Just days after the White House Summit on American Quantum Innovation, Capitol Hill hosted a hands-on display of emerging quantum technologies at the 2026 Quantum Technology Showcase, bringing together bipartisan congressional leaders and senior Administration officials. The event, organized by the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), followed recent Executive Orders signed by President Donald Trump aimed at bolstering U.S. quantum innovation, signaling continued White House prioritization of the field. Companies including Google Quantum AI, IBM Research, and D-Wave Quantum demonstrated technologies spanning computing, communications, and sensing, offering lawmakers a firsthand look at advancements moving toward real-world applications. “With quantum innovation a clear national priority, policymakers are increasingly focused on the practical steps needed to translate scientific leadership into economic growth and national security advantage,” said Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of QED-C. The Showcase underscored the growing importance of quantum technologies as Congress considers reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative Act.
Weeks after President Donald Trump signed Executive Orders supporting U.S. quantum innovation, the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) hosted the 2026 Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill, demonstrating a swift translation of policy into demonstrations for lawmakers. Participants included representatives from AdvR, Google Quantum AI, IBM Research, and Quantinuum, showcasing advancements across computing, communications, sensing, and related enabling technologies. The Showcase provided a unique opportunity for direct engagement, allowing members of Congress to examine advanced quantum systems and discuss the industry’s trajectory with company leaders. Discussions centered on critical challenges facing the burgeoning field, including bolstering supply chain resilience and expanding workforce development initiatives. Federal officials present included Chris Pilkerton, assistant secretary for investment security at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and Dr. Brad Blakestad, director of the National Quantum Coordination Office at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, signaling a coordinated governmental focus on quantum commercialization. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of QED-C, emphasized the importance of competitiveness and security as companies build capabilities that will power the next technology revolution.
With quantum innovation a clear national priority, policymakers are increasingly focused on the practical steps needed to translate scientific leadership into economic growth and national security advantage.
Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of QED-C
The momentum behind U.S. quantum technology commercialization is rapidly solidifying, evidenced by a concentrated series of policy engagements and demonstrations for lawmakers. Companies from across the quantum ecosystem, including AdvR, Bluefors, and Quantinuum, participated in the event, showcasing a breadth of technologies poised to impact U.S. competitiveness and security.
The technologies demonstrated on Capitol Hill show that the quantum industry is real and growing.
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