The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) is a consortium of stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem, including suppliers, hardware and software system developers, end users and others. QED-C provides a broad industry perspective to the U.S. government as input to policies and investments related to quantum information science and technology. QED-C is identifying use cases for quantum-based technologies and developing strategies and roadmaps to address gaps in enabling technologies, standards and metrics, and workforce. The consortium supports collaboration among partners with a shared values from around the world.
The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) is a consortium of stakeholders from across the innovation ecosystem, including suppliers, hardware and software system developers, end users and others. QED-C provides a broad industry perspective to the U.S. government as input to policies and investments related to quantum information science and technology. QED-C is identifying use cases for quantum-based technologies and developing strategies and roadmaps to address gaps in enabling technologies, standards and metrics, and workforce. The consortium supports collaboration among partners with a shared values from around the world.
The US National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018 established a multi-agency program that aims to advance quantum information science (QIS) and promote application and commercialization. Agencies including the National Science Foundation, Department of Energy, Air Force, and National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are growing their investments. The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) is an industry-driven consortium supported by NIST and more than 185 corporations, universities and other organizations to enable and grow the quantum industry and supply chain. This presentation will provide an overview of US NQI programs, especially those with a focus on innovation and economic benefit.
Abstract Quantum computing promises to overcome computational limitations with better and faster solutions for optimization, simulation, and machine learning problems. Europe and Germany are in the process of successfully establishing research and funding programs with the objective to advance the technology’s ecosystem and industrialization, thereby ensuring digital sovereignty, security, and competitiveness. Such an ecosystem comprises hardware/software solution providers, system integrators, and users from research institutions, start-ups, and industry. The vision of the Quantum Technology and Application Consortium (QUTAC) is to establish and advance the quantum computing ecosystem, supporting the ambitious goals of the German government and various research programs. QUTAC is comprised of ten members representing different industries, in particular automotive manufacturing, chemical and pharmaceutical production, insurance, and technology. In this paper, we survey the current state of quantum computing in these sectors as well as the aerospace industry and identify the contributions of QUTAC to the ecosystem. We propose an application-centric approach for the industrialization of the technology based on proven business impact. This paper identifies 24 different use cases. By formalizing high-value use cases into well-described reference problems and benchmarks, we will guide technological progress and eventually commercialization. Our results will be beneficial to all ecosystem participants, including suppliers, system integrators, software developers, users, policymakers, funding program managers, and investors.
Abstract The U.S. Center for Quantum Technologies (CQT) is a multi-university consortium established under the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Industry-University Cooperative Research Centers program. Led jointly by Purdue University, Indiana University (both Bloomington and Indianapolis campuses), and the University of Notre Dame, CQT integrates academic research with industrial and governmental collaboration to accelerate quantum innovation. This perspective outlines the consortium’s strategic mission, interdisciplinary research agenda, and its role in shaping the future of quantum-enabled technologies through collaborative development, translational impact, and workforce cultivation.
Quantum technologies are increasingly recognized as a disruptive frontier that will shape the next generation of industrial strategies. Developments in quantum computing, communication, and sensing promise not only technical breakthroughs but also significant economic and geopolitical consequences. Quantum computing can accelerate drug discovery, materials research, and complex optimization, while quantum communication opens new possibilities for secure data transfer beyond the reach of classical encryption. According to European Commission Reports and National Quantum Initiative Act, leading economies are already investing heavily: the European Union has committed over €1 billion to its Quantum Flagship program, while the United States launched the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018 to coordinate research and industrial applications. These initiatives underscore the strategic nature of the field. For industrial policy, they also raise important questions: How should governments design roadmaps that foster public–private collaboration? What forms of regulation or incentives are needed to align innovation with competitiveness and security? At the same time, quantum technologies could support sustainability goals, for example through energy-efficient algorithms and advanced climate modeling. Positioning quantum technologies not only as an enabler but as a driver of future industrial policy is essential. Unlike incremental innovations, quantum breakthroughs will actively shape the direction of national strategies, global competitiveness, and sustainability agendas. Recognizing this driver role ensures that policymakers and industries move beyond adaptation, taking a proactive stance in designing resilient and forward-looking industrial ecosystems.
In response to numerous programs seeking to advance quantum education and workforce development in the United States, experts from academia, industry, government, and professional societies convened for a National Science Foundation-sponsored workshop in February 2024 to explore the benefits and challenges of establishing a national center for quantum education. Broadly, such a center would foster collaboration and build the infrastructure required to develop a diverse and quantum-ready workforce. The workshop discussions focused on how a center could uniquely address gaps in public, K-12, and undergraduate quantum information science and engineering (QISE) education. Specifically, the community identified activities that, through a center, could lead to an increase in student awareness of quantum careers, boost the number of educators trained in quantum-related subjects, strengthen pathways into quantum careers, enhance the understanding of the US quantum workforce, and elevate public engagement with QISE. Core proposed activities for the center include professional development for educators, coordinated curriculum development and curation, expanded access to educational laboratory equipment, robust evaluation and assessment practices, network building, and enhanced public engagement with quantum science.
Given the growing hype and investment in quantum technology, it is important to understand its current landscape and how best to catalyze progress in QIS towards the eventual goal of societally-relevant innovation in materials, pharmaceuticals, industrial processes, cybersecurity and myriad other areas. We give a brief overview of the policy landscape of the emerging QIS innovation system. The most important requirement for steady progress in QIS is a robust workforce. Here, we focus on one key slice of workforce development: the training of adaptable quantum scientists and engineers.