SCSP News In New Commission On U.S. Quantum Primacy
Special Competitive Studies Project SCSP News
The High-Level, Bipartisan Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy (CUSP) was established by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP) to develop a national strategy to maintain the US's leadership in the rapidly accelerating quantum competition. As quantum technologies move from theory to practice, experts warn that the window for a long-term advantage is shrinking. This new program aims to close the innovation-national might gap to ensure that quantum technology improves American economic power and national security.
A Bipartisan Leadership Coalition
The 14-member committee brings together top technology and security experts and officials. Three co-chairs lead CUSP: Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Senator Todd Young (R-IN), and SCSP President Ylli Bajraktari.
The commission includes prominent academics, government labs, and industry leaders:
Industry Leaders: Dr. Jay Gambetta (Director of Research and IBM Fellow, IBM), Jack Hidary (CEO, SandboxAQ), Niccolo de Masi (Chairman and CEO, IonQ), and Hartmut Neven.
Dr. Whitney Mason (DARPA Microsystems Technology Office Director), Dr. Thomas Mason (Los Alamos National Laboratory Director), and Laura McGill (Sandia National Laboratories Director).
Research and Investment: Pat Gelsinger, General Partner, Playground Global; Dr. Mit Jha, CEO, Quantum Corridor; Dr. Megan Anderson, Executive VP of Technology, IQT; and Dr. Gretchen Campbell, University of Maryland Associate VP for Quantum Research and Education
The Three Strategic Pillars
CUSP has three main goals to preserve a “center of gravity” for the quantum revolution:
Building a Secure Quantum Industrial Base: The commission will focus on building a resilient ecosystem with a strong talent pipeline, hardware manufacturing capabilities, and secure supply chains to maintain a technological advantage.
Keep Information Advantage: Mission-critical algorithms, systems, and protocols will be prioritized. This pillar protects information flows to sustain the country's data processing and security leadership.
Accelerating Integration and Hybridization: Since quantum technology cannot work in a vacuum, CUSP combines quantum and conventional technologies. Finding short-term deployments that give the US an operational edge over competitors is part of this. National Power Landscape
Ylli Bajraktari calls quantum technology a “fundamental shift in the landscape of national power” rather than just quantum computing. He said CUSP would provide the roadmap to ensure this shift benefits the free world. Senator Todd Young agreed, saying that while America has the “talent and ingenuity” to lead, strategic rivals are responding quickly. Recent sources note that China's new five-year plan seeks to expand AI and reach quantum leadership, necessitating the US to accelerate its own development.
Senator Ben Ray Luján said that New Mexico, home to multiple national laboratories, is leading quantum research. He promised to capitalize on that momentum for a strong national agenda.
Path to Policy Recommendations
The Commission will produce a policy report with national leadership recommendations. This report will evaluate the US quantum ecosystem to ensure that the US defines and contributes to the quantum era.
As emerging technologies like artificial intelligence affect national security, the economy, and society, the SCSP, the commission's parent organization, is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to boosting America's long-term competitiveness
Quantum Market Context
The quantum industry was busy when CUSP was introduced. Recent field advances include:
Quantum Computing Inc. is finalizing its NuCrypt acquisition and reporting increased revenues and operating costs.
QuSecure's SBIR TACFI cryptographic resilience award highlights the relentless pursuit of quantum-secure systems.
Poland's SKKU has inked memorandums of understanding with Classiq Technologies to study quantum algorithms for satellite pictures.
Scientific Advancements: Researchers created a half-twist molecular Möbius strip to demonstrate deep-tech innovation alongside policy advances.
The SCSP's new commission is a major step toward formalizing a coordinated American response to one of the most disruptive technologies of the 21st century as the world competes for quantum domination.