Militarisation of Quantum Research and Global Tech Arms Race

Context

• A group calling itself “Quantum Scientists for Disarmament” has issued a manifesto opposing the growing militarisation of quantum research, urging academics to reject defence funding and demand transparency in university–military partnerships.

Why the Manifesto Now?

• Global Rearmament Trends: NATO’s 2024 quantum strategy and similar initiatives in the EU, U.S., and China frame quantum research as part of emerging and disruptive technologies critical to national security.
• India’s Defence Integration: In January 2026, India’s Chief of Defence Staff unveiled a Military Quantum Mission Policy Framework aligning defence R&D with national quantum capabilities under the National Quantum Mission.

The manifesto positions itself as a response to these developments, arguing that defence patronage risks reshaping research priorities.

Why Quantum Science Is Strategically Sensitive

• Quantum Computing: Quantum computers could break current cryptographic systems, potentially undermining military communications and global financial security.
• Quantum Communication: Quantum key distribution (QKD) promises theoretically unhackable communication networks—valuable for defence and intelligence.
• Quantum Sensors: High-precision quantum sensors can enhance submarine detection, drone navigation, missile tracking and GPS-denied operations.
• Timing and Navigation: Atomic clocks and quantum timing systems enable resilient navigation systems independent of satellite signals—strategically critical in warfare.

These capabilities explain why defence establishments prioritise quantum research.

What the Manifesto Demands

• Collective Opposition to Military Use: Researchers call for public resistance to military applications of quantum science and advocacy for peaceful research norms.
• Transparency in Funding: The group proposes a public database listing defence-funded quantum projects in universities to expose hidden or indirect funding streams.
• Ethics Debate Within Academia: They seek institutional forums to debate the moral implications of dual-use research and to encourage ethical guidelines.
• Rejection of Military Funding: The manifesto urges academics to decline defence grants, arguing that such funding structurally biases research agendas.

Militarisation of Quantum Research

Sharing is caring!