ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQUANTUMINFORMATIONSCIENCEAND

TECHNOLOGY

AReportbythe

SUBCOMMITTEEONQUANTUMINFORMATIONSCIENCE

COMMITTEEONSCIENCE

ofthe

NATIONALSCIENCE&TECHNOLOGYCOUNCIL

AUGUST2024

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

ii

ABOUTTHENATIONALSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGYCOUNCIL

TheNationalScienceandTechnologyCouncil(NSTC)istheprincipalmeansbywhichtheExecutiveBranchcoordinatesscienceandtechnologypolicyacrossthediverseentitiesthatmakeuptheFederalresearchanddevelopment(R&D)enterprise.AprimaryobjectiveoftheNSTCistoensurescienceandtechnologypolicydecisionsandprogramsareconsistentwiththePresident'sstatedgoals.TheNSTCpreparesR&DstrategiesthatarecoordinatedacrossFederalagenciesaimedataccomplishingmultiplenationalgoals.TheworkoftheNSTCisorganizedundercommitteesthatoverseesubcommitteesandworkinggroupsfocusedondifferentaspectsofscienceandtechnology.Moreinformationisavailableat

/ostp/nstc

.

ABOUTTHEOFFICEOFSCIENCEANDTECHNOLOGYPOLICY

TheOfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy(OSTP)wasestablishedbytheNationalScienceandTechnologyPolicy,Organization,andPrioritiesActof1976toprovidethePresidentandotherswithintheExecutiveOfficeofthePresidentwithadviceonthescientific,engineering,andtechnologicalaspectsoftheeconomy,nationalsecurity,homelandsecurity,health,foreignrelations,theenvironment,andthetechnologicalrecoveryanduseofresources,amongothertopics.OSTPleadsinteragencyscienceandtechnologypolicycoordinationefforts,assiststheOfficeofManagementandBudgetwithanannualreviewandanalysisofFederalR&Dinbudgets,andservesasasourceofscientificandtechnologicalanalysisandjudgmentforthePresidentwithrespecttomajorpolicies,plans,andprogramsoftheFederalGovernment.Formoreinformation,see

/ostp

.

ABOUTTHENSTCSUBCOMMITTEEONQUANTUMINFORMATIONSCIENCE

TheNSTCSubcommitteeonQuantumInformationScience(SCQIS)wasestablishedbytheNSTCCommitteeonScienceandcodifiedbytheNationalQuantumInitiativeActtocoordinateFederalR&Dinquantuminformationscienceandrelatedtechnologies.TheaimofthisR&DcoordinationistomaintainandexpandU.S.leadershipinquantuminformationscienceanditsapplicationsoverthenextdecade.

ABOUTTHISDOCUMENT

ThisreportaugmentstheNationalStrategicOverviewforQuantumInformationSciencewithadditionalpolicyrecommendationstofacilitateandrealizethemutualbenefitsofinternationalcooperation,whichisapolicypillaroftheNationalStrategicOverview.RecommendationshereinweredevelopedbytheSCQISwithinputfromitsInteragencyWorkingGrouponInternationalCooperation.

COPYRIGHTINFORMATION

ThisdocumentisaworkoftheU.S.Governmentandisinthepublicdomain(see17U.S.C.§105).Subjecttothestipulationsbelow,itmaybedistributedandcopiedwithacknowledgmenttoOSTP.CopyrightstographicsincludedinthisdocumentarereservedbytheoriginalcopyrightholdersortheirassigneesandareusedhereundertheGovernment’slicenseandbypermission.RequeststouseanyimagesmustbemadetotheprovideridentifiedintheimagecreditsortoOSTPifnoproviderisidentified.PublishedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica,2024.

iii

NATIONALSCIENCE&TECHNOLOGYCOUNCIL

Chair

AratiPrabhakar,AssistanttothePresidentforScienceandTechnology;Director,OSTP

ExecutiveDirector(Acting)

KeiKoizumi,PrincipalDeputyDirectorforScience,Society,andPolicy,OSTP

COMMITTEEONSCIENCE

Co-Chairs

KeiKoizumi,PrincipalDeputyDirectorforScience,Society,andPolicy,OSTPMonicaBertagnolli,Director,NIH

SethuramanPanchanathan,Director,NSF

SUBCOMMITTEEONQUANTUMINFORMATIONSCIENCE

Co-Chairs

HarrietKung,DOE

JamesKushmerick,NISTDeniseCaldwell,NSF

GretchenCampbell,OSTP(sinceMar.2024)CharlesTahan,OSTP(throughMar.2024)

ExecutiveSecretary

AlexanderCronin,NSF

Members

MichaelHayduk,AFRLLauraParker,DHS

JohnBurke,DODLindaHorton,DOEEshaMathew,DOS

CatherineMarsh,IARPA(throughApr.2024)RickMuller,IARPA(sinceApr.2024)

