(October 7, 2021) Earlier this week, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) convened industry stakeholders from across the country to discuss how quantum computers and quantum sensors will benefit American society. Challenges and opportunities for increasing United States competitiveness in this critical industry of the future were also discussed.

(October 5, 2021) Today the Subcommittee on the Economic and Security Implications of Quantum Science released its first report. The report titled “The Role of International Talent in Quantum Information Science,” highlights the critical role that international talent plays in ensuring a vibrant and successful U.S. research enterprise in QIST, including the importance of close collaboration with foreign partners, while also stressing the importance of protecting the technology and expertise of the United States and our international partners. It finds that maintaining a strong flow of international students and researchers is an essential component to developing the expert QIST workforce required to achieve U.S. QIST goals as part of an advancing global research enterprise.

(Sept. 8, 2021) The C²QA Quantum Career Fair aims to bring more awareness to the undergraduate, graduate, and post-doc communities about the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science’s National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers and the different types of careers in QIS at the Centers, national laboratories, academia, and industry. In addition, the path students and post docs can take to pursue a quantum career.

(Sept. 01. 2021) Expanding upon its 2020 establishment of three Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, the U.S. National Science Foundation has launched two additional institutes to advance quantum biological sensing and quantum simulation. As with last year’s cohort, NSF expects to support each institute with an investment of $25 million over its multi-year lifecycle.

(August 19, 2021) The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced $61 million in funding for infrastructure and research projects to advance quantum information science (QIS).  Advances in QIS have the potential to enable new forms of computing, simulation, communication, and sensing that can advance breakthroughs needed to combat the climate crisis and strengthen America’s competitiveness.

(August 17, 2021) The $20M, 6-year project establishes the 2D Quantum Materials and Devices Foundry (MonArk), operated jointly by Montana State University and University of Arkansas, and with help of a network of collaborators located mostly in other EPSCOR states: KS, MO, AL, WY, ID, OK, ND, IA, as well as in CO, TX and CA. The research program focuses on accelerated development of novel quantum materials using high quality single crystals in an automated exfoliation, synthesis, characterization and integration loop.

(August 16. 2021) DOE releases Request For Information (RFI) : Access to Quantum System. In support of a congressional mandate in the Joint Explanatory Statement accompanying the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2021, DOE has released the FRI to help in their effort to  “develop a roadmap to provide researchers access to quantum systems so as to enhance the U.S. quantum research enterprise, stimulate the fledgling U.S. quantum computing industry, educate the future quantum computing workforce, and accelerate advancement of quantum computer capabilities.”

(August 11, 2021) The Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) is now designated as the Quantum Information Science Research Center for the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force. This allows AFRL to expand its collaborations across government, industry and academia, further accelerating the research, development and deployment of quantum technologies. To support these efforts, AFRL’s Information Directorate headquartered in Rome, New York, will receive fiscal year 2020 funds under the Defense Quantum Information Science Research and Development Program in accordance with the National Defense Authorization Act.

(August 04, 2021)  The National Security Agency (NSA) released a frequently asked questions document on Quantum Computing and Post-Quantum Cryptography. The document answers several questions such as “What is a quantum computer?” and “What makes one cryptographically relevant?” Further information is provided on the Commercial National Security Algorithm (CNSA) Suite, the Commercial Solutions for Classified (CSfC) Program, the National Information Assurance Partnership (NIAP), and future algorithms and cryptography.