5 ms·

>It's the sort of fundamental research which private industry tends to under-produce because it's hard for any given company to recoup the full value of the R&D

>It's the sort of fundamental research which private industry tends to under-produce because it's hard for any given company to recoup the full value of the R&D, but the target area is something with potential downstream practical implications. Quantum computing ? I've seen just a few months ago some article about a single start-up raising >200M ?

AnthonyMouse 6y ago
There is a difference between doing fundamental research and bringing a product to market. We know enough about quantum computers to be able to build some of them in limited ways which are commercially useful in very specific domains, so then companies can get investment to do that. But we still don't really understand all of the fundamentals, and it's always hard to raise investment for fundamental research. Suppose you could prove that building a quantum computer that can run Shor's Algorithm on interestingly large numbers is impossible. Knowing that would be of immense value. People could stop wasting time trying to create it or defend against it. But how would anybody commercialize that information? Who has the incentive to fund that research?
- hannob 6y ago
  > We know enough about quantum computers to be able to build some of them in limited ways which are commercially useful in very specific domains In which way are quantum computers commercially useful?
  - SV_BubbleTime 6y ago
    > In which way are quantum computers commercially useful? VC Bait seems like a natural fit. Just say you are making a quantum computer that predicts global warming trends using blockchain. Might want to buy a wheel barrel for all your money you’ll be leaving that meeting with.
    - mr__y 6y ago
      You forgot about supporting 5G
      - shaftway 6y ago
        Include _____-as-a-service. Then sum it up as the Uber of whatever and you can laugh your way to the bank.
- daniel_iversen 6y ago
  Yes, I think we probably need a lot more fundamental research in the world - it also reminds me of this good TEDx talk that suggests we need more “curiosity-driven” research that doesn’t explicitly have a specific well defined purpose (if that makes sense): https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-power-and-potential-of-curiosity-driven-research-suzie-sheehy/ https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-power-and-potential-of-curio...
- mirekrusin 6y ago
  Bitcoin holders? /s
mlindner 6y ago
The US government throws billions of dollars at things on the norm. This could easily grow in the future.

AnthonyMouse 6y ago

There is a difference between doing fundamental research and bringing a product to market. We know enough about quantum computers to be able to build some of them in limited ways which are commercially useful in very specific domains, so then companies can get investment to do that. But we still don't really understand all of the fundamentals, and it's always hard to raise investment for fundamental research. Suppose you could prove that building a quantum computer that can run Shor's Algorithm on interestingly large numbers is impossible. Knowing that would be of immense value. People could stop wasting time trying to create it or defend against it. But how would anybody commercialize that information? Who has the incentive to fund that research?

hannob 6y ago
> We know enough about quantum computers to be able to build some of them in limited ways which are commercially useful in very specific domains In which way are quantum computers commercially useful?
- SV_BubbleTime 6y ago
  > In which way are quantum computers commercially useful? VC Bait seems like a natural fit. Just say you are making a quantum computer that predicts global warming trends using blockchain. Might want to buy a wheel barrel for all your money you’ll be leaving that meeting with.
  - mr__y 6y ago
    You forgot about supporting 5G
    - shaftway 6y ago
      Include _____-as-a-service. Then sum it up as the Uber of whatever and you can laugh your way to the bank.
daniel_iversen 6y ago
Yes, I think we probably need a lot more fundamental research in the world - it also reminds me of this good TEDx talk that suggests we need more “curiosity-driven” research that doesn’t explicitly have a specific well defined purpose (if that makes sense): https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-power-and-potential-of-curiosity-driven-research-suzie-sheehy/ https://tedxsydney.com/talk/the-power-and-potential-of-curio...
mirekrusin 6y ago
Bitcoin holders? /s

mlindner 6y ago

The US government throws billions of dollars at things on the norm. This could easily grow in the future.