By Jarrett Renshaw

(Reuters] – Wednesday’s White House announcement will include a series of actions to promote quantum technology and cybersecurity measures that can be used to protect against supercomputers.

U.S. and foreign nations have been in an intense race to develop quantum technology. It could be a catalyst for advances in materials science, artificial intelligence, and chemistry. Quantum computers (NASDAQ) can work millions of times more efficiently than the most advanced supercomputers.

Quantum computers can do many calculations at once, as opposed to a classical computer.

The President Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order that will strengthen the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee. This committee, which acts as the independent advisory body of experts for the quantum information science/technology sector in the United States government, will be signed by Joe Biden. It places the advisory board directly under the control of the White House. This allows the president, and all other important decision makers to have easy access to the latest information.

In the coming weeks, the White House will name the board members.

Biden will also sign a national security memorandum outlining the administration’s plan to address the risks posed by quantum computers to America’s cybersecurity.

Senior administration officials stated that research indicates that quantum computers could soon be large enough to crack much of cryptography used in digital communications.

The senior official from the administration stated that the presidential directives were released to help balance scientific and economic imperatives and our obligations to protect people, communications, and investments.

The memorandum gives federal agencies a guideline to improve their information technology systems for complex quantum attacks. Goals and milestones are established. This memorandum establishes an intergovernmental working group to promote research and work together on standards for quantum resistance.