Quantum technology may seem like something from the distant future, but in reality it is getting closer and closer. What can this revolutionary technology mean for (central) government? Find out during the CIO café on Tuesday, Feb. 11. Learn more about what this technology entails, which applications the government is already exploring and what opportunities it offers. Here is a sneak peek.
During the CIO café, you will meet inspiring speakers:
Frank Phillipson (senior scientist at TNO and professor at Maastricht University) kicks off with an introduction on quantum technology and feasilibity.
Hannah Boute (substantive process supervisor Exploratory Quantum Technology Assessment and team member at the Centre for Quantum and Society at Quantum Delta Netherlands) highlights the non-technical, societal and ethical aspects of quantum applications. She takes you through a use case from Evides, where quantum sensing is used to monitor water quality.
Thomas van der Meer (Innovation Manager at the Ministry of Finance) concluded with a concrete case study on the use of quantum computing to monitor grass plots via satellite imagery.
Quantum technology is an umbrella term for technologies that use properties from quantum mechanics. The particles are smaller than atoms and have special properties, such as superposition (something can have multiple states at once) and entanglement (particles are connected, even at a distance). This perhaps complicated-sounding technology offers many possibilities. One example of an application is real-time improvement of traffic flows to reduce congestion.
According to Van der Meer, now is the time to act: "The UN has declared 2025 the year of quantum technology. It's a fascinating technology, but we don't yet know exactly what it will take to translate it into practice. Van der Meer calls for collaboration: "We need to build networks and think about where we get quantum capacity."
Boute emphasizes the opportunities that lie ahead for the Netherlands by exploring the opportunities and challenges of this technology now. She states, "With Artificial Intelligence (AI), we saw how quickly a technology can break through and surprise organizations. We can learn from that. Look ahead and exploit opportunities early. Then you can position yourself as a frontrunner."
Van der Meer: "Developments are moving at lightning speed. A functioning quantum computer is expected to be available between 2030 and 2035, and so far we are on track to reach this milestone." Still, organizations remain cautious. Van der Meer: "The use cases currently have insufficient added value. This has everything to do with the 'classical problem': quantum computers are not powerful enough right now, so experiments remain out of the question."
Like classical computers in the 1950s, quantum technology is still expensive and of limited availability. Phillipson predicts that quantum computers will become more accessible via Web services in the future. "Complex problems will probably be solved at a high price, just as you pay a lot now for specialized software and the use of large-scale (HPC) computing clusters. You're not going to use a quantum computer to compute an Excel spreadsheet. It's mainly about Web services, where quantum computers can be accessed through the cloud," he explained.
"Because the government is already exploring the possibilities of quantum technology, the technology is becoming more tangible, contributing to greater awareness and later successful adoption," Boute said. Ministries such as Infrastructure and Water Management and Finance are taking the lead by organizing technical explorations. These explorations help officials, ICT practitioners and policy makers better understand quantum technology. This contributes not only to demystification, but also to increasing confidence and provides insight into the societal impact.
Boute: "We regularly organize sessions with ministries and other stakeholders, such as professionals, policymakers, ICT specialists and citizens. During these sessions, we explore applications of quantum technology in a concrete context with stakeholders from different perspectives. In this way we gain insight into the possible positive and negative effects of quantum applications in that context and the underlying values. Consider, for example, being able to detect pollution in water faster with quantum sensors. That is a positive effect behind which you can find the values of health and safety. You can then design those values into the technology and into its implementation and use." Combining perspectives from different stakeholders and identifying values from a concrete context, leads to an acceleration of responsible innovation.
Phillipson adds that TNO is exploring quantum solutions with government and companies. A 'quantum inspired approach' already offers the opportunity to tackle classical challenges in a new way. He indicates that government organizations need to start identifying which problems can be solved with quantum solutions. In which a good understanding of the technology is essential.
Van der Meer draws a clear parallel with generative AI. "For years, AI was an unknown technology, until ChatGPT caused an exponential growth in attention to generative AI. Solutions like ChatGPT can make work easier for officials, but the frameworks on how it can be used are still up for debate. We want to avoid that with quantum. Understand where the technology adds value and look for relevant applications. That's how you help citizens and make processes more efficient."
Phillipson stresses the importance of vigilance and vision. "Keep an eye on the speed of technological progress and make sure you have - or have access to - experts who understand the implications of quantum computing. Map out future needs, opportunities and vulnerabilities and experiment to see how it works."
Phillipson paints a picture of developments abroad: "In the U.S., we are seeing huge investments from the private sector, while China is investing from the public sector." Van der Meer adds that Singapore is a forerunner in legislation and quantum secure cryptography. Within Europe, the Netherlands collaborates a lot with Germany and France."
Phillipson emphasizes that Europe is very fragmented; quantum technology is popping up everywhere, but we operate as 30 islands, without much coordination. Each country is trying to build its own position, which increases our dependencies. Moreover, Europe lacks entrepreneurial spirit and risk appetite, and startup funding is difficult. "In five years, the best start-ups will probably all be owned by American companies. They will wait and see, buy the best players and thus dominate the market."
According to Phillipson, the solution is clear: "Centralize knowledge, bundle expertise and work together so that the wheel is not reinvented everywhere. A (virtual) European knowledge center can play a connecting role in this, giving technicians and policy makers access to information and stimulating cooperation."
Quantum technology can seem intimidating - it's even more complex than AI or Internet of Things (IoT) - but organizations can get started right away with these 3 practical steps:
Increase knowledge: take the 1st step by delving into quantum technology. Start with basic exploration. Follow a workshop (for example from RADIO), do a trial or invite an expert, from TNO or Quantum Delta for example. Immerse yourself in a game, (online) lecture or drop by the CIO café on Feb. 11.
Identify opportunities: analyze the problems and challenges within your organization. What challenges can be solved with quantum technology?
Work together: organize workshops, build networks with stakeholders, and organize your own trials.
Get inspired and discover the opportunities of quantum technology for your organization at the CIO-café on Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 4 to 5 p.m. at café-restaurant Rootz in The Hague. Sign up for the CIO-café(link to other website).
