China officially announced an ambitious plan - for five years to go forward in the field of circuits and quantum technologies, in particular - in the field of metrology. According to Chinese officials, it is about eliminating "measuring gaps" in high -precision areas where the country is now lagging behind.
China seeks to achieve breakthroughs in measuring technologies that are critical for artificial intelligence, circuits, quantum sensors, additive production and robotics. Power plans to create a new metrology system based on quantum technologies, focusing on devices such as: quantum gyroscopes for autonomous navigation; frequency combs built into the chips used to measure light frequencies; Nano -scale integrated schemes for sensory metrology.
This initiative of China appeared less than a year after launching a similar program in the US - Chips for American, aimed at developing the American metrological infrastructure. These programs are part of a broader technological rivalry between the two countries, especially in the sections of circuits and rare earth metals. The US rigidly control the export of advanced chips to China, for national security reasons, and the PRC in response uses its monopoly to rare earth metals as a geopolitical tool. These 17 chemical elements are key to defense, energy, medicine and microelectronics. They are used in the production of lasers, radars, processors, lenses, batteries and more. The largest reserves are in China, India, Brazil, Russia. In Ukraine, there are small but promising deposits in Vinnytsia and Zhytomyr regions. Experts estimate that the US is highly dependent on the import of these materials from China, which makes the topic even more strategic.
While the United States is put on advanced electronics and fundamental research, China is betting on a systematic approach and implementing accurate measurements in each technological stage. China wants not only to copy, but to create a new metrology paradigm based on quantum and neural technologies.