NasserBarghouty,NASA

GeethaSenthil,NIH

AndrewWilson,NISTSaúlGonzalez,NSFShaneStrutz,NSA

JohnBeieler,ODNI

YiPei,OMB

DeborahKatz,USPTO

NATIONALQUANTUMCOORDINATIONOFFICE

Director

GretchenCampbell,OSTP(sinceMar.2024)CharlesTahan,OSTP(throughMar.2024)

Staff

BradBlakestad,OSTPTannerCrowder,OSTPThomasWong,OSTP

iv

INTERAGENCYWORKINGGROUPONINTERNATIONALCOOPERATION

Co-Chairs

EshaMathew,DOS

GretchenCampbell,OSTP

TannerCrowder,OSTP(sinceDec.2023)ThomasWong,OSTP(throughDec.2023)

GraceMetcalfe,AFOSRMichaelHayduk,AFRLJohnKamp,DARPA

JalalMapar,DHS(throughDec.2023)

LauraParker,DHS

MelissaLaReau,DOCITAJohnBurke,DOD

Jean-LucCambier,DODCoreyCohn,DOE

ClaireCramer,DOE(throughMar.2024)AdamKinney,DOE

Participants

MichaelDiRosa,IARPA

JudithCarrodeguas,NASA

CatherineMarsh,IARPA(throughApr.2024)CoreyStambaugh,NIST

GeraldBorsuk,NRL

RobertButera,LPS

BenjaminPalmer,LPS

AlexanderCronin,NSF

StaceyStandridge,NSF

RobertoDiener,ONR

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

v

TABLEOFCONTENTS

AbouttheNationalScienceandTechnologyCouncil i

TableofContents v

AbbreviationsandAcronyms vi

ExecutiveSummary 1

I.Introduction 2

II.MotivationforInternationalCooperationinQIST 2

III.CurrentPathwaysandOpportunitiesforInternationalCooperationandCoordinationin

QIST 5

IV.RecommendationstoadvanceinternationalcooperationinQIST 7

Recommendation1:TheU.S.Governmentshouldcreatededicatedandlong-termmechanisms

tofundinternationalQISTcollaborationandcooperation 8

Recommendation2:Agenciesshouldenhanceinteragencycoordinationofinternational

cooperationpracticestoreinforceanintegratedU.S.Government-wideportfoliofor

internationalQISTengagement 9

Recommendation3:TheU.S.Governmentshouldestablishandtrackmetricsforglobal

competitivenessacrossQISTanditsenablingtechnologies 10

V.Conclusion 11

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

vi

ABBREVIATIONSANDACRONYMS

AFOSR

AirForceOfficeofScientificResearch

AFRL

AirForceResearchLaboratory

ARO

ArmyResearchOffice

DARPA

DefenseAdvancedResearchProjectsAgency

DHS

DepartmentofHomelandSecurity

DOD

DepartmentofDefense

DOCITA

DepartmentofCommerceInternationalTradeAdministration

DOE

DepartmentofEnergy

DOS

DepartmentofState

ESIX

SubcommitteeonEconomicandSecurityImplicationsofQuantumScience

IARPA

IntelligenceAdvancedResearchProjectsActivity

ISTC

SubcommitteeonInternationalScienceandTechnologyCoordination

IWG

InteragencyWorkingGroup

LPS

LaboratoryforPhysicalSciences

NASA

NationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration

NIH

NationalInstitutesofHealth

NIST

NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology

NQCO

NationalQuantumCoordinationOffice

NQI

NationalQuantumInitiative

NRL

NavalResearchLaboratory

NSA

NationalSecurityAgency

NSF

NationalScienceFoundation

NSTC

NationalScienceandTechnologyCouncil

ODNI

OfficeoftheDirectorofNationalIntelligence

OMB

OfficeofManagementandBudget

ONR

OfficeofNavalResearch

OSTP

OfficeofScienceandTechnologyPolicy

QIS

QuantumInformationScience

QIST

QuantumInformationScienceandTechnology

R&D

ResearchandDevelopment

S&T

ScienceandTechnology

SCQIS

SubcommitteeonQuantumInformationScience

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

1

EXECUTIVESUMMARY

Quantuminformationscienceandtechnology(QIST)isacriticalandemergingfieldthatcouldrevolutionizethewayinformationiscollected,processed,andtransmitted.ThistransformativepotentialiswhyQISTisapriorityfortheBiden-HarrisAdministration.DuetothemanypotentialsocietalbenefitsofQIST,thefieldisbeingenthusiasticallypursuedaroundtheglobe.Overthepastdecade,numerouscountriesandjurisdictionshavelaunchedconcentratedinitiativestostrengthentheirQISTenterprises.ThesedevelopmentshaveexpandedglobalparticipationinQISTandhaveincreasedtheimportanceofinternationalcollaboration.WhiletheUnitedStateshassupportedinternationalcooperationinQISTfordecades,opportunitiesexisttoadjustandstrengthenitsapproachthatwillbetterpositiontheNationtobothleverageinternationalengagementsandadvanceU.S.prioritiesrelatedtoQIST.

