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 and the NSTC Subcommittee on Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science. The NQI Act also legislated the formation of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee 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.

SCQIS – Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science

The NSTC Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science coordinates Federal research and development in quantum information science and related technologies under the auspices of the NSTC Committee on Science. The aim of this R&D coordination is to maintain and expand U.S. leadership in quantum information science and its applications over the next decade. The SCQIS is co-chaired by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Science Foundation, and the Department of Energy.

ESIX – Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science

NDAA 2022

The NSTC Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science was established to ensure that economic and security implications of QIS are understood across the agencies (see NDAA Fiscal Year 2022: P.L. 117-81; Sec. 6606). The subcommittee provides a national security perspective to QIS related research. The ESIX Subcommittee coordinates with other NSTC subcommittees, such as the SCQIS, to ensure that the economic and national security implications of basic research and development in QIS, along with derived technologies are fully understood. The subcommittee is co-chaired by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and the National Security Agency.

NQIAC – The National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee

NQIA Sec 104 NQIAC

The National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee is the Federal Advisory Committee called for in the NQI Act. The NQIAC is tasked to provide an independent assessment of the NQI Program and to make recommendations for the President, Congress, and the NSTC SCQIS and ESIX Subcommittees to consider when reviewing and revising the NQI Program.

The NQIAC was first established by Executive Order 13885 on August 30, 2019. It was subsequently enhanced by Executive Order 14073 on May 4, 2022. More information about the NQIAC’s reports and meetings is available here.

NQCO – The National Quantum Coordination Office

National Quantum Coordination Office

Located in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, the National Quantum Coordination Office is legislated by the NQI Act to carry out the daily activities needed for coordinating and supporting the NQI. The Coordination Office is tasked with providing technical and administrative support to the SCQIS, ESIX and the NQIAC as well as overseeing the interagency coordination of the NQI Program. The NQCO serves as the primary point of contact on Federal civilian quantum information science and technology activities and conducts public outreach, including the dissemination of findings and recommendations of the SCQIS and the NQIAC, as appropriate. The NQCO staff are federal employees on detail assignments from across the government. To learn more about the NQCO and its staff click here.