How Much Countries Have Invested in Quantum and Supercomputers?
Realizing the potential impact of these technologies on a wide range of industries and scientific fields, many nations are devoting significant resources to the development of quantum and supercomputers. In this article, we will explore the budgets and achievements of some of the leading countries in this field.
The American government has set aside enormous sums of money to support research and development in the area of quantum computing. The National Quantum Initiative, the largest quantum computing project in the nation, began in 2018 with a one and a half billion dollar investment spread over five years. The Summit supercomputer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory is one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and it is located in the US.
With the aim of dominating this industry, China has also recently made sizable investments in quantum computing. Tens of billions of dollars have been set aside by the Chinese government to support quantum research, and in 2020 the nation unveiled a 360 million dollar ($21.5 billion) quantum research facility. Additionally, China is home to several of the fastest supercomputers in the world, including the Sunway TaihuLight, which held that title from 2016 to 2018.
In addition to having several of the world’s top research institutions in this area, Japan has made significant investments in the field of quantum computing. The development of quantum computers and related technologies is the focus of a 100 billion yen ($940 million) initiative that the Japanese government announced in 2017. The Fugaku supercomputer, which is currently the fastest in the world, is also located in the nation.
Furthermore, the European Union has allotted more than a billion euros to finance research and development in the area of quantum computing. The Quantum Flagship, the EU’s leading quantum initiative, was introduced in 2018 with the aim of advancing and promoting quantum technologies in Europe. The MareNostrum at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center is one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, and several other top machines are located in the EU.
With the intention of dominating this industry, Russia has invested in quantum computing. The Russian government declared intentions to set aside 50 billion rubles ($640 million) over the following five years to fund quantum research. Several supercomputers are also present in the nation, including the Lomonosov-2, which was rated as the 12th fastest supercomputer in the world in 2020.
The development of quantum computing technology has also caught Iran’s attention. The nation announced plans to establish a national quantum computing center in 2018, according to the Vice President for Science and Technology of the nation. Despite the fact that there are few details available about Iran’s precise budget and research accomplishments in this area, the government has also funded research in this field.
Recognizing the potential impact of these technologies on a wide range of industries and scientific fields, these nations are generally devoting a significant amount of resources to the development of quantum and supercomputers. It will be intriguing to see how these investments translate into real-world applications and positive social effects as technology develops further. It is important for all stakeholders to work together towards ensuring that this technology is developed and used in a way that benefits society as a whole.
by Pooyan Ghamari Swiss Economist Visionary
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