January 15, 2026

Quantum Computing’s Industrial Challenge

By: Constanza M. Vidal Bustamante

This article was originally published in Just Security.

The United States, China, and Europe are preparing to refresh their national quantum programs in 2026, making this a pivotal year for quantum policy. As quantum sensors and computers move toward real-world utility and nations compete to secure their economic and security advantages, they are converging on a defining challenge: whether their industrial bases and supply chains are ready to support scale.

The United States and Europe must take care not to turn their drive for self-reliance into costly fragmentation.

Despite boasting a world-leading ecosystem of universities and startups, thin and globally dispersed supply chains increasingly constrain U.S. quantum progress. The United States relies heavily on foreign (including Chinese) or fragile single-supplier markets for critical inputs, from precision lasers and cryogenics to photonic materials and advanced microfabrication. Yet less than twelve percent of federal quantum funding supports domestic enabling technologies and manufacturing capacity. Congressional bills and rumored upcoming executive orders signal awareness of some of these gaps, but concrete outcomes remain uncertain, especially as quantum continues to compete for attention with higher-profile policy priorities such as AI and conventional semiconductor manufacturing.

Read the full article on Just Security.

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