Positive Sum: Technology Alliances for Quantum AI
Published by New Lines Institute, December 19, 2025
As technological advancements accelerate, the development of quantum artificial intelligence (QAI) is emerging as a critical frontier. Recognizing the transformative potential of this field, the New Lines Institute highlights the importance of strategic technology alliances to harness and accelerate progress in QAI, advocating for collaborative frameworks that promote innovation, risk mitigation, and shared benefits among allied nations.
A Collaborative Approach to Emerging Technologies
The article underscores the value of fostering "risk-taking environments" grounded in scientific rigor to expedite the development and practical deployment of cutting-edge technologies. Joint research initiatives involving multiple countries create a dynamic ecosystem where challenges to the status quo can be openly tested and innovative solutions cultivated across diverse contexts. This approach leads not only to advanced technological tools but also enhances risk management and facilitates technology transfer.
Building on recent diplomatic momentum, such as the Technology Prosperity Deal signed between the United States and the United Kingdom in September 2024, and shifts in U.S.-European Union political relations outlined in the November U.S. National Security Strategy, the piece advocates for a "layered approach" to technology alliances, particularly in quantum AI. Such alliances enhance collective security and prosperity, enabling participants to collectively deter adversarial influence in a contested international arena.
The Intersection of National and Allied Interests
Strategic partnerships in quantum technologies, the article suggests, should be precise and agile, serving as neutral platforms of cooperation and mutual moral support. By fostering targeted alliances, countries can advance their national interests while simultaneously reinforcing collective allied goals—a synergy vital for a competitive yet stable technological future.
Research institutions are positioned as pivotal actors in this effort. Under the Technology Prosperity Deal, collaborative projects span AI, nuclear energy, and quantum computing. Notably, a joint task force composed of leading researchers from allied nations aims to accelerate quantum computing adoption by facilitating industry exchanges in sectors including finance, energy, defense, and healthcare. This initiative also explores the innovative convergence of quantum computing’s simulation capabilities with AI’s predictive power.
Quantum AI as a Catalyst for Broader AI Collaboration
The article envisions that triumphs in quantum AI will reshape global perspectives on artificial intelligence. Beyond being a force for fear-driven competition, AI can become a complementary technology, integrating with quantum advancements where the European Union holds strong leadership. Focused collaborations in this space could yield progress in critical areas such as data privacy through approaches like federated learning or in reducing power consumption via quantum reinforcement learning—a promising development for sustainable residential energy use.
Research Partnerships Strengthen Trust and Security
Highlighting the research dimension of strategic technology alliances, the article points to a groundbreaking trilateral agreement formed in September 2024 among the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the U.K. Ministry of Defence’s Science and Technology Laboratory, and Canada’s Department of National Defence’s Research and Development branch. This partnership aims to reduce redundant efforts in high-tech research and develop interoperable cyber capabilities, especially vital as these countries face sophisticated cyber threats such as China-backed operations like the Salt Typhoon espionage campaign.
Although currently centered on AI and cybersecurity, the partnership model exemplifies opportunities for future expansion into quantum AI research. The collaboration’s nimble, focused, and neutral framework serves as a practical template for effective international cooperation, contrasting with broader, often unwieldy security agreements.
Middle Powers and Strategic Interdependency in AI
The report advocates for coordinated efforts among the U.S. and allied middle powers across the AI landscape to leverage comparative advantages in application development, research, and startup innovation. The European Union, for example, is encouraged to bolster its technological supply chains and academic infrastructure while addressing financial and social gaps that limit competitiveness.
The U.K. is highlighted for its emphasis on open-source strategies facilitating cost-effective AI deployment and reducing foreign technology dependency. Meanwhile, Canada’s global standing in quantum expertise at both university and industrial levels further complements allied technological capacities.
Europe’s Growing Quantum AI Ecosystem
Europe’s commitment to nurturing QAI is evident in initiatives like the Horizon Europe and Quantum Technology Flagship programs that foster collaboration between AI engineers and quantum physicists. The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking provides access to advanced quantum hardware through experimental platforms including the LUMI AI Factory and LUMI-IQ. Moreover, the EuroQHPC-Integration collaboration has designated six sites across Europe dedicated to hybrid high-performance computing (HPC) and quantum computing research.
The synergy between supercomputing and AI is emphasized as essential, with hybrid computing systems solving complex problems beyond the capability of individual systems. International research collaboration remains crucial in evaluating and refining technologies, workflows, and standards that bridge hardware advancements with software development.
Conclusion
The New Lines Institute’s analysis presents a compelling case for establishing and strengthening technology alliances centered on quantum AI. Through precise, research-driven partnerships, allied nations can foster innovation ecosystems that are adaptive, resilient, and capable of delivering significant technical and strategic benefits. Such alliances not only fortify shared security but also advance a collective vision of AI as a force for collaborative progress rather than mere competition.
Contact New Lines Institute to learn more about their work on strategic technology alliances and quantum artificial intelligence.
