FAST FACTS

NATIONAL QUANTUM INITIATIVE

2018
Year the National Quantum
Initiative Act became law and the
National Strategic Overview for
Quantum Information Science
was released

OVERVIEW
$2.6B
Total U.S. Government Quantum-based technologies have already transformed society and the American economy.
investment in the National Examples include the Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation, Magnetic Resonance
Quantum Initiative
Imaging (MRI) for medical imaging, semiconductors for computer chips, and lasers for
telecommunications. Quantum information science (QIS), holds promise for another
13 revolution in technology, with new, more powerful approaches to computing, networking,
Major National Quantum
Initiative Research Centers and
and sensing. The National Quantum Initiative (NQI) is a whole-of-government approach to
Institutes ensuring American leadership in QIS.
The 2018 NQI Act, along with recent National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs), are
~2000 accelerating U.S. research in QIS. A coordinated approach engaging over 20 Federal
Number of QIS R&D grants since departments and agencies in QIS research and development (R&D), is creating new
the NQI, which engage over 1000
scientists and engineers from
knowledge, broadening industrial capabilities and enhancing opportunities for prosperity and
over 250 different institutions in security.
47 states
THE STRATEGY
>130 The National Strategic Overview for QIS outlines the U.S. strategy for QIS R&D, with an
Number of companies currently
emphasis on the science, workforce, industry, infrastructure, security, and international
participating in the Quantum
Economic Development cooperation. The strategy focuses on:
Consortium
• Getting the science right by understanding the applications and timelines by which
QIS will benefit society, and the roadblocks we must overcome to get there.
41
Number of U.S. Government- • Enhancing competitiveness by accelerating technology development toward useful
supported Nobel Laureates economic and mission applications of QIS and working with international partners,
honored for quantum studies while also protecting national security.
• Enabling people by building the necessary talent pathways and ensuring that QIS
1994
First U.S. Government workshop
creates new opportunities for all Americans.
on quantum computing
DID YOU KNOW? Planck’s constant is a fundamental constant in quantum physics that
plays a role in numerous phenomena, such as converting light into energy in solar cells. In
2019, the value of Planck's constant was defined to be 6.62607015 × 10-34 J∙s (or
4.1356679 x 10-15 eV∙s), and now the kilogram is based on Planck’s constant.

Learn More
www.quantum.gov
 GETTING THE SCIENCE RIGHT
Today, the National Institute of
Standards and Technology (NIST),
National Science Foundation (NSF),
National Aeronautics and Space
Administration (NASA), Department of
Energy (DOE), Department of Defense
(DOD), and Intelligence Community
(IC) fund centers and core programs
that support thousands of scientists The 13 major NQI research centers and their
and students in national labs, in affiliates. Core programs, which span much of
universities, and with industry the rest of the United States, are not shown.
partners across the country.

ENHANCING COMPETITIVENESS
The Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), an industry-led
consortium established as part of the NQI, is fostering collaborations to address
gaps in technology, standards, applications, workforce, and supply chains for
quantum technologies.
International collaboration accelerates discoveries and provides an avenue to
deepen relationships between nations. With more than a dozen countries
launching National-level programs in the last few years, it is critical to work with
partners to identify and develop applications that will benefit the world. In
support of such ideals, the United States has been party to several cooperation
statements focused on QIS. These highlight the intention to deepen good-faith
cooperation in quantum technologies, underpinned by our shared principles,
including freedom of inquiry, openness, transparency, honesty, equity, fair
competition, objectivity, and democratic values. These agreements can facilitate
deeper cooperation such as a coordinated review process, reciprocal or joint
funding, and student and researcher exchange to the benefit of both parties.

ENABLING PEOPLE
There are a number of great jobs that use quantum technologies. Plans to grow
opportunities and get more people involved are outlined in the recent QIS
workforce development strategy. As one example, the National Q-12 Education
Partnership was spearheaded by the Office of Science and Technology Policy
(OSTP) and NSF to foster a range of opportunities for early engagement with
quantum concepts. Companies, non-profits, universities, professional
organizations, and teaching societies are engaging with this partnership to curate
educational materials. This partnership created QuanTime to bring online and
hands-on activities to students as part of World Quantum Day.
In addition to introducing broader audiences to QIS, the national strategy
identifies ways to enhance QIS-specific professional education and training
opportunities, and to make careers in QIS and related fields more accessible and
equitable. As one example, a new solicitation engages institutions not yet deeply
involved in QIS to help build capacity, providing new opportunities for students
to participate in QIS research at a greater number of institutions.

Image Credits: [Banner] Air Force Research Lab (AFRL). [Map] Y. Feng, NSF. [Pictures Top to Bottom] D. Awschalom, U. Chicago; J.T. Consoli, U.
Maryland; NASA; Advanced Quantum Testbed, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab; G.E. Marti, JILA