As the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory steps up in its role as the Navy’s Quantum Information Science Research Center, NRL is participating in two quantum collaboration meetings focusing on intragovernmental collaboration. For more information, click on the news story here.

FT. MEADE, Md., Oct. 29, 2020 — The quantum world hosts a rich variety of physics that could enable functionality far beyond what traditional technologies can achieve. By probing and manipulating phenomena that occur at the single particle scale, the emerging field of quantum information science (QIS) aims to create new forms of computing, sensing, and communications that could revolutionize how we process and transmit data. The US recently launched the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) to foster collaboration across multiple government agencies in order to strengthen US leadership in QIS and support the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers.

In response to requests from mission customers, NSA is publicly sharing guidance on quantum key distribution (QKD) and quantum cryptography (QC) as it relates to securing National Security Systems (NSS). Sharing guidance that was previously kept within internal government channels represents one aspect of NSA’s efforts to be more transparent in the way that we secure our nation’s most sensitive systems and engage with the greater cybersecurity community.

Strengthening U.S. Leadership in Quantum Information Science

THE WHITE HOUSE

The NQIAC has been established to provide advice and guidance on a continuing basis to the President, the Secretary of Energy, and the National Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Quantum Information Science (QIS), the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) program, and on trends and developments in quantum information science and technology, in accordance with the National Quantum Initiative Act (Pub. L. 115-368) and Executive Order 13885. This notice announces a meeting of the National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee (NQIAC).

In March of this year, the Department of the Navy designated the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory as the Navy’s Quantum Information Research Center.

The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) has formally established its steering committee with the signing of participation agreements by Boeing, ColdQuanta, Google, IBM, QC Ware and Zapata Computing. The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the Department of Energy are also members of the steering committee, which will set direction for the consortium as it lays the groundwork for a new commercial industry based on quantum information science and technologies, as well as the supply chain to support it. Read more…

The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Information Directorate is spearheading an international alliance of principal investigators across government, academia and industry to accelerate quantum enabling technologies.

Although COVID-19 has disrupted business around the world for many organizations, it doesn’t mean that all work stops. U.S. Naval Research Laboratory and the University of Maryland’s Quantum Technology Center (QTC) held a so-called virtual signing ceremony during a video call where the two organizations entered into an Educational Partnership Agreement to identify and pursue opportunities related to quantum technologies research Sept. 1.