The second phase of quantum information science, engineering, and technologies (QISET) is rapidly evolving from lab-based projects to real-world applications that are impacting the strategies and finances of the federal government and the private sector, according to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence. This shift matters because it signals a new era where quantum technologies are no longer confined to research institutions but are becoming integral to economic and national security.
In the first phase of QISET development, known in the industry as Quantum 1.0, quantum mechanics and science fostered the development of lasers and transistors. Today, Quantum 2.0 activity centers around developments in areas including photonics, microelectronics, and specialized materials. As the United States seeks to up its game in quantum information science, SCSP highlights the history, foundation, and future of place-based quantum innovation in a new limited newsletter, "Quantum States," which examines how different states and regions are leading the way. The implications are significant: as quantum technologies mature, the geography of innovation will determine which regions capture the economic and strategic benefits.
States were assessed across a range of metrics, including cited quantum information science research, patents, the volume of both 'pure play' and quantum-enabling companies, the number of military research facilities, breadth of the full quantum stack (defined as computing, sensing, and networking), and the number of quantum-related job openings. "Developing a robust ecosystem of quantum technologies is not a one-size-fits-all approach, in which local leadership is guaranteed by hosting the most companies within a region. Rather, it requires a cohesive, strategic effort leveraging strengths within that state," according to the SCSP experts.
Currently, California leads in most aspects of Quantum 2.0, including industrial capacity, talent pipelines, and market ecosystems, but other established hubs include New York, Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts. However, several other states are poised to become players, including Texas, North Carolina, and Florida given their high number of PhDs awarded, and the presence of Quantum research centers in many of their academic institutions. This distribution of quantum capabilities across multiple states suggests that the U.S. quantum landscape is becoming more decentralized, which could foster resilience and broad-based growth.
"The most successful quantum states build strong synergies between pillars of a quantum ecosystem: academia, NIST, national labs, startups, and private industry," according to the SCSP experts. Ultimately, true quantum hubs emerge where industry, academia, and government actively connect. Such collaboration is essential for translating quantum research into commercial products and maintaining U.S. leadership in a field with far-reaching implications for computing, sensing, and networking.
Visit https://scsp.ai to learn more and for future editions of the Quantum States newsletter.
