On May 7, 2025, QED-C Executive Director Dr. Celia Merzbacher will testify before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology during a hearing titled “From Policy to Progress: How the National Quantum Initiative Shapes U.S. Quantum Technology Leadership.”
Dr. Merzbacher will join fellow QED-C members from Google, Microsoft, and PsiQuantum to offer expert insights on the current state of U.S. quantum research, development, and commercialization, and to help inform the future of U.S. quantum policy.
About the Hearing
The hearing will evaluate the impact of the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act, which was enacted in 2018 to advance U.S. leadership in quantum information science and technology. With the Act’s initial five-year authorization period coming to an end, Congress is preparing to consider reauthorization—an opportunity to review progress and shape the next phase of the NQI.
Lawmakers will seek input on:
- The current position of the U.S. quantum industry
- The importance of quantum to national security and economic growth
- Policy recommendations to support the continued advancement of the U.S. quantum ecosystem
QED-C’s Perspective
In her testimony, Dr. Merzbacher will highlight the progress made in both the public and private sectors since the Act’s passage, including the creation of QED-C as the “consortium of stakeholders” envisioned in the original legislation. She will emphasize the growing importance of industry in advancing quantum technologies and the need for policy that supports commercialization alongside fundamental research.
She will also outline how reauthorization presents a critical opportunity to address emerging gaps, particularly in support for the fledgling quantum sensing, communications, and computing industries, and stress the ongoing need for workforce development, public-private collaboration, and strategic investment.
Watch the Hearing
To view the hearing and access testimony materials, visit:
https://science.house.gov/2025/5/from-policy-to-progress-how-the-national-quantum-initiative-shapes-u-s-quantum-technology-leadership