An SRI International-led consortium established to advance quantum science studies in the U.S. recently held its second meeting and selected its potential leaders, FCW reported Monday.
Carl Williams, deputy director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s Physical Measurement Laboratory, unveiled at the meeting that 34 companies have expressed interest in joining the Quantum Economic Development Consortium to seek support for their quantum computing research.
He noted that most of the interested parties are major corporations while the rest are emerging companies.
Williams added that the private sector has started investing in quantum technology despite the forecast that the technology will fully emerge in 20 to 30 years.
Christopher Boyer, chairman of NIST’s Information Security and Privacy Advisory Board, also said that quantum science is beginning to show its potential in driving efforts in security, cryptography and artificial intelligence, among other things.
NIST stood up QEDC in October in partnership with SRI International to support research and development efforts in quantum science from the public and private sectors and academic institutions.