The Quantum Economic Development Consortium showcases technological innovations to increase awareness and communication on Capitol Hill

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  • The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) held its first Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill.
  • Twenty-two QED-C member companies demonstrated technologies that are finding their way into products and systems today.
  • The showcase followed the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Quantum Research Showcase, featuring NSF-funded university researchers from across the country.
  • Image: Senator Marsha Blackburn addresses attendees at the QED-C Quantum Technology Showcase in the Kennedy Caucus Room of the Russell Senate Office Building.

PRESS RELEASE — The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), the world’s premier association of quantum technology pioneers, held its first Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill yesterday. Twenty-two QED-C member companies demonstrated technologies that are finding their way into products and systems today.

The showcase followed the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Quantum Research Showcase, featuring NSF-funded university researchers from across the country. The two events highlighted the importance of the entire innovation ecosystem for the advancement of quantum – from basic academic research to breakthrough private sector R&D.

The meeting, hosted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, drew participants from legislatures, federal agencies and industry stakeholders for an opportunity to see live demonstrations of technologies that are already having a positive impact on U.S. competitiveness in the global quantum industry. field.

“Quantum technologies are part of a growing industry that is critical to the U.S. economy and national security,” said Celia Merzbacher, executive director of QED-C. “However, quantum is still an emerging industry and there are few opportunities for policymakers to experience these technologies. first hand and meet the innovators in person. This was our way of demonstrating that the quantum industry is creating products, companies and jobs that will power the quantum future.”

As Congress looks to reauthorize the National Quantum Initiative (NQI), the Quantum Technology Showcase was an opportunity to highlight how the results of federally funded research are making their way into practical applications. Senator Marsha Blackburn, who has introduced several bipartisan bills to advance quantum development, including the recent one Defense Quantum Acceleration Act of 2024provided comments in support of U.S. quantum investment.

“We are trying to advance the reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative. We think this is important to us,” said Senator Blackburn, referring to China’s stated desire to be a global leader. “Whether you’re talking about the commercial sector, the defense sector or the healthcare sector, quantum will be a game-changer.”

U.S. quantum industry innovators providing demonstrations included 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.

QED-C was established through the NQI Act of 2018 and is managed by SRI, a non-profit research institute. Today, the consortium is a public-private partnership supported by the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and other government agencies, along with more than 240 members, including companies from startups to large technology companies, universities and national laboratories.