QED-C Raises Quantum Awareness And Communication On Capitol Hill
The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) recently hosted a groundbreaking event: the first-ever Quantum Technology Showcase on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. This event was a pivotal moment for the quantum industry as 22 QED-C member companies unveiled the cutting-edge technologies that are currently revolutionizing products and systems.
The Quantum Technology Showcase was a testament to the diverse range of innovators in the quantum industry. Companies such as 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 all provided demonstrations highlighting the breadth and depth of the quantum technology landscape.
“Quantum technologies are part of a growing industry critical to the U.S. economy and national security,” said Celia Merzbacher, QED-C executive director. “However, quantum is still a nascent industry, and there have been few opportunities for policymakers to experience these technologies firsthand and meet the innovators in person. This was our way of demonstrating that the quantum industry is creating products, businesses, and jobs that will drive the quantum future.”
The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), a public-private partnership established through the 2018 NQI Act and managed by SRI, a nonprofit research institute, is a key player in the quantum industry. QED-C is supporting the future of quantum technology, supported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in the U.S. Department of Commerce and other government agencies, along with approximately 240 members from startups to large tech companies, universities, and national labs.
The gathering was hosted by the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Attendees came from legislative offices, federal agencies, and industry stakeholders to see live demonstrations of technologies that have a positive impact on U.S. competitiveness in the global quantum field.
The showcase highlighted how federally funded research finds its way 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, gave remarks supporting the U.S. quantum investment.
“We are trying to push the reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative. We think that is important to us,” said Senator Blackburn, referencing China’s outspoken desire to be the global leader. “Whether you’re talking about the commercial, defense, or healthcare sectors, quantum will be a game-changer.”
