In February 2020, the White House National Quantum Coordination Office released “A Strategic Vision for America’s Quantum Networks,” a policy document outlining the United States’ approach to developing a quantum internet. The vision was developed through the coordinating bodies established by the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018, including the NQCO and the National Science and Technology Council’s Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS).
The document established community goals for quantum networking on two timescales. Over the next five years, companies and laboratories in the United States were expected to demonstrate foundational science and key technologies for quantum networks, including quantum interconnects, quantum repeaters, quantum memories, high-throughput quantum channels, and space-based entanglement distribution. Over the next twenty years, quantum internet links would enable new capabilities not possible with classical technology.
The strategic vision recommended six specific technical areas for focused research activity: technology and platform development for key components; transduction of quantum sources and signals; entanglement and hyper-entangled state generation; development of quantum memories and small-scale quantum computers compatible with photon-based qubits; exploration of novel algorithms and applications for long-range entanglement; and exploration of techniques for both terrestrial and space-based entanglement distribution.
The strategy reflected deep community input from SCQIS request-for-information responses of 2018 and 2019 and from workshops hosted by federal agencies. A DOE Quantum Internet Blueprint workshop held February 5-6, 2020, complemented the strategic vision by defining a potential roadmap toward building a nationwide quantum internet.