Airbus/Astrium (UK)
Univ Birmingham (UK)
REA, FET Open (EU)
Single Quantum (NL)
Univ Ulm (DE)
Kelvin Nanotechnology (UK)
Innovate UK (UK)
e2v (UK)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
Thales (FR)
INRIM (IT)
(UK)
DG Connect, eInfrastructure (EU)
TU Delft (NL)
TU Delft (NL)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
Gooch and Housego (UK)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
DG Connect, Trust and Security (EU)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
Univ Birmingham (UK)
DG Connect, Components (EU)
DG Connect, Digital Science (EU)
Ministry of Economic Affairs (NL)
M Squared Lasers (UK)
DG Connect, FET Flagships (EU)
JRC, Security Technology Assessment (EU)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
ETSI (FR)
JRC, Security Technology Assessment (EU)
NPL (UK)
Univ Copenhagen (DK)
Element 6 (UK)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
Plextek Limited (UK)
Elke Anklam
Hans Aschauer
Konrad Banaszek
Paolo Bianco
Kai Bongs
Roumen Borissov
Gabriele Bulgarini
Tommaso Calarco
Brendan Casey
Bob Cockshott
Trevor Cross
Aymard de Touzalin
Thierry Debuisschert
Ivo Degiovanni
David Delpy
Jean-Luc Dorel
Marceline Du Prie
Servaas Duterloo
Julian Ellis
Mark Farries
Andrea Feltrin
Afonso Ferreira
Ales Fiala
Martin Freer
Eric Fribourg-Blanc
David Guedj
Freeke Heijman-te Paske
Nils Hempler
Andrew Houghton
Meret Kraemer
Sigrid Landry
Gaby Lenhart
Adam Lewis
Leon Lobo
Charles Marcus
Matthew Markham
Batrice Marquez-Garrido
Paul Martin
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John Morton
Peter Mueller
Richard Murray
Per Nihlen
Yasser Omar
Georgios Papadakis
Douglas Paul
Momtchil Peev
Rene Penning de Vries
Georg Peter
Iuliana Radu
Pascal Rochat
Andreas Wallraff
Ian Walmsley
Frans Widdershoven
Alastair Wilson
Mario Ziman
UCL (UK)
IBM (CH)
Innovate UK (UK)
Sunet (SE)
Univ Lisbon (PT), rapporteur
Innovate UK (UK)
Univ Glasgow (UK)
AIT (AT)
(NL)
JRC, Security Technology Assessment (EU)
IMEC (BE)
Spectratime (CH)
High-Tech Grnderfonds Management GmbH
(DE)
Toshiba CRL (UK)
DG Connect, FET Flagships (EU)
Univ Southampton (UK)
Univ York (UK)
Univ Geneva (CH)
ASML (NL)
DG Connect, FET (EU)
(NL)
DG Connect, Excellence in Science (EU)
DG Connect, Components (EU)
TNO /QuTech (NL)
Department for Business Innovation & Skills
(UK)
ETHZ (CH)
Univ Oxford (UK)
NXP (NL)
Univ Glasgow (UK)
Slovak Academy of Sciences (SK)
Katerina Ivaskeviciute
Guillem Sague
Andrew Shields
Thomas Skordas
Peter Smith
Tim Spiller
Rob Thew
Albert van Breemen
Walter van de Velde
Floor van der Pavert
Thierry Van der Pyl
Willy Van Puymbroeck
Rogier Verberk
Lee Vousden
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