Quantinuum CEO Warns China’s Quantum Push Outpaces The West

Insider Brief

• Quantinuum CEO Rajeeb Hazra told The Telegraph that China is outspending the West nearly two to one in quantum computing, raising concerns about national and industrial security vulnerabilities.
• Hazra highlighted the risk of Western nations underestimating quantum technology, cautioning that countries not investing in quantum computing will fall behind.
• The U.K. and U.S. are tightening export controls on quantum technologies, amid growing concerns about the potential for quantum computers to break encryption systems within the next decade.

The West is trailing China in the global race to develop quantum supercomputers, according to Rajeeb Hazra, chief executive of Quantinuum, one of the world’s leading quantum technology companies. Hazra voiced concerns to The Telegraph that China’s outsized investment in quantum technology — which he says is nearly double that of the West — could pose serious threats to both national and industrial security.

“I do remain concerned that for those countries that are underestimating it, they will fall behind,” Hazra told The Telegraph. He added that China is already achieving tangible results in the quantum space, while some Western nations have been slow to recognize the technology’s significance.

Quantum computing, a field that has long been in the academic domain, leverages the principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways that vastly outperform today’s classical computers. Its potential to break through encryption systems has raised alarms in national security circles, leading to stricter controls on quantum-related exports from the U.K. and expected similar measures from the U.S.

“What is a little worrisome is not everybody has that same view of underestimation,” Hazra said in reference to the uneven approach among Western nations. “There are nation-states that are saying ‘this is the way to go in the future’ and there are some that are ignoring it or underestimating it, to the point that there is a disparity of investments across nation states.”

The Telegraph also reported that Hazra highlighted the significant disparity in quantum funding, with China outspending Western countries nearly two to one.

“China is out-investing the West, as we would call it, by almost two to one in quantum technology,” he told the newspaper. “Any country that has not built an ability to have quantum computing as an essential part of its computing arsenal is going to fall behind.”

Various claims have suggested that China is investing more than $15 billion in public funding for quantum research and development, however those numbers are very difficult to confirm.

Quantum Computers — Threats and Promises

Quantum computers, which use qubits instead of classical bits, have the potential to solve complex problems theoretically much faster than traditional computers. This includes the ability to simulate chemical reactions and quantum processes, which could lead to real practical benefits, such as new materials and more effective drugs. On the negative disruptive side, there are growing concerns about quantum computing’s ability to break current encryption methods.

Last week, a G7 cyber expert group, co-chaired by the U.S. Treasury and the Bank of England, issued a warning to the financial sector about the “impending threat” of quantum computing. The group cautioned that, while quantum systems may be a decade away from cracking advanced encryption, companies should begin preparing now, as adversaries may already be harvesting encrypted data for future use once quantum computers reach maturity.

AI Drain?

Hazra echoed concerns in The Telegraph that the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) could divert attention and funding away from quantum technology.

“There should be more thought put into how these two interact and get funded, so that one doesn’t become lopsided,” he said.

Despite these challenges, Quantinuum is pushing forward with its plans, aiming to develop a quantum machine capable of fully simulating chemical reactions by 2029, according to The Telegraph. If successful, such advancements are expected to significantly accelerate scientific research in fields ranging from materials science to drug discovery.

In response to national security concerns, the U.K. added quantum computing to its list of restricted dual-use technologies in March, citing the technology’s military potential. The Biden administration is expected to introduce similar measures soon, further tightening the controls around this emerging field.

Quantinuum, formed in 2021 through a merger between Cambridge Quantum and Honeywell’s quantum division, is one of the key players in the field. Valued at $5 billion earlier this year, the company is eyeing a potential public offering that could increase its valuation to around $10 billion.

Despite the geopolitical tension surrounding quantum technology, Hazra noted that recent export controls have not hindered the company’s progress.

“We take that as a sign that this technology is important,” Hazra told The Telegraph, referring to the U.K.’s recent restrictions on quantum exports. “We just have to be very cognisant of the constraints put on us.”