Trends Identified
Quantum Computing – Using Particle Physics for Computation
Quantum Computing uses the characteristics of quantum mechanics, i.e. the superposition and entanglement of subatomic particles. The so-called quantum bits (qubits) allow for an exponential gain in computing power compared to classical bits and promise to solve certain problems that are intractably complex and go beyond todays computing power. Quantum computing might threaten cryptography and cryptocurrency, as the unlimited computing power could make many encryptions ineffective. Potential application areas of quantum computing are quantum chemistry, encryption and security, optimization problems, large database search and operations, machine/deep learning, cryptography, DNA and other forms of molecular modeling. Quantum computing is at the very early stage of basic research mainly on quantum computational hardware, with no unambiguous quantum speed up observed yet and with few known algorithms,. The probabilistic nature of quantum computers makes utilization challenging for now. The technology is currently driven by research institutes, big corporate players like Google, IBM, Microsoft, Intel, HP, and most recently investors. According to Gartner, quantum computing is more than 10 years away and it is questionable if we will ever realize general purpose quantum computers. We might instead see rather narrow use cases. At this stage of research, we see the biggest potential in hybrid approaches like using classical FPGA’s in a quantum inspired way. Another idea would be to use build hybrid computers where classical and quantum CPUs are co-located on the same computer. Blind quantum computing could be used to delegate the computation to a quantum server without leaking any information, which might solve some of the expected security issues.
2018
Trend Report 2018 - Emerging Technology Trends
SAP
Quantum computing
Quantum computing is a type of nonclassical computing that is based on the quantum state of subatomic particles that represent information as elements denoted as quantum bits or “qubits.” Quantum computers are an exponentially scalable and highly parallel computing model. A way to imagine the difference between traditional and quantum computers is to imagine a giant library of books. While a classic computer would read every book in a library in a linear fashion, a quantum computer would read all the books simultaneously. Quantum computers are able to theoretically work on millions of computations at once. Quantum computing in the form of a commercially available, affordable and reliable service would transform some industries. eal-world applications range from personalized medicine to optimization of pattern recognition. This technology is still in an emerging state, which means it is a good time for businesses to increase their understanding of potential applications and consider any security implications. Aside from a select group of businesses where specific quantum algorithms would provide a major advantage, most enterprises could remain in exploration phase through 2022 and begin exploiting the technology later.
2018
Gartner Top 10 Strategic Technology Trends for 2019
Gartner
Quantum computing continues to advance
Quantum computing continues to make strides toward quantum supremacy – the point at which a quantum computer does something faster than an ordinary computer. The race to build commercially viable quantum computers is largely motivated by the shear amount of technological disruption this machine is expected to bring. Yet, several breakthroughs will be necessary before construction of a faulttolerant universal quantum processor capable of surpassing present-day supercomputers can be built. It is possible, however, that “imperfect” quantum computers can find interesting applications long before fully fault-tolerant quantum computers are available. In fact, the quest for “quantum supremacy” has paradoxically led to a boom in quasi-quantum classical algorithms. Further, hybrid approaches using both a classical and quantum computer in parallel will allow for running algorithms that demonstrate quantum advantage. Quantum computers may never perform some functions as well as classical computers. For example, no one anticipates streaming a film with a quantum computer. To this end, certain classes of problems will likely remain in the classical domain, and other classes of problems will be handled by quantum computers, such as cryptography, modeling and optimization, machine learning and prediction, and searching big data. Similar to the GPU co-processors that operate alongside classical CPUs, a quantum computer may take on much the same role for co-processing of problems that they are good at. As such, we may be headed toward a landscape of specific purpose quantum computing where classical machines do much of the heavy lifting and sub-portions of problems are handled by quantum machines. This capability is expected to initially be available in the cloud - Quantum Computing as a Service - which will lower the barrier to entry and provide an ability to quickly climb the learning curve. As with all disruptive technologies, quantum computers are both an opportunity and a threat, and Nasdaq is doing R&D to understand their impact on financial services. Our analysis indicates that concerns about quantum computers disrupting existing security solutions are real, and the time to prepare is now. Moreover, programming of quantum computers requires a significant learning curve and a different technical skill set. Finally, there is a need to identify business solutions and design quantum algorithms to solve them.
