The US government is all set to invest $1.2 billion to implement a National Quantum Initiative Program. The House Science Committee’s effort to accelerate quantum research is finally taking shape now with the signing of the bill by the President.

With a comprehensive strategy in place, US expects to move ahead of global rivals like China, which is likely to open a major quantum laboratory in 2020.
The bill defines “quantum information science” as the storage, transmission, manipulation, or measurement of information that is encoded in systems that can only be described by the laws of quantum physics.

The investment will be made over an initial five-year period.

According to a recently released administration paper, quantum computing could “provide solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing national security concerns.”

In order to guide program activities, the National Science and Technology Council would set up a Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science, including membership from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).

NIST shall carry out specified quantum science activities and convene a workshop to discuss the development of a quantum information science and technology industry.

The Department of Energy (DOE), on the other hand, will be responsible for carrying out a basic research program on quantum information science.