Reps. Andrea Salinas, D-Ore., and Jim Baird, R-Ind., introduced bipartisan legislation last week that would amend the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) to accelerate quantum research by improving access to quantum research resources.
The legislation, titled the Quantum Instrumentation for Science and Engineering Act, would instruct the National Science Foundation (NSF) to award grants to help upgrade research facilities and improve research equipment related to quantum information science, technology, and engineering.
“Quantum science is one of the world’s fastest-growing areas of scientific research and has the potential to fundamentally change how we approach many aspects of academia, business, and national security,” Rep. Baird said in a press release. “The United States has been innovating in this field for years, but we must invest more in quantum research to encourage innovation. By providing new grants for our research institutions, we can maintain our competitive advantage and ensure America doesn’t fall behind in this crucial area of scientific development.”
The bill would also help to improve resource coordination efforts between researchers, students, and companies. Additionally, it would provide the scientific community with improved access to equipment, instrumentation, materials and devices, and other services needed to enable cutting-edge research on quantum information science.
Reps. Salinas and Baird said they hope the bill will help to train the next generation of quantum scientists and translate research findings into commercial products and services. The legislation is also endorsed by universities in the lawmakers’ home states, including the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Purdue University, and Indiana University.
“Quantum science has the potential to vastly improve computing speeds and performance, sensing capabilities, and secure communications. Yet much more research is needed before we can fully realize the benefits of these technologies,” said Rep. Salinas.
“This bipartisan bill invests in upgrades to research facilities and expands access to resources. It also builds the quantum workforce by encouraging universities to collaborate with community and technical colleges to provide meaningful hand-on learning experiences for their students,” she added. “Ultimately, our legislation will help secure America’s position at the cutting-edge of quantum research and development for decades to come.”
The bill’s introduction comes as a new report from the Center for Data Innovation (CDI) is urging Congress to reauthorize the 2018 NQIA, which created a framework for quantum research and development and authorized $1.2 billion of funding for that effort from fiscal years 2019 to 2023.
The report recommends a sharp increase in NQIA funding – to about $2.6 billion – or $525 million per year from fiscal year 2024 to fiscal year 2028, in addition to any CHIPS Act funding devoted to quantum sciences.
