Today, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-IA) introduced the Quantum in Practice Act, which would amend the National Quantum Initiative Act to include quantum molecular simulations and modeling in federal scientific research. More specifically, quantum molecular simulations and modeling will allow experts to study chemical elements and reactions with impressive accuracy.
This new research on molecules can then be used to invest in new materials and manufacture complex chemical reactions beneficial to a plethora of economic sectors. U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas (R-OK), Young Kim (R-CA), and Jake Ellzey (R-TX) are original cosponsors.
“From fertilizer production to materials manufacturing, quantum computing has the untapped potential to lower input costs for our farmers, improve energy storage and battery technologies, and produce more effective medications for patients,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m proud to introduce the Quantum in Practice Act to ensure that our main streets, farmers, and small businesses can realize the real benefits of quantum computing, not just in theory, but in practice. Thanks to scientific ingenuity, there is boundless opportunity for our rural communities to harness the power of quantum computing to strengthen our agricultural sector, streamline fertilizer production, and enhance our way of life in the 4th District.”
“Since we passed the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018, we’ve made significant advances in our quantum information science capabilities,” said Rep. Lucas, Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. “When we reauthorize this critical legislation in the next Congress, we want to account for these enhanced capabilities and ensure that we’re harnessing this technology in ways that provide real-world applications. Rep. Feenstra’s bill to account for quantum molecular simulations and modeling is an important update to this legislation that will help us understand materials and chemical interactions at a level of detail that has never before been possible. The potential technological innovations that will come from this knowledge will benefit industries from agriculture to energy to medicine. I appreciate his work on this bill and I’m proud to join him in sponsoring this forward-looking legislation.”
“As breakthroughs in quantum computing emerge, we must ensure that American industries keep up and can access the technologies they need to create innovative and next-generation materials,” said Rep. Kim. “The Quantum in Practice Act would expand opportunities for Main Street and our scientific community to use cutting-edge technologies in pursuit of safer medicines, improved energy storage, better protective gear, stronger conductors, and more tools that will be vital to our future economy and national security. I’m proud to join Rep. Feenstra in this effort and will always be a loud voice for American innovation.”
"Quantum computation will have an outsized impact on modeling and simulation applications that bolster American competitiveness,” said Pranav Gokhale, VP of Quantum Software at ColdQuanta. “The proposed amendment to the National Quantum Initiative Act will encourage researchers and industry to target these applications, bringing quantum one step closer to practical utility.”
The potential scientific discoveries across industries and sectors include, but are not limited to:
- Fertilizer - Modeling the nitrogen fixation process utilized by bacteria, which could be used to develop synthetic fertilizers without the high energy and material costs of current methods, creating the next generation of fertilizers;
- Safer Medicines - Creating more effective medications and reducing harmful interactions or side effects;
- Energy Storage - Developing new materials to increase energy storage capacity and create more powerful battery technologies;
- New Metals - Developing lighter, stronger metals;
- Protective Gear - Creating materials for more durable protective gear for law enforcement and military; and
- Conductors - Developing new types of superconductors.