Quantum Computing Policy Consensus, Contradictions, and Impact on Technology Innovation

In recent years, regional, national and international governments have turned their attention to quantum computing – and with good reason. With projected global economic value in the multiple trillions within the next decade according to leading consulting firms, quantum computing holds the promise of revolutionizing key industries with valuable applications in pharmaceutical development, financial modeling, materials science, aerospace, and more. Possible government uses of quantum computers for national security and defense could significantly shift the global balance of power.

While there are commonalities among the policy goals in different localities, there is often not a consensus about the means by which to seek those objectives. Moreover, public policy actions to promote one objective often come at the expense of another. A careful balance of such actions has the potential to foster the quantum computing R&D, innovation, and deployment that is required to capture the promises of the technology. However, certain government interventions present the risk of distorting the market or constraining innovators, which could jeopardize the long term objectives of quantum computing technology development and commercialization.

This presentation will begin with an overview of increasingly common quantum computing public policy priorities and objectives. An examination of select policy objectives and approaches will then explore disparate opinions, reviews of policies in practice, and the real and projected impact of such policies - with a focus on the small business perspective.