President Biden recently signed two presidential directives to bolster quantum information science in the U.S. with a special focus on cybersecurity. Here are comments from thought leaders at leading quantum companies.

IonQ

“Quantum computing is no longer just theoretical,” said IonQ president and CEO Peter Chapman. “The race for global quantum supremacy is real. This isn’t just about political posturing or us vs. them, it’s about looking to the potential of quantum computing to solve society’s biggest problems that our existing technologies cannot – issues like global cybersecurity vulnerabilities and climate change, that, if left unaddressed, pose major risks.

“We applaud the Biden Administration and bipartisan support in Congress to invest in America’s future using quantum computing. IonQ is proudly represented on the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and looks forward to increasing federal collaboration.”

IonQ is a member of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC).

Quantinuum

“We welcome the Executive Order that enhances the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee and furthers this administration’s commitment to advancing our technological edge,” says Quantinuum president and chief operating officer Tony Uttley.

Related:White House Directives Aim to Boost Quantum Computing Industry

“The potential benefits of quantum technology to government and private industry are profound. Quantum computing is a game-changing technology that has the potential to impact many aspects of our lives, jobs and economy.  At Quantinuum, we are committed to accelerating the quantum industry’s progress to achieve these societal benefits.”

Aegiq

“We welcome the new White House directives, which mark a huge signal from the U.S. to the rest of the world that it’s now going to prioritize the emerging (yet critical) quantum technology sector,” said Aegiq CEO Max Sich. “Despite somewhat lagging on an initial push for the development of quantum tech, the U.S. is now leading the charge when it comes to taking proactive steps, including government policy, even though, in practical terms, it is focused on post-quantum cryptography.

“Thinking about the wider sector, the directives, which follow Biden’s existing commitment to cutting-edge science and technology, are an important psychological milestone for the rest of the world, who should now look to follow the U.S. when it comes to backing the power of quantum across multiple verticals.”

Post-Quantum

“Even today, the threat quantum computers could pose to our existing security infrastructure is often dismissed as a ‘not in my lifetime’ issue,” said Post-Quantum CEO Andersen Cheng.

“This viewpoint is a dangerous one as, even though quantum computers are currently too primitive to break existing public-key infrastructure, we are already seeing that the groundwork for ‘harvest now, decrypt later’ attacks are being laid today, where data is being harvested with a view to decrypting it when a sufficiently powerful computer emerges.

“This recent White House memorandum is a welcome move, as it sends a clear message to organizations everywhere; quantum computers pose a clear and existential risk to our existing security structures, and the transition to a post-quantum future needs to start today.

“This development, combined with the fact that the National Institute of Standards and Technology is due to reach a decision on which cryptographic standards will replace existing PKC algorithms any day now, we expect more organizations that need to protect highly sensitive information to come forward and begin the migration immediately.”