2019
NASDAQ DECODES: TECH TRENDS 2019 -The technology trends that are driving the world of markets forward
Nasdaq
Quantum computing
Quantum computers’ almost limitless potential has only ever been matched by the difficulty and cost of their construction. Which explains why today the small ones that have been built have not yet managed to exceed the power of supercomputers. But progress is being made and in 2016 the technology firm IBM provided the public access to the first quantum computer in the cloud. This has already led to more than 20 academic papers being published using the tool and today more than 50 start-ups and large corporations worldwide are focused on making quantum computing a reality. With such progress behind us, the word on people’s lips now is “Quantum Ready.”
2017
These are the top 10 emerging technologies of 2017
World Economic Forum (WEF)
Algorithms for Quantum Computers - Developers are perfecting programs meant to run on quantum computers
Quantum computers exploit quantum mechanics to perform calculations. Their basic unit of computation, the qubit, is analogous to the standard bit (zero or one), but it is in a quantum superposition between two computational quantum states: it can be a zero and a one at the same time. That property, along with another uniquely quantum feature known as entanglement, can enable quantum computers to resolve certain classes of problems more efficiently than any conventional computer can. This technology, while exciting, is notoriously finicky. A process called decoherence, for example, can disrupt its function. Investigators have determined that stringently controlled quantum computers that have a few thousand qubits could be made to withstand decoherence through a technique known as quantum error correction. But the largest quantum computers that laboratories have demonstrated so far—the most notable examples are from IBM, Google, Rigetti Computing and IonQ—contain just tens of quantum bits. These versions, which John Preskill of the California Institute of Technology named noisy intermediatescale quantum (NISQ) computers, cannot perform error correction yet. Nevertheless, a burst of research on algorithms written specifically for NISQs might enable these devices to perform certain calculations more efficiently than classic computers.
2018
Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2018
Scientific American
AI enablement
Putting AI to work by means of big data and feedback
2018
Corum Top Ten Disruptive Technology Trends 2018
Corum
Human enhancement
Pushed by military and medical research, human enhancement might change the day-to-day life experience of many Europeans in a few years from now-on, e.g. by creating an “augmented reality” and receiving information from IT via nerves-IT-interfaces. The big potential in terms of economic growth will be accompanied by policy and regulatory challenges and maybe even a societal divide. Any regulatory response must build on international cooperation to be efficient.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Prosthetics and body implants
Pushed by ever more knowledge on tissues, bio-compatibility of materials, biological processes and IT, prosthetic implants are about to be developed for ever more human body parts. Europeans will continue to embrace this development. Double-digit growth rates can be expected. There will also be policy and regulatory challenges. The question of affordability and a possible social divide may arise.
2015
Preparing the Commission for future opportunities - Foresight network fiches 2030
European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS)
Governing is getting harder
Publics will demand governments deliver security and prosperity, but flat revenues, distrust, polarization, and a growing list of emerging issues will hamper government performance. Technology will expand the range of players who can block or circumvent political action. Managing global issues will become harder as actors multiply—to include NGOs, corporations, and empowered individuals—resulting in more ad hoc, fewer encompassing efforts.
2017
Global Trends: The Paradox of Progress
USA, US National Intelligence Council
Public dept
Public debt is expected to operate as a significant
constraint on fiscal and policy options through to 2030 and beyond. Governments’ ability to bring debt under control and find new ways of delivering public services will affect
their capacity to respond to major social, economic and environmental challenges.
2014
Future State 2030: The global megatrends shaping governments
KPMG