Lawmakers Call for DOD Quantum Center of Excellence

House lawmakers have called for a U.S. Government quantum center of excellence for the Department of Defense (DOD).

Members of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber Innovative Technologies and Information Systems want the proposed hub to focus on military-specific applications for quantum computing.  

Setting out their ambitions in section 217 of the fiscal 2025 Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act, they wrote: “The Secretary of Defense shall establish a quantum computing center of excellence at a research laboratory of a covered armed force with requisite experience in quantum computing, integrated photonics and photon qubits, superconducting and hybrid systems, and trapped ions.”

They propose that the center carries out the following activities:

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The subcommittee suggests that partner organizations for the endeavor could include other armed forces research laboratories, the Defense Innovation Unit, federally funded research and development centers, university-affiliated research centers and private sector entities with expertise in quantum computing.

They suggest that if the provision is passed, the quantum center of excellence would be set to exist for 10 years post-enactment.

Military applications for quantum computing include processing complex combat data faster and in new ways, optimizing logistics, flight paths and supply chains, discovering new materials for military vehicles and accelerating machine learning for AI applications.

Applications for other quantum technology include quantum sensing, position, navigation and timing in GPS-deprived environments, quantum communication and cryptography.

The call comes as some reports claim that the U.S. risks falling behind China in quantum development despite funding blocks by many countries.

Related:U.S. Senate Passes Quantum Computing Cybersecurity Act