Dr Celia Merzbacher anticipates continuous, steady improvements in Quantum

Dr Celia Merzbacher launched her career as a research scientist at Washington DC's U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. From there, she moved on to an Assistant Director role at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she oversaw the multiagency National Nanotechnology Initiative, a precursor of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative.

After spending almost a decade as VP for the Semiconductor Research Corporation, she took up the Director of Strategic and Institutional Planning role at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. From there, Dr Merzbacher moved to SRI International, taking up her current day position as QED-C Executive director.

SRI International is a prominent California-based non-profit research institute. It has over 75 years of experience developing cutting-edge tech for both government and private industry and transitioning solutions to commercial products. Moreover, SRI International has significant capabilities in both quantum sensing and networking. As such, it was a natural fit for the world of quantum technology, which is why it was chosen by National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish and manage the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C).

The role of QED-C in bonding quantum stakeholders

We asked Dr Merzbacher to talk about the work they do. "QED-C is a consortium of stakeholders managed by SRI International," she explained. "The aim is to enable and grow the quantum industry and associated supply chain."

Explaining QED-C’s philosophy, Dr Merzbacher notes, "Membership is open to key stakeholders based in countries that have shared values and abide by international norms, for example regarding protection of intellectual property and scientific reciprocity."

Pulling together disparate groups of stakeholders with interest in quantum computing has several benefits. One of the key advantages is accelerating the development of quantum to unlock its potential applications. As Merzbacher points out, "QED-C seeks to connect stakeholders from industry, government, academia and other research institutions."

This work is essential. Organic growth from startups and universities is happening at an encouraging pace. However, establishing solid ties between Federal investors and regulators is necessary if quantum is to thrive. Similarly, the quantum industry needs an adequately representative collective voice, which QED-C provides.

The current quantum position

While there has been tremendous excitement and buzz around the quantum space in recent years, tangible applications are still limited and predominantly in the future. Dr Merzbacher anticipates continuous, steady improvements are what the sector will see. She has previously indicated that the race to quantum is "more of a marathon than a sprint".

We were keen to get her opinion on where she sees the industry after some exciting breakthroughs over the last year. Dr Merzbacher is optimistic, but like any good scientist, she stays grounded in realism.

"It depends on the technology and application." she shares. "There are quantum-based clocks and sensors that are commercially available today." Indeed, these modern clocks are increasingly found outside of laboratory settings and are considered some of the most accurate scientific instruments ever made.

While these are positive steps in the right direction, Dr Merzbacher cautions against getting too far ahead of ourselves. "On the other hand, fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers are still years away."

The industry has been waiting with bated breath for machines with sufficient error correction. The threshold theory dictates a low bar of error, which so far is out of reach. However, researchers are making gains all the time, with Dr Merzbacher noting hopefully that "companies in these sectors have road maps and are making progress."

To hear what more Celia has to say about quantum's cuurrent position, register here

Leading lights

One thing that we know for sure is that various quantum companies and technologies will achieve breakthroughs at different times. While no quantum problems can be termed easy to solve, some are less complex than others. Or, to put it another way, some quantum applications are less reliant on more distant accomplishments like fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers.

We have reached a point where quantum tech will start to impact commercial applications. It's an intriguing time after so many years of promise.

Dr Merzbacher is "excited about the potential for sensors to impact industries from biomedicine to homeland security." Some exciting applications for biomedicine include recording brain activity while wearing a helmet sensor, studying proteins in metabolomics, and detecting cell development and endogenous heat generation.

In a homeland security context, the applications are startling. While detecting submarines and stealth aircraft could prove hugely beneficial, the ability to augment GPS with improved Position, Navigation and Timing (PNT) devices could be revolutionary for a range of military craft.

However, these are not the only fields capturing Dr Merzbacher’s attention. "Quantum computing shows promise in fields that have broad impact, from the design of new materials and chemicals to optimization and machine learning."

Indeed, QED-C keeps a close eye on these developments. According to Dr Merzbacher, they have "analysed the various algorithms being explored for such applications", noting that they are "roughly equally distributed among algorithms for machine learning, optimization and modelling and simulation."

QED-C's observations confirm the belief within the industry that there is a wide range of emerging potential applications. With each application being afforded attention from researchers and companies, the likelihood of advances grows. Thanks to organisations like SRI and their commitment to facilitating intellectual property sharing, the tide can lift all boats.

On the Agenda at Quantum.Tech Boston 24-26 April.

