Are researchers closing in on the discovery of quantum computing? Let’s hope the EU’s funding, which is set to begin in Mid-2018, will be the needed push to make this much needed discovery.

The European Union doesn’t want to leave to chance the discovery of the fundamentals of quantum computing to scientists, instead it prefers a more proactive approach: it is all set to give the concept a big financial push.

The European Commission has unveiled a plan in which it will invest 1 billion euros, equivalent to $1.13 billion, for establishing a “quantum technologies flagship”. This is in line its other efforts to turn help turn scientific discoveries into realisable opportunities.

The impact of quantum computing will be manifold, the European Commission expects it to have an impact on virtually the entire technological world, from motion sensors, to unhackable communications.

The EU Commission knows that the results of these fundings will bear fruit only after a considerable amount of time, Honest-to-goodness quantum computers are some of the long-term goals, says the EU Commission.

The seed funding will be underway only after mid-2018.

However, the fact that a cross-continental governmental is channeling in funds of this size into technology is quite revealing of its potential. Perhaps it is reflective of a belief that real-world quantum computing is within grasp and perhaps needs a little bit of push, to get it within our clasp.