Quantum Technologies

Dr Graham Herries, chair of the IET’s Digital Futures Policy Centre, on a new frontier for systems engineering.

Since the discovery of quantum physics over a century ago, it has helped us understand the universe better than ever before and has resulted in many new devices that depend on that understanding, from the transistor to the laser. Over the last 10 years, quantum technologies have begun to move out of research laboratories worldwide and be tested in real-world applications.

More recently, due to our ever-increasing capability to precisely control individual particles and their physical interactions, we’re now able to build new technologies that directly exploit the fundamental principles of quantum physics. Our ability to do this is often referred to as the ‘second quantum revolution’ and is enabling the development of devices referred to as ‘quantum technologies’.

The applications of quantum technologies are vast, spanning quantum computing, sensing and communications. The quantum technologies being developed for these applications differ from previous technologies due to their reliance on uniquely quantum effects such as non-determinism and entanglement; these effects allow such technologies to achieve significant advantages over their classical counterparts.

The world is currently experiencing the second quantum revolution with huge potential across a diverse range of applications, from environmental monitoring and healthcare to defence and navigation. It could help deliver on sustainability targets by improving our solar panels and batteries, in addition to cutting the energy demands of data centres.

The 2023 McKinsey Quantum technology monitor indicates a vibrant and flourishing quantum ecosystem. It expects the global quantum computing market to reach $93bn by 2040, with the overall quantum technology market potential estimated at $106bn; quantum sensing, timing, imaging and communications each have an estimated market size ranging from $1bn to $7bn by 2040.

However, before those advantages can be realised in practice, the quantum technologies must be integrated into wider systems. Even though quantum is beginning to move from laboratories to tangible application, it faces specific challenges from a systems engineering perspective to ensure it can integrate with other systems safely and effectively.

Quantum will present challenges for systems engineering, as the very nature of the technology means it is nondeterministic. So, unlike traditional systems, this increased uncertainty will make it more challenging for systems engineering to measure and predict outcomes, and therefore how it interacts with other parts of a system.

Quantum is also highly fragile and is susceptible to its interactions with outside systems, which adds further uncertainty. It also cannot be copied in the same way classical information can, which makes it harder to replicate.

As a result of all these challenges, quantum will be harder to regulate when products come to market. That being said, the IET’s latest white paper on the subject has some positive recommendations on how quantum technologies can make a real impact and benefit society, significantly improving our economy.

The UK already has a strong background in systems engineering and is a global leader in developing quantum technologies, ranked second for the number of quantum companies. However, what will make the UK stand out globally in the future is its strength in bringing both quantum and systems engineering together.

Systems engineering is critical to ensure new technologies integrate seamlessly into the existing environment, whether physical or digital, without unforeseen effects. This is particularly the case for quantum, as it can have non-local effects. Systems engineering can mitigate this through effective planning and strategies such as compartmentalisation to help to contain the quantum effects from the wider system. This would aid validation and regulation of the wider product and help to address some of the regulatory challenges.

For the UK to continue to be a key player in the field of quantum, there needs to be greater quantum literacy within industry, particularly at C-suite level, to understand what opportunities the technology presents to their business.

In our latest IET Digital skills survey, we found that 54% of engineering employers surveyed did not feel that senior management understands emerging technologies such as quantum. Quantum technologies can improve accuracy and increase efficacy and efficiency in projects, which will have a range of untapped potential to improve businesses.

The UK is going to require skills in quantum at a range of levels (from PhD to technician) and across different industries. Already, employers say that a digital skills gap is harming productivity (49%) and restricts growth (35%), without the emergence of new technology such as quantum. Specific skills are needed in quantum systems engineering to enable the use and integration of new quantum technologies into a mixed quantum/ classical system. Through repurposing unused apprenticeship levy funding, for example, SMEs can be supported to increase their skills in this area and ensure that the full supply chain can prepare for its effects.

Quantum will require a new approach to regulation as it is inherently hard to replicate and predict and can have non-local effects in a system. Government and regulators should use the 2024 Regulation of quantum technology applications report by the Regulatory Horizons Council as a basis for further discussion. Going forward, regulators should expand on this to focus on the systems element of regulation in this field.

Further support is needed to engineer solutions to the unique challenges that quantum faces through systems engineering. Systems thinking should be embedded at an early stage in the development of new quantum technologies, and support should be given to the development of approaches to developing combined quantum and classic systems.

Once commercialised, quantum technologies are poised to make a real positive impact on society, ranging from improved communication in challenging environments to improved covertness. These advances are expected to lead to significant impact to the economy – for example, via the UK government’s National Quantum Strategy Missions, which set out strategic challenges where quantum technologies will make a tangible difference.
Systems engineering will need to accommodate quantum technology as a new technology substrate. It is likely there will be some modification required, for example a new engineering discipline. This concerns the engineering of technologies employing and exploiting quantum effects, which will need to develop. Without this, it will be a struggle to turn this promise into well-engineered products that achieve the UK quantum technology mission’s aims.

As the National Quantum Technologies Programme continues to develop quantum technologies and drive them towards commercialisation, systems engineering of quantum-based systems needs to be developed.
In January we held a roundtable in the House of Commons to launch our report and discuss its key findings and recommendations with the report authors, senior civil servants and parliamentarians. The roundtable was hosted by Dan Aldridge MP, chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Digital Innovation.