DOE Launches Initiative to Create and Deploy Scientifically Relevant Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers

[Cached Stephen]

The US Department of Energy announced on June 23 the establishment of a coordinated initiative to create and deploy quantum computers capable of performing scientifically relevant computations, implementing the quantum executive order signed by President Trump the previous day. The initiative, known as the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science effort, is coordinated by the Assistant to the President for Science and Technology and requires delivery of at least one such computer to a DOE facility with access made available to the broader scientific community.

The scientifically relevant threshold is higher than current commercially available quantum computers can meet for most problems. A scientifically relevant quantum computer must be capable of performing calculations that provide genuine scientific insights beyond what classical simulation can achieve in the same timeframe. This is the threshold at which quantum computing begins to pay for the enormous national investment in the technology. The DOE's existing quantum facilities at Argonne, Oak Ridge, Fermilab and other national laboratories provide the infrastructure for hosting the QC-ADDS system once it is ready for deployment.

The executive orders also require the establishment of a national centre to develop tools for accurately assessing quantum computing performance, a significant acknowledgement that the field currently lacks reliable, hardware-agnostic benchmarking frameworks. Quantum computing performance claims vary enormously depending on the benchmark chosen, the problem type and the comparison baseline. An independent national assessment capability would provide the evaluative infrastructure that federal agencies need to make procurement decisions and that commercial customers need to evaluate competing vendor claims.

Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovationwww.whitehouse.gov