Sponsors (2)
The bill concentrates federal support to accelerate regional quantum R&D, commercialization, and workforce development—likely boosting innovation in selected areas but increasing federal spending and risking slower rollout and uneven geographic benefits.
Researchers, tech workers, startups, and regional innovation clusters will gain increased federal support for quantum R&D and commercialization through coordinated NSF, DOE, and Commerce programs and alignment with Regional Innovation Engines, improving funding, partnerships, and commercialization pathways.
Students and local workforce pipelines in participating regions will receive expanded education, training, and entrepreneurial opportunities in quantum fields via coordinated regional initiatives, strengthening local talent development.
State and local governments and regional economic development agencies will have better access to federal technology programs, which can help attract investment and boost local economic growth in selected regions.
Expanding program mandates and new coordination among agencies will likely increase federal spending or force reallocation of existing R&D funds, potentially raising costs for taxpayers or reducing funding for other research priorities.
Regions not selected for innovation initiatives may receive limited direct benefit, which can reinforce geographic disparities in federal R&D investment and leave some rural or less-connected communities behind.
Coordinating programs across multiple federal agencies could add administrative complexity and slow program rollout, delaying benefits for researchers, firms, and students.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Adds EDA to the National Quantum Initiative Subcommittee and directs NSF and DOE, in partnership with Commerce and EDA, to support regional quantum innovation initiatives.
Adds the Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the coordinating Subcommittee for the National Quantum Initiative and directs the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE) to support regional innovation initiatives in quantum information science and technology (QIS). It requires NSF and DOE to work with the Commerce Department and EDA to build regional research, education, entrepreneurship, and economic-development capacity tied to quantum technology. The change explicitly links existing federal QIS programs to regional innovation efforts (including authorities for Regional Innovation Engines), increases interagency coordination, and directs federal agencies to support hubs of research, workforce development, and commercialization in QIS without specifying new funding amounts or timelines.
Introduced December 2, 2025 by Laura Gillen · Last progress December 2, 2025