The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC), a nonprofit organization, has been established to develop a quantum technology ecosystem in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The CQC aims to leverage quantum resources and partnerships for regional economic growth and infrastructure advancement. Charlie Brock, a serial entrepreneur and former head of LaunchTN, has been appointed as CEO.
The organization plans to utilize EPB’s quantum infrastructure, EPB Quantum NetworkSM powered by Qubitekk. The CQC’s 10-year goals include generating $5 billion in economic benefit from quantum technology and training a quantum-ready workforce of 5,000 in the area. Founding members include EPB, the City of Chattanooga, TVA, UTC, and Oak Ridge National Lab.
Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative: A New Quantum Ecosystem Initiative
The Chattanooga Quantum Collaborative (CQC) has been officially launched as a non-profit organization to develop a robust quantum ecosystem in Chattanooga, Hamilton County, and beyond. The CQC aims to utilize quantum resources and foster partnerships to benefit the region’s people, businesses, and communities. The organization aims to establish a comprehensive framework for workforce development, economic growth, and infrastructure advancement in the quantum technology sector.
Chattanooga has a history of embracing innovation, particularly in leveraging EPB’s 1 gigabit-per-second community-wide fiber optic infrastructure, which has generated nearly $2.8 billion in community benefit over the first decade of its operations. The CQC plans to tap into the potential of quantum resources, including EPB’s quantum infrastructure, EPB Quantum NetworkSM powered by Qubitekk, to prepare business, academic, and government organizations for the upcoming quantum age.
Leadership and Immediate Action Plans
The CQC Board of Directors has appointed Charlie Brock, a serial entrepreneur, investor, and former head of LaunchTN, as its CEO. Brock brings extensive experience in fostering innovation ecosystems and will oversee the implementation of several immediate action items. These include spearheading the community’s second annual celebration of World Quantum Day (April 14-May 31) by offering content for learning about the science and implications of quantum technology. The CQC is working with EPB and other partners to offer free learning activities such as videos, lessons, and interactive content for learners of all ages.
A 10-Year Community Plan
The CQC is also developing and implementing a 10-year community plan starting with national experts to conduct a comprehensive study of the quantum landscape. This study will identify growth opportunities, challenges to overcome, and potential avenues for state and federal funding to support quantum initiatives. The CQC will recruit and convene a group of local and regional stakeholders representing education, business, and government perspectives on plan development and implementation.
Engaging Quantum Experts and Setting Goals
The CQC is leading the effort to engage quantum experts in sessions at CO.LAB’s second annual CoMobility Summit at UTC in May. The organization is recruiting national experts in quantum technology to speak with regional professionals about how quantum has the potential to impact various business sectors positively. The CQC’s initial 10-year community goals include realizing $5 billion in economic benefit from quantum technology in Chattanooga/Hamilton County and training a quantum-ready workforce of 5,000 people in the area.
The CQC is a membership-based organization, supported by founding members EPB, the City of Chattanooga, TVA, UTC, and Oak Ridge National Lab. Additional members include Hamilton County, Chattanooga State Community College, the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce, the Company Lab, Hamilton County Schools, and Qubitekk. The organization aims to make Chattanooga a global destination for quantum developers and business innovation.
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