The United States and France signed a joint statement on collaboration to advance quantum information science and technology during the Biden-Harris administration’s first state visit with French President Emmanuel Macron.

The two governments have recognized the potential of the development of quantum computers, networks, and sensors to bring new capabilities over traditional devices, which might transform many aspects of science and technology and address some of the most pressing scientific problems, according to the White House.

The U.S. and France also noted the ability for future large-scale quantum computers to crack current cryptographic protocols, and have been cooperating in developing standards for post-quantum cryptography.

The U.S. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has been selecting post-quantum algorithms for its standard, which is expected to be released in two years. The institute also works with other institutions for international standardization. Those efforts include NIST and the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) signing license agreements for the adoption of these cryptographic standards.

This new joint statement is built on several existing agreements between the two countries to cooperate in science and technology, including a 2021 Joint Statement on Science and Technology Cooperation that mentioned the endorsement of continued research cooperation on quantum technology.

“The potential for quantum information science and technology to address pressing scientific questions for the benefit of humanity are endless,” Arati Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and Chief Science Advisor to President Biden, said in a statement. “This statement shows a commitment between the United States and France to work together to reach our shared quantum goals, grounded in our shared principles.”

Quantum computing vendors applauded the cooperation.

“The signing of the Joint Statement on Cooperation in Quantum Information Science and Technology between the United States and France is a huge step forward in advancing quantum technology, which has the potential to solve the world’s biggest challenges and at the same time break current cryptographic standards. This global collaboration is critical for quantum computing to reach its revolutionary potential and secure systems against quantum attacks,” Pasqal CEO and co-Founder Georges-Olivier Reymond said.

Headquartered in Paris, the company is a neutral atoms quantum computing research company, and its co-founder Alain Aspect received the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with American John Clauser and Austrian Anton Zeilinger for their work on quantum information science.

Pasqal announced its own neutral atoms quantum computing research collaboration with the University of Chicago, claiming it’s the first France-based company to collaborate on quantum technology development in the U.S.