Quantum Europe

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right now, the second quantum revolution is brewing, boiling in scientific laboratories across the developed world. It is a long-term strategy that will eventually impact important areas of communications and supercomputing, and therefore the economic sectors derived from them. The first products will appear in the fields of cybersecurity, ultra-precise sensors, imaging techniques, and metrology. Regarding computing, the so-called quantum supremacy will soon be demonstrated: that is, a machine based on a few dozen quantum elements will perform an operation that no current classical machine can perform. At this point, formidable challenges will still remain to be solved until machines capable of carrying out computations of practical interest, which require thousands of elements, are built. We speak of a revolution, of a paradigm shift, because it is about using the most intimate parts of quantum laws, those that make "Schrödinger's cats" possible, in which matter is in the simultaneous superposition of multiple states, or the realization of information teleportation—though not of matter. These are the laws that deny the existence of objective reality at the atomic scale and those that, in principle, allow massively parallel computations to be carried out, which are impossible for traditional computers of any imaginable size. The European Union wants to play a prominent role in this second quantum revolution.

First and second quantum revolution.

Quantum physics was discovered and developed during the first decades of the 20th century. Some of its concepts and, above all, its implications when interpreting reality are strongly counterintuitive from a daily life perspective. However, they soon achieved spectacular successes in explaining the structure of matter. In fact, the application of the laws of quantum physics made possible what is known as the first quantum revolution, which among other things allowed the understanding and use of semiconductor materials and, therefore, the emergence of the transistor and electronics as we know it today. Another product of the first quantum revolution is the laser and all its applications. The transistor and the laser, the heart of electronics and photonics, respectively, have made possible current computing and communications technologies, and therefore the digital society, ubiquitous connectivity, global internet, and increasing robotization. That is: central elements of current civilization. At the same time, part of the advanced imaging and diagnostic equipment routinely used in hospitals, such as magnetic resonance imaging and tomography machines—for example, CT and PET scans—as well as surgical instruments or some therapies for oncology, are products of techniques from the first quantum revolution.

Now begins the second, which seeks to use the most genuine properties of the laws of quantum physics, which are those that describe the world at the atomic scale, to carry out functions impossible to achieve with technologies designed from traditional laws that describe the world at the macroscopic scale. The applications currently being developed focus on the creation of quantum communications and cryptography systems, quantum computers and simulators, and various specialized sensors and metrology devices. It is a potential based on the most delicate properties of matter at the atomic scale, a delicacy that at the same time constitutes the most important challenge for developing associated technologies at an industrial scale.

Some of the scientists who discovered quantum physics expressed doubts that humanity could further control matter with the degree of precision required by the second quantum revolution. However, over the last few decades, unimaginable advances have been made in the middle of the last century. Specifically, today in research laboratories, work is routinely done with a few individual atomic systems, and it is possible that they evolve in a controlled manner following the laws of quantum physics. This capability, which has generated a dozen Nobel Prizes in recent years, is what allows addressing the challenge of transferring quantum technologies to industry and society during the 21st century.

European 'Flagship' of quantum technologies.

In April 2016, in response to the coordinated work developed for more than a decade by a large part of the scientific community across the continent, and which crystallized in the publication of the so-called Quantum Manifesto, the European Commission announced the creation of a Quantum Technologies Flagship (QTF) as part of its Future and Emerging Technologies program. The QTF aims to mobilize more than one billion euros, 500 of which will be contributed by the European Commission over ten years starting in the first months of 2019, and the rest will come from member states and regions and from industries. All of this has general aspirations similar to those of the other two existing flagships, dedicated to the applications of graphene-type materials and to the understanding of the human brain.

The QTF aims to place Europe at the forefront of quantum technologies, in collaboration when possible—and in competition when necessary—with equally ambitious initiatives that had previously started in the United Kingdom, with investments comparable to those now committed by the European Commission, and with others that have started in the US and China. Specifically, China has made several strategic bets, particularly to achieve a quantum-protected satellite communication network that has already yielded highly visible results. The satellite quantum communication program had started at the European Space Agency, which carried out several preliminary demonstrations: for example, in the Canary Islands. Now, Chinese advances make us see that Europe and the US must resume the program with vigor if they do not want to fall behind.

