National Photonics Initiative advocates for quantum funding legislation
The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) is advocating for the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Reauthorization Act of 2023, which would reauthorize it for another five years. It will be formally considered by the House Science Committee the week of November 13.
“The NQI has been an incredible success to date,” says Jim McNally, NPI steering committee chair. “The original authorization expanded research funding and access to critical facilities across the country. Now is the time to build on this progress with the second round of authorization. The NPI applauds the bipartisan leaders of the House Science Committee, Chairman Lucus and Ranking Member Lofgren, for introducing the NQI Reauthorization Act and looks forward to working with the committee and members to advance this important legislation.”
NPI pushed for the initial passage of the NQI Act in 2018, and during the past five years has worked to advocate for increased quantum funding for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Science, the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
New recommendations included in the NQI Reauthorization Act:
- Require the President to develop a strategy for carrying out cooperative quantum research efforts with allies of the U.S.
- Authorize NIST to establish up to three centers to advance research in quantum sensing, measurement, and engineering.
- Strengthen student traineeship, fellowship, and other workforce programs at NIST.
- Authorize the creation of a new NSF multidisciplinary coordination hub to build workforce pipelines between educational institutions and the larger quantum industry ecosystem.
- Authorize the creation of new quantum testbeds through the NSF’s Technology Innovation and Partnerships Directorate.
- Direct the Secretary of Energy to develop a strategy for promoting the commercialization of quantum computing.
- Authorize the DOE to support development of quantum foundries to meet the device and material needs of the quantum supply chain.
- Formally authorize quantum R&D activities at NASA and create a quantum institute at the agency.
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