Quantum information science, engineering, and technologies (QISET) has entered its second phase, rapidly evolving from lab-based projects to real-world applications that are reshaping the strategies and finances of both the federal government and the private sector. According to experts at the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative aimed at strengthening America's long-term competitiveness in artificial intelligence, this shift has profound implications for how the United States approaches quantum innovation.
In the first phase, known as Quantum 1.0, quantum mechanics and science fostered the development of lasers and transistors. Today, Quantum 2.0 activity centers around developments in photonics, microelectronics, and specialized materials. As the United States seeks to up its game in quantum information science, SCSP highlights the history, foundation, and future of place-based quantum innovation in a new limited newsletter, "Quantum States," which examines how different states and regions are leading the way.
States were assessed across a range of metrics, including cited quantum information science research, patents, the volume of both 'pure play' and quantum-enabling companies, the number of military research facilities, breadth of the full quantum stack (defined as computing, sensing, and networking), and the number of quantum-related job openings. "Developing a robust ecosystem of quantum technologies is not a one-size-fits-all approach, in which local leadership is guaranteed by hosting the most companies within a region. Rather, it requires a cohesive, strategic effort leveraging strengths within that state," according to the SCSP experts.
Currently, California leads in most aspects of Quantum 2.0, including industrial capacity, talent pipelines, and market ecosystems, but other established hubs include New York, Illinois, Colorado, Maryland, and Massachusetts. However, several other states are poised to become players, including Texas, North Carolina, and Florida given their high number of PhDs awarded, and the presence of Quantum research centers in many of their academic institutions.
"The most successful quantum states build strong synergies between pillars of a quantum ecosystem: academia, NIST, national labs, startups, and private industry," according to the SCSP experts. Ultimately, true quantum hubs emerge where industry, academia, and government actively connect. This localized approach matters because it suggests that federal efforts alone won't suffice; instead, regional coordination and strategic investments in specific strengths will determine which areas can translate quantum research into economic and national security advantages.
As quantum technologies move from theory to application, the implications are significant. States that foster these synergies could attract talent, investment, and jobs, while those that lag may miss out on a technological revolution with far-reaching consequences for computing, sensing, and networking. For more information and future editions of the Quantum States newsletter, visit https://scsp.ai.
