U.S. Maps Bold New Direction for National Quantum Initiative at Quantum World Congress
At Quantum World Congress 2025, the White House’s National Quantum Coordination Office highlighted renewed investments, expanding national centers, and a five-part policy framework to push U.S. quantum leadership from lab to market—while deepening global partnerships and protecting sensitive technologies.
Delivering the National Quantum Update: United States at Quantum World Congress 2025, Brad Blakestad, Director of the National Quantum Coordination Office (NQCO) within the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), laid out how the U.S. government is shaping the next phase of its National Quantum Initiative—and what comes after.
Blakestad began by situating the audience in the structure of the federal quantum ecosystem. The NQCO, he emphasized, does not directly fund research and development. Instead, it coordinates quantum activities across more than 25 federal departments and agencies—ranging from those that invest in R&D, to those that craft regulations, to those responsible for protecting sensitive technologies.
“Our role…is to work to ensure that quantum activities are coordinated across the U.S. government,” Blakestad explained.
Alongside this convening role, the office helps the administration develop policies that advance U.S. interests in quantum technologies at home and abroad.
From Landmark Legislation to a National Network of Centers
Blakestad traced the current landscape back to the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018, signed during the first Trump administration, which launched the first major coordinated federal policy push in quantum.
One of the Act’s most visible outcomes has been the creation of a national network of quantum centers:
10 original National Quantum Centers – five at the Department of Energy (DOE) and five at the National Science Foundation (NSF).
Expansion to 14 total centers with four additional hubs focused on defense and intelligence missions.
“We need innovative ways of growing the domestic workforce while continuing to be a beacon that attracts global talent to the U.S. ecosystem.”
These centers now bring together over 1,000 quantum scientists, more than three-quarters of whom are early-career researchers. Many will transition into academia, government, and industry roles, strengthening the national talent pipeline as quantum technologies move from lab to deployment.
Another early pillar of the National Quantum Initiative was the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), led by NIST, which Blakestad described as a vital “consolidated industry voice” that helps policymakers understand the needs and priorities of the emerging quantum sector. The consortium now includes international companies as well, reflecting the global nature of the ecosystem.
The NQI has also supported foundational education and workforce programs, such as the National Q–12 Education Partnership, which creates classroom frameworks, hands-on learning activities, and direct connections between students and quantum researchers to raise awareness of quantum careers.
Collectively, U.S. government investment in quantum doubled to roughly $1 billion annually during the first Trump administration—funding that has catalyzed research breakthroughs, spurred industrial growth, and strengthened the national talent pipeline.
Updating and Amplifying the National Quantum Initiative
Today, Blakestad said, the current administration is “excited to update and amplify” that initial work. While the White House is actively developing future directions for federal quantum efforts, several concrete steps are already underway.
He pointed to remarks delivered at the Congress by his boss, Michael Kratsios, Director of OSTP and the President’s Science and Technology Advisor, as evidence of the administration’s deep engagement with quantum technologies.
In March, the President sent a letter to Kratsios identifying three priority emerging technology domains for OSTP: artificial intelligence, quantum, and nuclear.
In response, key science agencies have already begun to refresh and extend the national center network:
DOE and NSF are soliciting proposals to revitalize the National Quantum Centers, ensuring they remain at the leading edge of discovery and application.
A recent budget reconciliation bill allocated an additional $250 million to the DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, designed to drive robust exploration of commercial quantum computing capabilities.
At the same time, the White House is working with Congress on opportunities to reauthorize and modernize the National Quantum Initiative Act, updating it to reflect technological progress and new policy priorities.
A Five-Pillar Framework for Future U.S. Quantum Policy
Looking ahead, Blakestad outlined five major priorities that will shape future quantum policy actions and directives from OSTP.
Grow and diversify the quantum workforce
The United States must find innovative ways to expand its domestic quantum workforce while continuing to attract global talent. As quantum technologies mature from lab prototypes to real-world products, the workforce must broaden beyond PhD physicists to include engineers, technicians, software developers, and a range of other skill sets. Federal initiatives will increasingly focus on this wider pipeline, in collaboration with academia, industry, and state and local governments.Accelerate commercialization while sustaining basic research
The second priority is pushing quantum technologies “out of the laboratory and into commercialization.” That means advancing quantum sensing beyond prototypes and driving quantum computing towards demonstrable quantum advantage by working closely with end users and co-developing applications. At the same time, Blakestad stressed that foundational science investments must continue, as many key breakthroughs in quantum physics have yet to be made.Catalyze enabling technologies and supply chains
Quantum systems depend on a suite of enabling technologies—such as lasers, advanced materials, and specialized manufacturing capabilities. The White House is exploring policy tools to incentivize a robust ecosystem for these components, ensuring that the United States can support the full value chain needed for quantum commercialization.Strengthen international partnerships and trusted networks
“Quantum is fundamentally a global endeavor,” Blakestad said, underscoring the need to work with trusted allies and partners on shared goals. He highlighted recent discussions in Japan and a newly signed Tech Prosperity deal with the United Kingdom, which includes cooperation on quantum, nuclear, and AI technologies. The aim is to create a trusted network that facilitates the secure flow of ideas and technologies while enhancing innovation across borders.Protect sensitive quantum technologies without stifling innovation
Finally, the United States must safeguard aspects of quantum technology that could threaten national security if acquired or developed by adversaries—such as certain cryptographic or sensing applications. The challenge, Blakestad noted, is to implement measures that empower researchers to secure their work without undermining the country’s ability to outcompete strategic competitors.
“These five priorities are going to serve as the basis for future policy actions and directives coming out of OSTP,” he said, expressing confidence that an updated National Quantum Initiative can carry the U.S. quantum community into its next phase.
Looking Ahead
Blakestad closed by thanking the Quantum World Congress audience and reiterating his office’s commitment to working with researchers, industry, and international partners to “push this technology and advance it into the future.”
With renewed investment in national centers, a sharpened focus on commercialization and enabling technologies, deeper international cooperation, and a clear framework for security and workforce development, the United States is positioning the National Quantum Initiative for its next chapter—one that aims to turn scientific leadership into enduring economic and strategic advantage.