Stony Brook Takes Quantum Research and Workforce Push to Congress
Stony Brook University hosted a congressional briefing on quantum technology on September 16, drawing together members of Congress, federal science officials, and researchers from various institutions. The event, titled “Winning the Quantum Race: Workforce, Research and Innovation,” happened in partnership with U.S. Representatives Nick LaLota (NY-01) and Mark Alford (MO-04). It provided quantum scientists with a direct channel to lawmakers as decisions regarding federal quantum funding are pending.
Panel Discussions
The briefing featured two panels instead of a hardware demonstration. The first, “The Science of Quantum,” explored the evolution of quantum information science and identified areas where the United States leads or faces competition.
A significant portion of this session focused on the quantum internet, discussing the advancements still necessary to transition quantum networking from research testbeds to a larger, connected network. This topic is particularly relevant to Stony Brook’s collaboration with Brookhaven National Laboratory, where the two institutions have established a 98-mile quantum network connecting their campuses.
The second panel, “Building the Quantum Workforce,” focused on the human resources required to sustain the industry. Panelists challenged the notion that quantum jobs are exclusively for scientists with advanced degrees, arguing that the emerging quantum economy will rely on professionals with diverse training and backgrounds.
Participating institutions included Stony Brook, Brookhaven, the Department of Energy, the University of Missouri, and Ohio State University. Harriet Kung, deputy director for science programs at the DOE’s Office of Science, was among the presenters.
The Funding Objective Behind the Briefing
The event also served as a platform to advocate for a specific funding request. The House FY27 Commerce, Justice, and Science appropriations bill includes $4.2 million in Community Project Funding for Stony Brook’s Quantum Grid Resilience Initiative, a request submitted by Representative LaLota. If approved, it would support the university’s work on integrating quantum technology with grid resilience.
This request builds upon $1 million in earlier Congressionally Directed Spending secured by Senator Chuck Schumer. While a briefing alone does not pass legislation, it serves as an educational step. Stony Brook anticipates continued engagement with federal science leaders as a follow-up to this event.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to keep quantum policy at the forefront for lawmakers, alongside industry activities such as commercial post-quantum security endeavors and open-source quantum software releases.