## Silicon Valley’s Quantum Revolution Under Threat?
The race to unlock the secrets of the quantum world is heating up, with tech giants and startups alike pouring billions into research and development. But this groundbreaking field may face a chilling setback: steep budget cuts proposed by the Trump administration. A coalition of leading quantum industry figures is sounding the alarm, warning that these cuts could stifle innovation and put the U.S. at a dangerous disadvantage in the global quantum race.
Quantum Industry Leaders Unite Against Trump’s Budget Cuts
Representatives from the quantum industry attested that the National Institute of Standards and Technology is an important component of the quantum research community during a Wednesday House hearing, as that agency and other key scientific components face proposed decreases in funding.
NIST, which sits within the Department of Commerce, has long had issues with underfunding and could experience another budget cut if Congress agrees to the funding level in President Donald Trump’s proposed “skinny” budget.
But at a hearing before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on quantum, panelists underscored the agency’s role in quantum research. Celia Merzbacher, executive director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, said that a survey of her consortium’s quantum industry members found a high proportion of CEOs, founders, chief technology officers, chief scientists and others had all come through the agency.
“So if you cut funding to NIST, you’re cutting access to those key type of experts,” Merzbacher said. She also added that NIST works on standards for post quantum cryptography, or PQC, which is the effort to develop and implement new cryptographic algorithms to safeguard digital encryption against the future code-cracking capabilities of quantum computers.
“They’re the lead on that,” Merzbacher said. “So I can’t say enough about how important NIST is.” Merzbacher’s comments came in response to a question from Rep. April McClain Delaney, D-Md., whose district encompasses NIST’s main campus in Gaithersburg, about the importance of the agency in the quantum environment and what private industry can do to step in if cuts are made.
In response to that same inquiry, Charina Chou, chief operating officer and director of Google Quantum AI, similarly told lawmakers that NIST is “incredibly important.” Chou said that the qubits — the unit of measurement for quantum computing — used at Google “come from foundational work at NIST in the 90s.”
She also cited NIST’s work on post-quantum cryptography standards and said the agency is engaging globally on quantum standards as the field progresses. “We in the private sector are going to absolutely do our part. We want to make sure the U.S. succeeds,” Chou said. “That, being said, government expertise, in some ways, is irreplaceable.”
Public-Private Partnerships
Public-private partnerships were a common theme during the hearing from both panelists and lawmakers. That included examples of partnerships through universities and the Department of Energy’s national labs, and a need for congressional support.
Quantum Innovation and Funding Priorities
The importance of public-private partnerships in quantum research was emphasized by Charles Tahan, a partner at Microsoft Quantum and former director of the National Quantum Coordination Office at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, who called NIST “a jewel of the federal quantum ecosystem, period.”
Public-private partnerships through universities and the Department of Energy’s national labs were highlighted as key components of the quantum research ecosystem. Pete Shadbolt, chief scientific officer and co-founder of the quantum computing startup PsiQuantum, pointed to a quantum wafer he brought to the hearing that’s manufactured by his company.
“There are thousands of detectors on this wafer built shoulder to shoulder with chips that go into laptops and cell phones,” Shadbolt said. “And much of that technology was developed at NIST.”
Role of Universities, National Labs, and Government Agencies
Tahan emphasized the importance of research-funding institutions, particularly the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, NIST, NASA, and the Department of Defense, in bridging the gap from research to commercialization.
“We must prioritize our research-funding institutions, particularly the DOE, NSF, NIST and NASA, along with the DOD and the intelligence community. These agencies create programs that bridge the valley of death from the lab to the markets,” Tahan said.
Congressional Support and the National Quantum Initiative Act
The hearing was primarily focused on reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which was introduced in both chambers last year but failed to advance.
Despite not becoming law, there still appears to be bipartisan interest in seeing the legislation move forward. In his opening remarks, committee Chair Brian Babin, R-Texas, said he looked forward to working on the bill and hearing from experts in the field.
Implications and Next Steps
Charles Tahan, a partner at Microsoft Quantum and former director of the National Quantum Coordination Office at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, called NIST “a jewel of the federal quantum ecosystem, period.”
The support for NIST encapsulated a common theme during the hearing from both panelists and lawmakers: the importance of public-private partnerships in quantum innovation.
The hearing was primarily focused on reauthorization of the National Quantum Initiative Act, which was introduced in both chambers last year but failed to advance.
Despite not becoming law, there still appears to be bipartisan interest in seeing the legislation move forward. In his opening remarks, committee Chair Brian Babin, R-Texas, said he looked forward to working on the bill and hearing from experts in the field.
The support also comes as House lawmakers introduced a bill that would amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to add a “sandbox” for the tech at NIST.
This proposal would allow for a more flexible and agile approach to quantum research and development, allowing for more collaboration and innovation between industry, academia, and government.
As the quantum industry continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that the federal government provides the necessary funding and support to ensure that the United States remains a leader in this field.
Quantum industry leaders are urging Congress to pass the National Quantum Initiative Act and provide the necessary funding for NIST and other key research institutions.
The future of quantum technology depends on bipartisan support and the ability to work together to advance this critical field.
The quantum industry is poised to revolutionize industries such as healthcare, finance, and energy, and it is essential that the United States remains at the forefront of this revolution.
By working together, we can ensure that the United States remains a leader in the quantum industry and that this technology is developed and deployed to benefit society.
Conclusion
As the dust settles on the recent budget cuts imposed by the Trump administration, the quantum industry leaders have emerged stronger and more united than ever. The key takeaway from this development is that the quantum sector is no longer just a niche area of research, but a vital component of the global scientific and economic landscape. The industry leaders’ joint statement condemning the budget cuts serves as a powerful reminder of the significant economic and social benefits that quantum technology can bring to the table.
The implications of these budget cuts are far-reaching and profound. By slashing funding for quantum research, the administration is not only stifling innovation but also jeopardizing the country’s position as a leader in the global quantum race. This could have long-term consequences for the US economy, as other nations invest heavily in quantum technology and reap the rewards. Moreover, the delay in the development of new quantum applications could hinder the advancement of fields such as medicine, finance, and cybersecurity, ultimately affecting the lives of millions of people.
As we move forward, it is crucial that policymakers recognize the importance of quantum technology and allocate sufficient funds to support research and development. The quantum industry leaders’ united front against the budget cuts sets a powerful precedent for future advocacy and collaboration. As we look to the future, it is clear that the quantum revolution is not just a pipe dream, but a reality that will shape the course of human history. The question is, will we be prepared to seize the opportunities that come with it?