Maryland Governor Wes Moore Unveils Bold Blueprint for Quantum at QWC 2025
At Quantum World Congress 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore delivered an inspiring vision for making Maryland the global capital of quantum. Speaking to a packed plenary audience, Moore outlined how the state is pairing long-standing assets with a clear strategy to ensure quantum drives job growth, wealth creation, and economic prosperity for generations.
Quantum, he emphasized, is not a fad—it’s a core pillar of Maryland’s economic future. At the start of 2025, Moore launched the Capital of Quantum Initiative, pledging $1 billion in public and private investment over five years. The initiative builds on the University of Maryland’s research leadership, the growth of companies like IonQ, and new partnerships that are already placing Maryland at the forefront of quantum deployment.
Moore highlighted the state’s three lighthouse industries—life sciences, IT, and aerospace & defense—with quantum singled out as a top priority within IT. In just nine months, that focus has yielded tangible results:
A historic partnership between IonQ and Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), signed during Moore’s first overseas trade mission.
A landmark agreement with DARPA, making Maryland the first quantum hub on the East Coast and unlocking up to $100 million in federal funding.
And, announced live on stage at QWC 2025, a new agreement with Microsoft to anchor Maryland’s Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub in College Park. Microsoft will establish a Partner Integration Center, an advanced lab for collaborative hardware and software development that will accelerate research, prototypes, and commercialization.
Moore personally thanked partners who made the announcement possible, including Microsoft leaders Jason Zander, Dr. Charles Tahan, and Sophie Alam, as well as UMD President Darryll Pines and economic strategist Ken Ulman.
Beyond the numbers, Moore underscored the human impact: investments in quantum create opportunities for students, entrepreneurs, and families. “The future of job growth is quantum. The future of wealth creation is quantum. The future of economic prosperity is quantum,” he said.
Closing with a deeply personal note, Moore reflected on the mentors and communities that shaped his path to becoming Maryland’s first Black governor. He connected their legacy of hope and investment to the shared responsibility of building a quantum future that uplifts society as a whole.
With Maryland’s assets aligned, strategy in place, and partners committed, Moore left no doubt: Maryland is moving—and it’s ready to lead the world in quantum.