• “There are quantum-based clocks and sensors that are commercially available today. On the other hand, fault-tolerant general-purpose quantum computers are still years away.” — Promising roadmaps and exciting developments abound in the quantum sector, but patience is required.
• “Thanks to the growing government investments worldwide in university research, the number of startups is going up as well.” — On the vital role of government funding in supporting and shaping the quantum sector.
• “Investments in academia will help increase the number of graduates with undergraduate and graduate degrees over time." — The government has a critical role to play in the skills shortage too. The industry will struggle to hit targets without practical and targeted intervention.

Download the Quantum.Tech USA agenda here

Startup future stars

The quantum sector is exploding with innovation and discovery. Exciting academic research is emerging regularly; governments are funding research for various-sized companies, and well-capitalised startups have arrived on the scene, promising to disrupt major industries. Some of these startups are behind promising and novel quantum applications that stand to make a big difference over the coming years.

Dr. Merzbacher's position at SRI puts her at an enviable vantage point to watch these emerging startups push through the crowd. We asked her which she was most excited about; her reply offered an excellent sense of where the industry is.

"Startups make up almost a quarter of QED-C's nearly 240 members", Dr. Merzbacher suggests. On the subject of picking out one innovator in a crowded and high-potential field, she replied, "There are too many to name".

Then, Dr. Merzbacher makes a compelling point about the importance of government funding and the work of organisations like QED-C to ensure a steady pipeline of new companies focusing on quantum computing. "Thanks to the growing government investments worldwide in university research, the number of startups is going up as well."

Recent issues in the capital markets have underlined the fragility of revenue flows. Interest rate hikes from central banks have led many economists to declare the era of easy capital over. Funding volumes are down in 2023, with the runaway valuations of 2021 seeming a distant memory.

Government-backed capital is less vulnerable to the whims of the market. Quantum has so much potential for innovation, human health, job creation, etc., that support and funding cannot be left to the whims of macroeconomic conditions and short timelines. What's more, government funds are less vulnerable to pressure to produce immediate or high multiple returns, which means many promising areas can get a chance.

According to Dr. Merzbacher, "There are opportunities across the ecosystem." before adding, "I see innovative startups in fields ranging from application-specific software to quantum-enabling lasers and electronics."

The quantum talent pool

Talent acquisition teams in the STEM and tech sector understand that the number of graduates produced each year is by far outstripped by demand. In specialist fields like quantum computing, this problem is even more pronounced.

A McKinsey report at the end of last year highlighted the issue. As things stand, the research suggests that the ratio of qualified candidates to jobs is about 1:3. More worryingly, the situation doesn't look like it will get better quickly. The same report suggests that by 2025, less than half of all quantum jobs will be filled.

Should the talent gap stay the same, progress in the quantum world could well be affected. Dr. Merzbacher is well aware of this problem and admits "there is clearly a shortage of quantum-skilled workers today."

However, some of the aims that QED-C sets out to solve include liaising with the government to ensure money is directed towards creating a new generation of graduates to help quantum achieve its potential. As Dr Merzbacher suggests, "The investments in academia will help to increase the number of graduates with undergraduate and graduate degrees over time."

Of course, previous administrations have tried to address STEM skill shortage issues in the past, for example in response to the rise of AI. The quantum sector must learn the lesson from previous initiatives that worked by investing in high-quality graduate programs.

However, the problems are so severe they require multiple approaches, including ones with near-term impacts. As Dr. Merzbacher points out, "There are also programs—some of them online—that "upskill" current scientists and engineers with training/knowledge that allows them to pivot into the field."

Some recruiters and analysts characterise the tech skills issues as more of a shortage of specialists than overall scientists. Helping potential candidates augment their existing skills could strengthen the pipeline and let the quantum sector fill roles.

Quantum.Tech Boston 25 April

The speakers and panelists are an essential part of the Quantum.Tech experience. However, befitting an industry that is hugely collaborative and committed to intellectual property exchange, networking provides an excellent opportunity for everyone to bond and learn from the diverse set of attendees.

As a long-time supporter of Quantum.Tech, we asked Dr. Merzbacher what she was most looking forward to at this year’s event. “Quantum.Tech is always a great place to learn and to network.” she says. “This year the number of side events is even greater, providing more opportunities to meet and share.”

For more industry insights, you can catch Dr. Merzbacher at 4:25 pm on Day 1 of the event at Marriott Copley Place Boston, MA.

Register today to find out what Celia has to say about quantum!

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