The National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) this week released its third annual report on spending and activities supporting the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA) passed in 2018. The report highlights the current spending request of $844 million for FY 2023, a slight dip from the $918 million actually authorized in 2022. It also cites several “program highlights” including, for example, NIST work with the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) to speed development of a U.S. quantum industry.

For quantum technology and industry watchers the latest NSTC report – National Quantum Initiative Supplement to the President’s FY2023 Budget – provides a quick snapshot of U.S. government plans, milestones, and funding for quantum information sciences R&D broadly. NSTC is the principal means by which the Executive Branch coordinates science and technology policy across the diverse entities that make up the Federal research and development (R&D) enterprise.

Here’s an excerpt from the executive summary:

“This report follows a sustained investment in the NQI Program, building upon the establishment of several NQI centers, the Quantum Economic Development Consortium, and new QIS R&D activities. Agencies reported actual budget expenditures for QIS R&D of $449 million in Fiscal Year (FY) 2019, $672 million in FY 2020, and $855 million in FY 2021, followed by $918 million in enacted budget authority for QIS R&D in FY 2022, and a requested budget authority of $844 million for QIS R&D in FY 2023.

“In line with the National Strategic Overview for Quantum Information Science, the United States is making substantial and sustained investments in fundamental QIS R&D to explore a wide range of applications and nurture a culture of discovery. Major efforts funded by several agencies are recognized in this report. Furthermore, overviews of agency efforts to progress on cross-cutting QIS policy topics such as investing in fundamental science and engineering, developing the workforce capacity, engaging with industry, investing in infrastructure, maintaining economic and national security, and encouraging international cooperation, are provided.”

The report also broadly describes various NQI program component areas (PCAs) which are used by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to collect and analyze budget data.

NQI Program Component Areas:

• Quantum Sensing and Metrology (QSENS) refers to the use of quantum mechanics to enhance sensors and measurement science. This can include uses of superposition and entanglement, non-classical states of light, new metrology regimes or modalities, and advances in accuracy and precision enabled by quantum control, for example, with atomic clocks.
• Quantum Computing (QCOMP) activities include the development of quantum bits (qubits) and entangling gates, quantum algorithms and software, digital and analog quantum simulators using programmable quantum devices, quantum computers and prototypes, and hybrid digital-analog computing, as well as quantum-classical computing systems.
• Quantum Networking (QNET) includes efforts to create and use entangled quantum states, distributed over distances and shared by multiple parties, for new information technology applications and fundamental science; for example, networking of intermediate-scale quantum computers (modules) for enhanced beyond-classical computing capabilities.
• QIS for Advancing Fundamental Science (QADV) includes foundational efforts to invoke quantum devices and QIS theory to expand fundamental knowledge in other disciplines; for example, to improve understanding of biology, chemistry, computation, cosmology, energy science, engineering, materials, nuclear matter, and other aspects of fundamental science.
• Quantum Technology (QT) catalogues several topics: work with end-users to deploy quantum technologies in the field and develop use cases; basic R&D on supporting technologies for QIS engineering, e.g., infrastructure and manufacturing techniques for electronics, photonics, and cryogenics; and efforts to understand and mitigate risks raised by quantum technologies, e.g., post-quantum cryptography.

There are also a few program highlights from NIST, NSF, DOE, DOD, NSA, and IARPA. One example spotlights advances made in error mitigation by DOE at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory:

“Researchers at LBNL developed a new approach to quantum error mitigation: noise estimation circuits. A circuit is a series of operations, or a program, executed on a quantum computer used to calculate the answer of a scientific problem. The team used a modified version of the circuit to estimate errors and correct the output measured for the real scientific simulation of the intended circuit. While the noise estimation circuit approach corrects some errors, it does not correct them all. By combining the new approach with three other error mitigation techniques, the researchers were able to obtain reliable results on a commercial quantum system.” (click to see error mitigation infographic)

Another looked at advancing efforts to use neutral atoms as qubits: “This approach opens new scientific and engineering opportunities to create systems with 1-D, 2-D, or 3-D lattices of qubits using novel gate sets based on the Rydberg blockade effect. This platform is complementary to trapped ions or superconducting qubit systems, with several university teams and a few startup companies pioneering quantum processors based on neutral atoms.” (click to see neutral atom infographic)

The report is a relatively quick read and worthwhile.

Link to report: https://www.quantum.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/NQI-Annual-Report-FY2023.pdf