Funding quantum computing research at the academic and industrial levels is critical to gaining a clear understanding of the emerging technology and informing policy decisions, according to the National Security Agency’s (NSA) research chief.
During INSA’s Coffee & Conversation series on March 19, NSA Director of Research Gil Herrera explained that the agency has been funding quantum computing research going back to the 1990s, and that most of the major advances in quantum computing are rooted in that NSA funding.
“The [NSA] was integral to the foundation of the field of quantum computing … we really funded a lot of this work over the course of the past close to 30 years. We’ve also funded hundreds if not thousands of PhD students in quantum and related fields,” Herrera said.
Herrera offered several examples of quantum computer research and work developed through NSA funding.
The transmission of qubits — which big industry players like IBM and Google are using — was funded by NSA in partnership with Yale University, Herrera said, adding that the agency continues to have major programs at many universities to advance quantum research. Another example Herrera offered is a silicon-based approach to quantum computing which NSA funded and partnered on with Australian researchers.
He emphasized the while NSA has been and continued to be a proponent for quantum research, it should not be singularly “an NSA thing” but instead a “whole of government effort.”
Herrera called upon other government agencies to work collaboratively with industry and academia to drive quantum research forward.
“[NSA] believes in fundamental research,” he said, adding that government partnerships with industry, academia, and international allies offer insight that can help “resolve challenges in quantum computing research.”
Herrera acknowledged concern and resistance over the government’s funding of quantum computing research, but said this kind of funding is critical for the U.S. to “stay ahead of the game” in advancement in science fields.
“You might ask, why would we try to find something that could break the internet because if we don’t understand what the state of the technology is, then we can’t inform policymakers as to when you need to evolve,” he said.
