UK's play to win a quantum computing race that is still highly theoretical

To mark World Quantum Day, the UK government says it will stump up a £121 million ($158 million) investment in the ever-distant technology that proponents claim has the potential to shake up the world.

The new funding, which will be made available over the next year, aims to give researchers the opportunity to bring their ideas for applications such as quantum health and cybersecurity to life, according to the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT).

As part of the government's much-vaunted Plan for Change announced last year, this move is to "further secure the UK's position as a world leader in quantum" as part of the government's long-term commitment to the sector.

If it was that important, you may think that a "world leader" would invest more than £121 million. In the US, the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act has unlocked $2.7 billion over the ...