NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE

THE FEDERAL SOURCE AND GATEWAY TO QUANTUM R&D ACROSS THE U.S. GOVERNMENT

Welcome to quantum.gov, the home of the National Quantum Initiative and its ongoing activities to explore and promote Quantum Information Science (QIS). The National Quantum Initiative Act provides for the continued leadership of the United States in QIS and its technology applications. It calls for a coordinated Federal program to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of the United States. The United States strategy for QIS R&D and related activities is described in the National Strategic Overview for QIS and supplementary documents.

Overview

Factsheet About the National Quantum Initiative
Quantum-based technologies have already transformed society and the American economy. Examples include the Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) for medical imaging, semiconductors for computer chips, and lasers for telecommunications. Quantum information science (QIS) holds promise for another revolution in technology, with new, more powerful approaches to computing, networking, and sensing. The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) is a whole-of-government approach to ensuring the continued leadership of the U.S. in QIS and its technology applications.

About the logo

In quantum physics, the notation to represent a quantum system, such as the state of a quantum computer, is the so-called “ket” notation. For example, the ket |QC> would represent the state of a quantum computer. Following this terminology, then represents the overlap of |quantum> and |government>, which is what the national effort is all about.

QIS – Quantum Information Science

Quantum Information Science (QIS) emerges from a deeper consideration of how quantum physics (our description of the world at the microscopic level) has implications for information science (how real systems like computers process information). Quantum information technology takes advantage of these fundamentally quantum properties of matter to design new types of computers, sensors, and networks which enable new speed, precision, or functionality. Building on key QIS scientific discoveries since the 1980s, pioneering experiments starting in the 1990’s, quantum engineering from the 2000s, and commercial activity today, the world is on the cusp of a second quantum revolution. The prospects for innovation fueled by QIS, with implications for our economic prosperity and national security, motivate an all-of-government and all-of-nation approach to coordinating QIS activities in the United States.

Legislation

NQIA2018-NDAA2022-CHIPS2022
The National Quantum Initiative was established by the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018. This act was amended by the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 and by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022. A document prepared by the NQCO, showing the National Quantum Initiative Act with these amendments is available here.

NQIA – The National Quantum Initiative Act

NQI Act
The National Quantum Initiative Act (NQI Act) was signed into law by President Trump on December 21, 2018 “to accelerate quantum research and development for the economic and national security of the United States.” The NQI Act authorizes the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Department of Energy (DOE), to strengthen QIS Programs, Centers, and Consortia. The NQI Act also calls for a coordinated approach to QIS Research and Development (R&D) efforts across the United States Government, including the civilian, defense, and intelligence sectors. To guide these actions, the NQI Act legislates some responsibilities for the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS), the NSTC Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science (ESIX), the National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO), and the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC). Recognizing that QIS technologies have commercial and defense applications, additional authorization for QIS R&D is legislated by the National Defense Authorization Act. Civilian, defense, and intelligence agencies all have a long history of investments in QIS, and have a stake in future QIS discoveries and technology development. The National Quantum Initiative now provides an overarching framework to strengthen and coordinate QIS R&D activities across U.S. Departments and Agencies, private sector industry, and the academic community.

NDAA and Defense Legislation for QIS

NDAA 2019
The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 and the NDAA for FY 2020 legislate the Department of Defense (DOD) to carry out and support quantum information science and technology research and development. The NDAA authorizes the DOD to increase the technology readiness level of quantum information science technologies under development in the United States, support the development of a quantum information science and technology workforce, and enhance awareness of quantum information science and technology. The NDAA provides authorization to coordinate all quantum information science and technology research and development within the DOD, including through consultation with the NQCO, the SCQIS, and other appropriate Federal entities and private sector entities. The NDAA for FY 2020 further authorizes the establishment of Quantum Information Science Research Centers. The NDAA for FY 2022 amended the National Quantum Initiative Act to include the NSTC Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science (ESIX).

CHIPS and Science Act of 2022

Biden signing the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022
The CHIPS and Science Act of 2022 amended the National Quantum Initiative Act to authorize R&D in quantum networking infrastructure, the development of standards in quantum networking and communication, the establishment of a program to facilitate a competitive, merit-reviewed base process for access to U.S.-based quantum computing resources for research purposes, and the integration of quantum information science and engineering into the STEM curriculum at all education levels. It also explicitly includes quantum information science in the new NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, as well as in existing Federal scholarship programs. A news post is available here.

Coordinating Bodies

The National Quantum Initiative is carried out by federal agencies, and the National Quantum Initiative Act, as amended, calls for interagency coordination through the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (SCQIS) and the NSTC Subcommittee on Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science (ESIX). The NQI Act also legislated the formation of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC) to provide independent assessments and recommendations about the National Quantum Initiative. Finally, the NQI Act established the National Quantum Coordination Office to oversee the interagency coordination of the NQI Program, carry out the daily activities needed for coordinating and supporting the NQI, and provide technical and administrative support to the committees.

more at link:

https://www.quantum.gov/