The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) held its first Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill, demonstrating quantum technologies from 22 member companies. The event, hosted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, aimed to raise awareness among policymakers and stakeholders about the impact of quantum technologies on U.S. competitiveness.
QED-C executive director, Celia Merzbacher, emphasized the importance of quantum technologies to the U.S. economy and national security. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who has introduced bills to advance quantum development, voiced her support for the U.S. quantum investment. Companies demonstrating included Google Quantum AI, IBM, and NVIDIA.
Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) Hosts Quantum Technology Showcase
The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), a prominent association of quantum technology innovators, recently held its inaugural Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill. The event featured 22 QED-C member companies demonstrating quantum technologies that are currently being integrated into products and systems. The showcase was part of a series of quantum-focused events aimed at raising awareness and communication among legislative influencers.
The Quantum Technology Showcase followed the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Quantum Research Showcase, which featured NSF-funded university researchers from across the nation. These events underscored the significance of the entire innovation ecosystem in advancing quantum technology, from fundamental academic research to cutting-edge R&D in the private sector.
Quantum Technology and Its Impact on U.S. Competitiveness
The Quantum Technology Showcase, hosted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, attracted attendees from legislative offices, federal agencies, and industry stakeholders. The event provided an opportunity for attendees to witness live demonstrations of quantum technologies that are already positively impacting U.S. competitiveness in the global quantum field.
Celia Merzbacher, QED-C executive director, emphasized that quantum technologies are part of a burgeoning industry that is crucial to the U.S. economy and national security. However, she also noted that quantum is still an emerging industry and there have been limited opportunities for policymakers to experience these technologies firsthand and meet the innovators in person.
The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) and Quantum Development
As Congress considers reauthorizing the National Quantum Initiative (NQI), the Quantum Technology Showcase served as a platform to highlight how federally funded research is being translated into practical applications. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who has introduced several bipartisan bills to advance quantum development, including the recent Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of 2024, expressed her support for U.S. investment in quantum technology.
Senator Blackburn emphasized the importance of reauthorizing the NQI, citing China’s outspoken ambition to become the global leader in quantum technology. She noted that quantum technology will be a game-changer across various sectors, including commercial, defense, and healthcare.
Quantum Innovators and Their Contributions
The Quantum Technology Showcase featured demonstrations from a range of U.S. quantum industry innovators, including Amphenol, AOSense, Bluefors, D-Wave, Google Quantum AI, IBM, Infleqtion, Keysight Technologies, Maybell Quantum Industries, NVIDIA, Octave Photonics, qBraid, Q-CTRL, Qrypt, Quantinuum, Qubitekk, Qunnect, Resilient Entanglement, RTX BBN, Sivananthan Laboratories, and Vescent.
The Role of QED-C in Quantum Technology Development
Established through the 2018 NQI Act and managed by SRI, a nonprofit research institute, QED-C is a public-private partnership supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce and other government agencies. The consortium comprises more than 240 members, including corporations ranging from startups to large tech companies, universities, and national labs.
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