National Photonics Initiative Applauds Bipartisan Approval of NQI Act in U.S. Senate

(Washington, D.C.) -The National Photonics Initiative (NPI)--a broad-based collaborative alliance among industry, academia, and government to raise awareness of optics, photonics and quantum science and technology—is praising approval of the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act in the U.S. Senate. The House of Representatives approved its own version of the NQI Act, H.R. 6227, earlier this year.
 
“The Senate’s action today will help ensure the U.S. remains a global leader in quantum research and development. We applaud Senate passage of the NQI Act and for moving our country closer to a comprehensive quantum technology policy” said Ed White, Chair of the NPI Steering Committee and Vice President Test, Assembly, and Packaging for AIM Photonics. “As quantum research advances from the laboratory to the marketplace, the NQI Act will help guide the use of resources and keep our nation’s scientists and researchers at the forefront of this critical field.”
 
The NPI has been working with lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate on the NQI Act for more than a year to ensure it will maximize the nation’s quantum research and development capabilities. Specifically, the NPI advocated for a new quantum computing access program (QCAP) to make quantum computing and communications systems and simulations available to U.S. researchers and users across academia, laboratories, and industry.
 
The NQI Act closely follows the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Action Plan that was prepared under the guidance of Dr. Christopher Monroe, professor of physics at the University of Maryland, and Dr. Michael Raymer, professor of physics at the University of Oregon, both founding stakeholders, and shared with lawmakers by the NPI earlier this year. The stated goals of the Action Plan include producing a world-leading industrial quantum technology workforce, advancing quantum research and technology, and developing quantum software and intellectual property.
 
White praised Senate leaders for working together to advance the NQI Act in a bipartisan way.  “Senate Commerce Committee Chairman John Thune and Ranking Member Bill Nelson, as well as Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell, deserve tremendous credit for working together to strike the right balance on this critical legislation. With multiple agencies and institutions involved in quantum research and development, passage of the NQI Act will prioritize coordination and cooperation in this important field of research.”
 

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About the NPI: The National Photonics Initiative (NPI) is a collaborative alliance among industry, academia and government to raise awareness of photonics and the impact of photonics on our everyday lives; increase cooperation and coordination among US industry, government and academia to advance photonics-driven fields; and drive US funding and investment in areas of photonics critical to maintaining US economic competitiveness and national security. The initiative is being led by top scientific societies including the American Physical Society (APS), the IEEE Photonics Society, the Laser Institute of America (LIA), The Optical Society (OSA) and SPIE, the International Society for Optics and Photonics. For more information visit www.lightourfuture.org.