Office of Science and Technology Policy Creates Quantum Computing Advisory Subcommittee

The White House recently announced that the creation of a new advisory subcommittee focused on Quantum Information Science within the Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). The role of the subcommittee is to oversee the national agenda on the emerging technology, including coordinating quantum information initiatives across all agencies.

“Quantum information science has the potential to revolutionize all manner of industries, open up new fields of discovery and accelerate scientific breakthroughs,” Michael Kratsios, deputy assistant to the president for technology policy, said in a statement. “Now is the time to build upon and expand that leadership if we are going to realize the true potential of this technology, which will be critical to our future economic growth and national security.”

This subcommittee comes hot on the heels of a similar announcements of legislation on the issue. House Science, Space and Technology Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX) recently announced his intention to introduce new legislation to provide the government with the tools to navigate the ongoing developments in quantum computing. The new legislation would create a National Quantum Coordination Office inside the White House’s Office of Science and Technology Policy, which would oversee the coordination of research between agencies, serve as the primary point of contact and encourage commercialization of federal research innovations with the private sector. “Quantum is poised to redefine the next generation of scientific breakthroughs. We must ensure that the United States does not fall behind other nations that are advancing quantum programs,” he said. “The National Quantum Initiative Act will accelerate quantum research and development. It will promote greater quantum research, standards, federal coordination and collaboration among the key quantum players — laboratories, industry and universities.”

On the Senate side, Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) also recently introduced the Quantum Research Computing Act of 2018. The legislation calls on the Department of Defense to create a Quantum Computing Research Consortium that would oversee research and grant funding to address the development of quantum communication and quantum computing technology.

To view the Quantum Research Computing Act of 2018, visit:  https://www.harris.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/BAG18779.pdf