Some of the researchers vying for QuIST funding are from universities in Canada and Europe. Indeed, Sastry says, the agency was created after the Russians launched Sputnik, an event that surprised and embarrassed the American intelligence community because no one had any inkling of the advanced state of the Russian space program. Many projects of strategic importance might not capture the attention of other agencies, such as the National Science Foundation, that only use a peer-review process to allocate funds, as scientists are typically conservative about pursuing avenues that have only a small chance of success, Sastry says. Quantum information theory certainly qualifies as high-risk research. The dramatic results are all theoretical.
Most researchers agree that practical devices, if possible at all, are a long way off.
Several groups of researchers have built tiny quantum computers that can store just a few bits, and have developed protocols for quantum cryptography that can send encryption keys over short distances. But it's not clear that any of the current approaches could lead to practical devices. Still, the government has great hopes for the technology and is willing to dedicate vast resources toward addressing it. The security of the entire Internet could be at risk. Not surprisingly, intelligence officials say they'd like to see more research on quantum theory's potential to unlock existing codes and create new ones.