美英量子计算协议为何对这一新兴技术至关重要
内容总结：
美英签署量子计算合作备忘录 全球科技竞赛再添变数
在美国前总统特朗普对英国进行国事访问期间，美英两国签署了一份旨在推动量子计算技术发展的谅解备忘录。此举虽在当时盛大的仪仗与抗议活动中未引起广泛关注，但标志着两国在抢占下一代技术制高点的全球竞赛中迈出了实质性一步。
根据该协议，双方将共同致力于实现"真正的量子优势"，即让量子计算机在实际应用中全面超越传统经典计算机。合作内容包括建立"量子产业交流计划"及联合基准测试工作组，以制定行业技术标准。尽管谅解备忘录不具法律约束力，但它反映了两国将量子技术这一前沿科技领域制度化的共同意愿。
当前，全球主要经济体正加速布局量子技术。欧盟委员会已于今年7月提出战略目标，力争在2030年前成为量子技术领域的全球领导者。日本政府则承诺投入74亿美元发展该技术，投资规模暂居全球首位，英国以35亿美元紧随其后。美国国防部等机构也通过"量子基准计划"等项目积极介入。
行业动向同样活跃。美国量子计算公司IonQ正与能源部合作探索太空量子技术应用，而Rigetti公司近期获得580万美元政府合同，用于开发量子网络与传感技术。业内专家指出，量子技术不仅关乎万亿美元市场规模，更涉及国家安全命脉。有分析认为，量子网络可能在军事冲突中保护定位系统，其突破甚至可能破解现有加密体系，对区块链等安全基础设施构成挑战。
尽管量子计算机要实现商业化仍需多年技术攻关，IBM、Quantinuum等企业预计到2030年才能推出容错量子计算机，但各国政府与企业的密集布局表明，这场关乎未来科技主导权的竞赛已经全面展开。正如英国首相斯塔默所言，量子技术蕴含着"解决难题、治愈疾病、解放人类潜能"的巨大可能性，其发展轨迹将深刻影响全球科技格局。
中文翻译：
美英量子计算协定为何对这项新兴技术至关重要
两国宣布将携手实现“真正量子优势”并制定行业标准。
唐纳德·特朗普总统对英国进行第二次国事访问的一周里，尽管庆典活动与抗议示威交织，但有一项进展几乎被淹没在喧嚣中：这两个盟国签署了推进量子计算发展的谅解备忘录。
这份同时提及人工智能与核能的协定约定，两国政府将共同推动实现“真正量子优势”，即让量子计算在广泛领域超越经典计算机。具体举措包括建立“量子产业交流计划”及联合基准测试工作组，以制定全行业统一的量子计算标准。
需知谅解备忘录本质是不具约束力的协议。但此举延续了两国将量子技术合法化的努力——这项常被视为下一代颠覆性前沿科技的技术近期频获进展：就在过去一周，美国两大知名量子计算公司IonQ与Rigetti分别宣布获得联邦政府合同。IonQ计划与能源部合作在太空部署量子技术，Rigetti则获580万美元拨款，将在未来三年研发量子网络与传感技术。
“联邦政府在研发领域的每一点投入都惠及整个生态圈，”Rigetti首席执行官苏博德·库尔卡尼表示，“量子竞赛已经展开，美国政府能推出此类项目令人振奋。”
全球量子布局早已紧锣密鼓：欧盟委员会七月提出2030年量子技术领跑战略；美国国防部旗下设有量子基准测试计划；麦肯锡今年报告显示日本以74亿美元量子投资居首，英国以35亿美元位列第二。
各国动机高度一致：美英等国正竞相争夺首个商业化量子技术的桂冠，以抢占全球市场份额。更不必说这项强大技术伴随的安全隐忧——本刊曾报道量子计算可能破解比特币底层区块链加密技术，颠覆数十年来的数据保护体系。
风险远不止于此。Infleqtion公司CEO马特·金塞拉指出，量子网络在冲突中可能发挥关键作用，全球定位系统（GPS）将成为热战中首要瘫痪目标。这或许能解释为何美国国防部近年持续加码量子领域，例如Rigetti自2023年起承担以芯片制造为核心的多项军方合同。
尽管量子技术仍处萌芽阶段，但日益增长的政府参与表明，其价值已超越投机者追逐风口的热忱。英国首相基尔·斯塔默在周四记者会上强调该合作将改变人类生活：“这是确保人工智能、量子等技术放大人类潜能……解决问题、治愈疾病、创造财富与自由的契机。”
虽然应用场景听起来宽泛，但科学家已在从科学研究到供应链优化、金融等各领域探索实践。随着私营企业Quantinuum与行业巨头IBM等公司力争在2030年前造出容错量子计算机，这项技术持续演进。投资者或需数年才能验证量子技术是否真如承诺般具有变革性，但现有迹象正昭示这种可能性。
英文来源：
Why the US-UK quantum computing pact is vital for the nascent technology
The countries say they will work together to ‘realize true quantum advantage’ and develop standards.
