The UK government has shared the news that a coalition of 13 countries has committed to deepening their cooperation in the development of quantum technology to ensure it is developed securely and responsibly.
The Quantum Development Group (QDC) counts Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US among its members.
During the fifth meeting of the QDC in London last week, 70 senior leaders chose three priority areas of quantum technology in which to deepen their collaboration.
These include the safe development of quantum technology through investment security and supply chain resilience, as well as creating a more supportive investment environment for scaling quantum companies.
The government said this would be enabled through deeper engagement between government and investors to support commercialisation, as well as expanded access to the capital required to allow companies to achieve sustainable global growth.
Lastly, the QDC pledged to prioritise the development of international quantum standards to enable industrial adoption, interoperability and the development of open global markets.
This QDC meeting follows the government’s announcement in March that it will invest £2 billion in quantum technology and launch a procurement programme to ensure the practical deployment of the technology.
Commenting on the news, science and technology secretary Liz Kendall said that while quantum technology has the potential to transform areas such as healthcare, energy and transport, it has to be developed collaboratively.
“Quantum has the potential to be one of the most exciting and defining technologies of the coming years,” she added. “But progress in quantum technology is not something we can do alone.
“It will mean working hand‑in‑hand with our trusted partners, harnessing world‑class science and backing the businesses turning brilliant ideas into real‑world solutions.”
In late March, US quantum computing firm Rigetti Computing announced it would invest up to $100 million in the UK to accelerate the development of quantum computing in the country.
