Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science Simon Harris TD has today launched Quantum 2030, Ireland’s first national strategy for quantum technologies. Thanks to its intense research and innovation community, Ireland’s technology sector is set to play a vital role in developing quantum technologies. The country’s solid foundation in fundamental and applied research into quantum technologies positions it well for future growth.
Ireland’s First National Quantum Technologies Strategy: Quantum 2030
Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has launched Quantum 2030, the country’s first national strategy for quantum technologies. Quantum computing, a branch of computer science that utilises quantum theory principles, is the focus of this strategy. Quantum theory explains the behaviour of energy and material at atomic and subatomic levels. Quantum 2030 aims to concentrate Ireland’s quantum technologies community’s efforts on emerging growth areas in quantum technologies where Ireland can gain a competitive edge.
Over the past three years, quantum computing application development activities in Ireland have seen exponential growth in both academic and enterprise organisations. There has been a significant increase in the development of quantum computing applications that are crucial to enterprise end-users, public sector organisations, and researchers. As a result, organisations across various sectors in Ireland are investing in or seeking collaborative development of quantum computing solutions for their research or business services and solutions.
Quantum Technologies: A New Frontier for Innovation and Competitiveness
Quantum technologies have been recognised by Irish researchers for their potential for innovation and competitiveness. Quantum computing has a long research tradition in Ireland, evidenced by an impressive research output and international reputation. Activities range from the development of key enabling technologies for quantum computer engineering to the actual realisation of quantum computing hardware and software, and transfer to applications.
Ireland holds a strategically important position in the technology sector as a competitive global hub. The synergy between the quantum training programmes offered by industry partners and those run through universities is recognised. These programmes will prepare Ireland for the quantum revolution, providing a skilled workforce ready to apply breakthroughs in quantum computing to various sectors such as smart medical technology, telecommunications, and climate change.
Quantum Technology: The Four Main Areas
Quantum technology is a term for technologies that exploit a deeper understanding of quantum mechanics and the properties of subatomic particles. These quantum technologies can be categorised into four main areas: computing, communication, simulation, and sensing – all of which are underpinned by advances in fundamental quantum science. Progress in these four main areas depends on the development of key enabling technologies including photonics, electronics, cryogenics, and nano-fabrication capabilities, alongside advanced quantum software and dedicated algorithms.
Quantum 2030: The Four Pillars and One Cross-Cutting Pillar
Quantum 2030 is structured around four distinct pillars and one cross-cutting pillar. These are: supporting excellent fundamental and applied quantum research; nurturing top science and engineering talent; strengthening national and international collaboration; fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness; and building awareness of quantum technologies and real-world benefits.
Each pillar focuses on a specific aspect of quantum technology development. For example, the first pillar aims to strengthen work in Ireland in fundamental and applied quantum research to enable breakthrough discoveries and feed the pipeline of innovations and technologies. The second pillar focuses on developing a pipeline of agile, innovative and highly skilled individuals across the spectrum of quantum science, engineering and technology.
The Future of Quantum Technologies in Ireland
Ireland already holds an important position in the technology sector as a competitive global hub. Ireland’s research and innovation community has built a solid foundation of fundamental and applied research into quantum technologies. As a result, Ireland is now strongly positioned to play a pivotal role in the development of quantum technologies and to reap the benefits of increased research, development and innovation in this area in the future.
The opportunities and challenges offered by quantum technologies require a strong national strategy and action plan similar to those that have been developed in other countries and in the European Union. Quantum 2030 leverages and coordinates the community’s existing efforts and resources in order to advance Ireland’s strategic interests in the second quantum revolution.
“The publication of Quantum 2023 marks the adoption of its vision as a whole-of-Government policy goal. The strategy sets out a path for Ireland to be an internationally competitive hub for quantum technologies by 2030.” – Minister Simon Harris
“Ireland has a strategically important position in the technology sector as a competitive global hub. We appreciate the synergy between the quantum training programmes offered by industry partners and those run through our universities. Together these programmes will prepare Ireland for the quantum revolution, providing us with a skilled workforce ready to apply breakthroughs in quantum computing to smart medical technology, telecommunications, climate change, and more. We believe Ireland can build on our existing successes in information and communication technologies to become a global leader in research, development and innovation that underpins the quantum revolution and to become the hub for realising and exploiting the new opportunities in quantum technologies, in particular in quantum computing and communications.” – Minister Simon Harris
Summary
Ireland has launched Quantum 2030, its first national strategy for quantum technologies, aiming to become an internationally competitive hub for quantum technologies by 2030. The strategy will focus on areas of emerging growth in quantum technologies, including computing, communication, simulation and sensing, and will involve significant collaboration between academia, enterprise and government.
- Ireland’s Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has launched Quantum 2030, the country’s first national strategy for quantum technologies.
- Quantum computing, which uses principles of quantum theory to explain behaviour of energy and material at atomic and subatomic levels, is a key focus of the strategy.
- The strategy aims to make Ireland an internationally competitive hub for quantum technologies by 2030.
- Quantum computing application development in Ireland has grown significantly in recent years, with increased development of applications important to enterprise end-users, public sector organisations, and researchers.
- Irish organisations across various sectors are investing in or seeking collaborative development of quantum computing solutions for their research or business services.
- Quantum 2030 is structured around five pillars: supporting fundamental and applied quantum research, nurturing top science and engineering talent, strengthening national and international collaboration, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship and economic competitiveness, and building awareness of quantum technologies and their real-world benefits.
- The strategy recognises the potential of quantum technologies for innovation and competitiveness, and aims to prepare Ireland for the quantum revolution, with applications in areas such as smart medical technology, telecommunications, and climate change.
Quantum 2030 is structured around four distinct pillars and one cross-cutting pillar. These are:
Pillar 1: Supporting excellent fundamental and applied quantum research
Internationally excellent research underpins advances in quantum technologies. This pillar focuses on strengthening work in Ireland in fundamental and applied quantum research to enable breakthrough discoveries and feed the pipeline of innovations and technologies.
Pillar 2: Nurturing top science and engineering talent
This pillar focuses on developing a pipeline of agile, innovative and highly skilled individuals across the spectrum of quantum science, engineering and technology.
Pillar 3: Strengthening national and international collaboration
The scale of the challenges and investment required to realise quantum technologies means that some projects are only feasible through large-scale national and international collaborations. Greater national and international collaboration will allow Ireland to contribute to and learn from large-scale projects and best practice in quantum technologies.
Pillar 4: Fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and economic competitiveness
This pillar seeks to stimulate innovation and entrepreneurship in quantum technologies and related areas, including in indigenous small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It also aims to strengthen collaborative work between academia and enterprise.
Pillar 5: Building awareness of quantum technologies and real-world benefits
As quantum technologies are new and evolving at pace, it is important that we build awareness of quantum technologies and their real-world benefits across a broad range of stakeholders. The purpose of this pillar is to have a quantum-literate society that takes full advantage, for everyone, of the benefits quantum technologies can bring.