As the United Kingdom received President Donald Trump for his second state visit, a week characterized by pageantry and protests, one development went largely overlooked: the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the two allies to advance the development of quantum computing.
Under the pact, which also made mention of artificial intelligence and nuclear energy, the governments agreed to work together to “realize true quantum advantage," or get to the point in which quantum computers broadly outperform classical machines.
Propositions include the creation of a “Quantum Industry Exchange Program," and a joint benchmarking taskforce to create industry-wide standards for quantum computing.
It’s worth nothing that an MoU is nothing more than a non-binding agreement. However, it builds on both countries’ efforts to legitimize quantum, which is often seen as the next frontier in technology.
Just this past week, IonQ and Rigetti Computing, two of the best-known quantum pure plays in the U.S., announced separate deals with the federal government.
IonQ plans to partner with the Department of Energy to deploy quantum technology in space, while Rigetti was awarded $5.8 million to build quantum networking and sensing technology over the next three years. (Barron’s first reported on this contract at the end of August).
“Every bit of federal involvement in the R&D area helps all of us in the ecosystem," Rigetti CEO Subodh Kulkarni told Barron’s, referencing the quantum industry at large. “The race is on, and it’s great to see the U.S. government step up with projects like this."
In July, the European Commission put forward a strategy to position Europe as a global leader in quantum by 2030. The U.S. has its own programs such as the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative under the Department of Defense.
A report published by McKinsey earlier this year showed that Japan was outpacing its allies in terms of quantum investment. At the time, the Japanese government had pledged a total of $7.4 billion to develop the technology. The next largest contributor was the U.K. at just $3.5 billion.
Motivations are the same across the board. The U.S., the U.K., and other countries are fighting to be the first to develop commercially viable quantum and snap up their share of the global market.
That’s not to mention the security issues associated with the advent of such powerful systems. Barron’s previously reported how quantum computing could disrupt the blockchain technology underlying Bitcoin, the world’s biggest cryptocurrency, cracking the encryption that has protected data for decades.
There’s even more at risk. Matt Kinsella, CEO of Infleqtion, asserted that quantum networking could play a vital role in a conflict, saying GPS, or global positioning systems, would be “the first thing that’s going to go" in a hot war.
Quantum’s potential role in national security might explain why the DoD has taken such an interest over the past few years. Rigetti, for one, has active contracts dating back to 2023, which largely center on chip fabrication.
Quantum may be nascent, but the growing federal involvement shows it has caught the eye of more than just speculative investors looking to buy into the next “it" technology.
U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer addressed the partnership at a press conference Thursday, going so far as to say quantum could change lives. “It’s our chance to ensure that technologies like AI, quantum and others amplify human potential … solve problems, cure diseases, make us richer and freer," Starmer continued.
The use cases may sound vague, but scientists have been exploring applications in everything from science to supply chain optimization to banking.
The technology continues to develop. Companies have been looking for ways to build bigger machines while cutting down on errors. Major players, from privately held Quantinuum to industry giant International Business Machines, expect t0 have fault-tolerant machines by the end of the decade.
It will be years before investors know whether quantum is the transformative technology they’ve been promised, though there are signs that indicate it just might be.