White House Official Cites Supply Chain and Encryption Challenges in Quantum Race
Summary
A White House quantum official cited fragmented, internationally distributed supply chains, limited funding and difficulty benchmarking progress as hurdles, and warned that future quantum computers could pose encryption risks.
Key points
- Brad Blakestad, director of the National Quantum Coordination Office, called the diffuse quantum supply chain a major challenge.
- Quantum computing, sensing and networking use different components; computing itself spans seven modalities, Blakestad said.
- Blakestad said limited commercialization means insufficient private funding to build a robust supply chain.
- He suggested government purchases to specifications and prize challenges as possible ways to support suppliers.
- A policy paper described the supply chain as international, with no single country dominating key inputs.
- Blakestad also cited the need to track when quantum computers could affect encryption and the difficulty of benchmarking progress.
Article Details
- Event Type
- A White House official discussed supply-chain, funding, encryption, and benchmarking challenges facing the U.S. quantum technology ecosystem.
- Impact
- The fragmented, internationally distributed supply chain and limited funding may hinder development of U.S. quantum capabilities. Officials also cited the need to prepare for potential encryption implications as quantum computers scale and to improve ways of measuring progress.
People
Brad BlakestadDirector of the National Quantum Coordination Office; discussed quantum supply-chain constraints, funding, encryption risks, and benchmarking challenges.Donald TrumpThe article says he signed two executive orders on quantum computing shortly before Blakestad's remarks.Dongyoun ChoCo-authored an International Institute for Strategic Studies policy paper cited for its analysis of the international quantum supply chain.Maria ShaginaCo-authored an International Institute for Strategic Studies policy paper cited for its analysis of the international quantum supply chain.
Countries
Chinasupply chain and reliance on foreign suppliers such as China and Russia.Russiasupply chain and reliance on foreign suppliers such as China and Russia.United StatesOfficials also warn that funding, encryption risks, and the difficulty of benchmarking progress are slowing the United States as it races to build a stronger quantum ecosystem.