The QTF will be organized into four vertical pillars, dedicated to communications, computing, simulators, and sensors and metrology, and a horizontal pillar of basic science aimed at continuously exploring new ideas and concepts. In addition, the vertical pillars, which will have specific and well-quantifiable objectives, will be related to each other and also to the axes of engineering, software development, dissemination in society and businesses, and personnel training. With tools and concepts different from current ones, personnel training is particularly important because, when the quantum technologies designed within the framework of the QTF reach companies, they will generate new jobs for professionals in engineering, data management, and service provision.

Quantum communications and computing.

In the medium term, one of the objectives of the QTF, with gradual phases starting in 2020, is the creation of a quantum internet, formed by communication networks that will have an additional layer of privacy protection based on quantum elements. Security and privacy in communications and transactions are of paramount importance for citizens as well as for clients, companies, or governments, especially in the context of current and future massively digital, interconnected, and hyper-communicated societies. By the middle of the next decade, new technologies could be available in a metropolitan network dimension, and many of the essential elements of the quantum internet could begin to be a reality at the end of the QTF.

Different types of quantum sensors and ultra-precise metrology devices are already available in proof-of-concept phase in research laboratories. The former detect tiny electrical and magnetic signals or provide new systems for extracting information from the environment and obtaining images. The latter allow, for example, the construction of increasingly precise synchronization systems. Towards the end of the next decade, the commercial development of this area is expected to impact material analysis, navigation systems, or communication and financial network synchronization systems, among others.

In the longer term, quantum computers and simulators could be reached. Currently, there are already prototypes based on a few quantum elements, although they are only used in trivial operations and have no practical computational utility. Quantum computing is a different paradigm from conventional digital computing. Quantum computers leverage the ability of quantum systems to evolve simultaneously in multiple states. Instead of using bits that have a value of 0 or 1, they are based on qubits—quantum bits—which consist of the superposition of both states, and by processing these states, a quantum computer can calculate some operations exponentially faster than a classical one. That is: quantum computers of sufficient capacity would be able to perform calculations of complexity unmanageable for a conventional computer. It is fair to say that the initial physical phenomena are extremely delicate and, therefore, building these machines on a large scale is a formidable challenge. Quantum simulators are expected to arrive first, perhaps by the end of the next decade. These are analog quantum machines that mimic the behavior of a specific quantum system. Within the framework of the QTF, efforts will be made to develop, among others, simulators of the behavior of complex molecules of interest for designing new drugs and simulators of the possible existence of room-temperature superconducting materials.

Business opportunity

Large companies in the computing sector, such as Microsoft, Intel, or IBM, as well as those that focus their activity on the manipulation of huge amounts of data, such as Google, have made strategic investments in quantum computing and maintain an active position. This also occurs with companies that market telecommunications components. In Europe, paradoxically, one of the most active is the Chinese-owned Huawei. At the same time, companies from other sectors, such as Siemens, Bosch, Thales, or Airbus, maintain a decidedly proactive interest in the development of quantum technologies. In this context, it is important to highlight the potential of quantum technologies for the launch of new start-up companies. Applications in cybersecurity are a paradigmatic example. Likewise, it must be taken into account that quantum technologies are based on some differential elements surrounded by all kinds of technologies and materials unrelated to quantum. Thus, in the QTF they also expect important advances in classical technologies that will have a direct impact on industries in other fields. New materials are a good example of this.

In a globalized world like today's, the potential for regional or national exploitation of technological advances for the creation of wealth and jobs depends, among other factors, on the same level of international competitiveness. The QTF presents a unique opportunity to be part of a pan-European project that will generate important spill overs. The main European countries have committed significant national investments to be able to have leading teams that will create the key pieces of knowledge and, therefore, the corresponding intellectual and industrial property. Globally, our country starts from a less solid position, but despite everything it has spearheads that must be taken advantage of. Some national companies should actively participate in the QTF through the projects that will be carried out. Even for companies that currently seem far from quantum technologies, it would be advisable to maintain an interest

in the advances that are made, from a horizon of application opportunities that are difficult to predict today and that will undoubtedly arise. After all, as they claim Niels Bohr, one of the main creators of quantum physics, used to say, making predictions is difficult, especially about the future.