Engineering Research Visioning Alliance report identifies critical engineering research priorities for the nation to maintain leadership in the emerging quantum industry
JAN. 7, 2025 – A new report from the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA), funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), identifies key engineering research priorities for the United States to sustain its leadership in quantum-enabled technologies amid intensifying global competition.
The U.S. has long been at the forefront of quantum research, but risks losing its edge as investment from other countries accelerates — particularly in China and the European Union — in quantum information science and technology (QIST) and other quantum domains. ERVA’s report, Engineering Research to Advance Quantum Technologies, provides a roadmap of the critical engineering research opportunities to drive significant QIST advancements that can help solve global challenges.
“America helped pioneer quantum science, but other nations are rapidly closing—and in some areas surpassing—our lead through aggressive investments,” said Brian Gaucher, ERVA Thematic Task Force co-chair. “To secure our competitive advantage, we must invest now in the engineering research needed to transform quantum discoveries into scalable, deployable technologies. These systems rely on materials, processes, and manufacturing approaches radically different from today’s paradigm. Coordinated research across academia, industry, and government is essential to ensure the U.S. achieves and maintains leadership in this transformative technology domain.”
The report builds on insights from a visioning event that convened transdisciplinary experts from quantum information science, quantum computing, and technology-specific engineering communities such as bioengineering, space science, and photonics. The goal was to address the complexities underlying the advancement of quantum research and chart a path from discovery to deployment. The report highlights four priority areas with the highest potential for large-scale impact:
- Quantum & Materials – including new materials with unique properties to enable quantum devices and processors. This includes materials engineering for quantum information processing, quantum signal transduction (converting signals across domains) and optical and microwave photon generation and detection. For example, innovations in cryogenic packaging – whether just for the detectors or to couple to a microwave or optical qubit – are needed.
- Quantum & Biology – including quantum sensing and biology (e.g., detectors for ultra-high sensitivity measurement with potential to expose early signs of neurological diseases like Parkinson’s), quantum for medical sensing and imaging (e.g., wearable quantum diagnostics, quantum-assisted drug delivery), and nature-inspired quantum (e.g., bio-inspired quantum applications, bio-quantum tools).
- Quantum & Computing – including qubit and processor development, interconnects and components and scalable cryogenic systems to bring production-level quantum computing from experimental use into the mainstream. Because quantum processors must run for long periods at extremely low temperatures, new ways to manage systems’ reliability, availability, and serviceability are essential. For example, this could mean monitoring and identifying failures inside the refrigeration units and using automated systems to swap out failed components or replace loads without interrupting computations.
- Quantum & AI – including algorithms for noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) processors, classical AI for quantum and quantum intelligent sensors and networks to accelerate AI by optimizing the complex algorithms and processing vast datasets more efficiently. For instance, quantum algorithms might enhance AI models, leading to more accurate predictions and faster training times. One use case leveraging ML/AI algorithms: NISQ processors could be used to discover hard-to-classically-simulate protein structures, an approach that, in turn, could lend itself to quantum-enhanced drug discovery.
“We face a pivotal moment reminiscent of the early semiconductor era—but quantum technologies promise even more far-reaching impact,” added Gaucher. “The United States has strong foundational research and can lead in quantum information science and technology, but only with strategic focus and substantial investment. We must accelerate the transition from laboratory demonstrations to manufacturing-ready systems capable of addressing our most critical national challenges. This roadmap charts that path forward, identifying the key research priorities and coordination mechanisms needed to turn quantum potential into quantum reality.”
Engineering Research to Advance Quantum Technologies is the 12th report released by ERVA, an initiative funded by the NSF to help identify future engineering research directions on a national level. The executive summary and full report can be downloaded from ERVA’s website here. Visit ERVA’s website to see other reports generated by visioning events: Transforming Women’s Health Outcomes through Engineering, Strategic Engineering for Next-Generation Wireless Competitiveness, Engineering Opportunities to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance, AI Engineering | A Strategic Research Framework to Benefit Society, Engineering Materials for a Sustainable Future, Engineering the Future of Distributed Manufacturing, Engineered Systems for Water Security, Sustainable Transportation Networks Engineering, R&D Solutions for Unhackable Infrastructure, Leveraging Biology to Power Engineering Impact, and The Role of Engineering to Address Climate Change.
ERVA is funded by the National Science Foundation.
About the Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA):
The Engineering Research Visioning Alliance (ERVA) is a neutral convener that helps define future engineering research directions. Funded by the NSF Directorate for Engineering, ERVA is an engaged partnership that enables an array of voices to impact national research priorities. The initiative convenes, catalyzes and enables the engineering community to identify nascent opportunities and priorities for engineering-led innovative, high-impact, cross-domain research that addresses national, global and societal needs. Learn more at ERVAcommunity.org.
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