Quantum Sensing is entering an R&D Fast-track in the 2020s
What is the potential utility of QS? A brief curated overview.
Hey Everyone,
I’ve noticed Quantum sensing is suddenly getting a lot more attention in the media. Quantum sensing is exciting like startups are saying also because it’s not just limited to information processing - and it’s likely to be here much sooner.
Quantum sensing covers motion – including acceleration, rotation and gravity – electric and magnetic fields, and imaging. The benefits to quantum sensing include:
Measuring electric and magnetic fields very accurately across many frequencies.
Measuring physical quantities against atomic properties, so there is no drift or need to calibrate.
Using quantum entanglement to improve sensitivity or precision.
Quantum Sensing is a U.S. Department of Energy Priority, while A senior commercialization executive in the Energy Office of Technology Transitions told NextGov quantum sensing is a DOE priority, according to Quantum Insider.
QS will allow for more accurate measurements and could offer higher accessibility than existing sensors (for instance, through device miniaturization). The US electrical grid uses global positioning technologies but, quantum sensors have the power to report data directly from the electrical grid.
Even in the ESG context, Quantum Sensing methods apparently holds promise for improving Greenhouse gas detection. Maybe the World Economic Forum’s ideas around Quantum computing being helpful for global warming isn’t just a pipedream.
The World Econimic Forum believes that Quantum technology is a rapidly advancing field. With the application of quantum sensors, quantum communication systems and quantum computing, it has the potential to revolutionise various industries. The development of quantum technology in Africa should accelerate progress across healthcare, finance and agriculture, bringing about meaningful societal advancement.
China is also getting on the bandwagon of Quantum sending R&D. Quantum researchers in China claim to have an algorithm capable of breaking public-key encryption, years before anyone expected. China is also doing impressive experiments in Quantum communications.
Quantum computing, quantum encryption, and quantum sensing constitute the three primary domains within QIS. Analytics argue that if the Biden administration is serious about its designation of quantum information science (QIS) as a critical technology area for national security, it must do more to safeguard U.S. quantum superiority. It’s not clear they know how.
The quantum sensing market opportunity
Quantum technologies also carry immense potential market value, with quantum computing alone expected to reach a global market value of $1 trillion by 2035.
Many tech giants and start-ups have already invested significantly in quantum technologies, with confirmed and announced deals for 2021 alone totaling about $2.1 billion. I think we will be seeing more Quantum computing startups focusing on quantum technologies like Quantum sensing to diversify and leverage the tech that has more near-term applications across industries that have yet to be fully tapped into.
According to a new report from McKinsey & Partners, in partnership with the Viva Technology show, the (Quantum) technology will have a global market value of $1 trillion by 2035.
Quantum sensors possess extraordinarily fine-tuned capabilities. When these sensors are coupled with artificial intelligence that can sort through the massive amounts of data they generate, exciting new applications can be created. These include enhanced medical imaging technology, natural resource exploration, and global navigation without GPS satellites. Quantum Sensing this become important for space superiority among nations.
So let’s get into some of the good stuff:
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