GCRI · Quantum Technologies

Quantum technology engineering

Quantum computing, sensing and communication is the technology this platform stewards. It turns quantum physics into engineered devices, and its central task is to measure progress honestly: comparable benchmarks, classical baselines and readiness assessed against real use.

01Register

Quantum technology engineering on the record.

Method recordSTEM method
  1. MethodQuantum computing, sensing and communication
  2. StewardQuantum Technologies
  3. Applied inQuantum Technologies
  4. Canonical pageSTEM Commons
02Application

What quantum computing, sensing and communication does here.

Quantum computing, sensing and communication exploit quantum mechanical effects to process information and make measurements. They promise new capabilities and pose a long-term threat to current public-key cryptography. In quantum and cyber and digital resilience, quantum technology assessment informs when to migrate critical systems to quantum-resistant cryptography. Quantum sensing may improve navigation and subsurface monitoring for infrastructure. The canonical description is on the STEM Commons.

Comparable benchmarking

Devices are compared with holistic and application benchmarks run under stated conditions, and results are reported with the classical methods they are measured against.

Technology readiness assessment

Each application is assessed for readiness from laboratory demonstration to field use, using defined levels and evidence for each step.

Security implications tracking

Progress toward fault-tolerant computing is tracked against the resources estimated to break current cryptography, informing migration urgency.

03Monitor

Quantum experiment.

The screen a team would use to follow this method: its measures, states and decisions. Names are examples and values are illustrative.

Quantum experiment

Quantum technologies · Quantum technology engineering · Run R-3612

Calibration runGCRI · Quantum Technologies

Qubit calibration

Q053900.009Drifting
Q1801230.006In spec
Q293310.006In spec
Q3119550.007Drifting

Method card

Method
Quantum computing, sensing and communication
Device
example testbed
Shots
8221
Label
MODELLED

Randomised benchmarking

Quantum experiment: the screen’s structure, terms and states for Quantum technologies.Example names and illustrative values; a design, not a record or a live system.
04Data

What the method consumes.

Datasets and records used by quantum computing, sensing and communication on this platform, with the role each plays and the label its values carry. Sources are listed in the source register.

DataRoleLabel
Benchmark resultsComparisonREPORTED
Field trial reportsReadinessREPORTED
Resource estimatesSecurity thresholdsESTIMATED
05Methods and evidence

How quantum technology engineering is modelled, measured and tested.

The model, its assumptions, its data and its uncertainty, in the form a scientist or engineer would check. Structures follow published methods. The values drawn are illustrative, not findings.

System model

The couplings between the systems in quantum technology engineering: signs of influence, a reinforcing and a balancing loop, and cross-links where stress jumps.

++−+QuantumCyberCommunitiesEconomyR reinforcingB balancing
Causal loop diagram from the page’s systems; signs show the direction of influence. Illustrative structure for a system dynamics or network model, not estimated couplings.
FAIR guiding principles · GO FAIR and FORCE11W3C PROV · World Wide Web ConsortiumGuidance on consistent treatment of uncertainties · IPCCCEOS Analysis Ready Data · Committee on Earth Observation Satellites
06Validation

How results are checked.

Hardware is characterised through standard benchmarking protocols and cross-platform comparison. Claims of advantage are tested against classical methods.

CheckHow it is done
Best classical baselineClaims are compared with the strongest classical method known
Benchmark conditionsBenchmark settings are fully reported
Readiness evidenceEach readiness level is supported by documented evidence

Noise, decoherence and engineering constraints limit current devices. Timelines for practical capability are uncertain.

07Process

How the process runs.

Process

Quantum technology engineering: Post-quantum cryptography migration

NIST published FIPS 203, 204 and 205 on 13 August 2024; the migration steps are common practice, and the IR 8547 timeline is a draft.

  1. 01 Discover

    1. 01Cryptographic inventoryDatasetOrganisations must find where vulnerable algorithms are used and plan to replace or update them. The inventory lists algorithms and keys.
    2. 02Prioritise by data lifetime and exposureStepIR 8547 names the harvest now, decrypt later threat. Systems holding long-lived sensitive data come first.
  2. 02 Plan

    1. 03Select standardised algorithmsStepFIPS 203, 204 and 205 specify ML-KEM, ML-DSA and SLH-DSA. Falcon and HQC were selected for ongoing standardisation.
    2. 04Vendor roadmapsDataset · Programme directorHardware security modules and libraries need vendor support for the selected algorithms. Roadmaps come from each vendor.
  3. 03 Deploy

    1. 05Hybrid deploymentModelIR 8547 says migration may start with hybrids of quantum-resistant and quantum-vulnerable algorithms, secure if one component is secure.
    2. 06TestExerciseInteroperability, performance and fallback are tested before cut-over.
    3. 07Cut over and retireDecision · Programme directorIn draft IR 8547, 112-bit public-key algorithms are deprecated after 2030 and quantum-vulnerable ones disallowed after 2035.
  4. 04 Sustain

    1. 08Crypto agilityStepCrypto agility is the ability to replace and adapt cryptographic algorithms while preserving security and ongoing operations.

Neutral outline of a published external standard or method, from its issuing body. Not a record of operation. Nexus does not perform, certify or approve any step shown. A gate or decision belongs to the party the source names.

09Stewardship

Who maintains the method.

Quantum Technologies stewards quantum computing, sensing and communication for the Consortium and reviews how it is applied across platforms.

10Questions

Questions and answers.

What are the limits of quantum computing, sensing and communication in this field?
Noise, decoherence and engineering constraints limit current devices. Timelines for practical capability are uncertain.
How are results checked?
Hardware is characterised through standard benchmarking protocols and cross-platform comparison. Claims of advantage are tested against classical methods.
Are the values on this page real?
The data names, roles and checks are real descriptions of practice. The canvas shows a design of the method’s use, not a run; no result is reported here.
Where else is this method applied?
The canonical method page lists every platform that applies it.
ReportsContribute

Contribute evidence from this page.

Reports is the Consortium’s quarterly publication. What you know about this subject can become evidence, a case or a correction in the next edition, credited to you and published under CC BY 4.0 where it is your own work.

GCRIQuantum TechnologiesExponential TechnologyForesight Outlook
Quantum Technologies

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Information and enquiries are open today. An enquiry receives a reference and names the next step; applications, payments, compute allocations and registrations open only when their team, terms and review capacity exist.

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