TheUnitedStatesshouldcontinuetofocusinternationalengagementsoninteractionsthatimpartmutualbenefitsandarebasedonscientificinquiry,sharedvalues,andeconomicpromise.Doingsoacceleratesinnovation;facilitatesrobustaccesstosupplychainsandmarkets;andguidesthedevelopmentofQIST-relatedprinciples,policies,andeffectivepracticesintheinternationalcommunity.Internationalcollaborationsamongpracticingexpertsareparticularlyeffectiveandhaveservedasthebackboneforidentifyingsharedinterestsandcooperativerelationships.Subjectmatterexpertsarebestpositionedtoidentifyandactonopportunities,aidedbyexistingmechanismssuchasscientificworkshopsandthemobilityofscientistsandprofessionals.

Buildingonthistraditionofinternationalcooperation,thereareopportunitiestoinformpriorities,leverageadditionalmechanisms,establishjointresearchprojects,pilotnewapproachesthatcatalyzediscovery,andformalizecollaborationswherenecessary,alltoboostdiscoveryandinnovation.Challengesthatcurrentlycomplicatethedevelopmentofeffectiveinternationalcollaborationsincludemismatcheswithforeignpartnersondiversetopicssuchastechnicalcapability,scientificandstrategicpriorities,andfundingsystems.TheUnitedStatesisalsoexperiencinganincreaseininternationalrequestsforcollaborationthatcoulddivertattentionfromongoingeffortsifnotcoordinatedandprioritizedeffectively.Thisreportidentifiesthesekeychallengesandrelatedgaps,andrecommendsactionstoensurethattheUnitedStatesiswell-positionedtofosterbeneficialandnimblecollaborationswithawidevarietyofinternationalpartnersthatwilladvancefundamentalknowledge,innovation,andpossibilitiesinQIST.Theserecommendationsare:

1.TheU.S.Governmentshouldcreatededicatedandlong-termmechanismstofundinternationalQISTcollaborationandcooperation.

2.AgenciesshouldenhanceinteragencycoordinationofinternationalcooperationpracticestoreinforceanintegratedU.S.Government-wideportfolioforinternationalQISTengagement.

3.TheU.S.GovernmentshouldestablishandtrackmetricsforglobalcompetitivenessacrossQISTanditsenablingtechnologies.

TheserecommendationsbuilduponthosemadeintheNationalScienceandTechnologyCouncilNationalStrategicOverviewforQuantumInformationScienceandthereportonTheRoleofInternationalTalentinQuantumInformationScience,andtheNationalQuantumInitiative(NQI)AdvisoryCommitteereportonRenewingtheNQI.Collectively,theseactionswillallowtheU.S.Government,inclosecoordinationwithU.S.alliesandpartners,tobuildaglobalQISTlandscapethatreflectsprinciplessupportingscientificrigorandresearchintegrity,freedomofinquiry,merit-basedcompetition,openness,andtransparency.

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I.INTRODUCTION

Quantuminformationscience(QIS)andtechnology(QIST)

1

takesadvantageofquantummechanicalproperties,suchassuperpositionandentanglement,andcombinesthemwithinformationtheorytoenablenewmodalitiesofsensing,computing,communications,andnetworking.Thesenewmodalitiescanprovidedisruptiveadvantagesforselectapplications,potentiallyoutperformingexistingclassicalapproaches.BuildingondecadesofAmericaninvestment,theU.S.NationalQuantumInitiative(NQI),

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codifiedin2018bytheNQIAct,

3

authorizedflagshipQISTresearchcentersandinstitutes,convenedanindustryconsortium,andcreatedseveralmechanismstocoordinatetheNQIprogram.Thesewhole-of-governmenteffortsinvolvingatleast23Federaldepartmentsandagencies(hereafter,“agencies”)resultedinFederalQISTspendingroughlydoublingfrom$450Min2019tomorethan$1Bin2022.

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ToaccelerateAmericanleadershipinthefield,the2018NationalStrategicOverviewforQIS(NationalStrategicOverview)describessixpolicypillars:science,workforce,industry,infrastructure,security,andinternationalcooperation.

5

SubsequentstrategydocumentshaveaugmentedtheNationalStrategicOverview,suchasthoseonworkforceandtheroleofinternationaltalent,allofwhichcanbefoundon

.

6

–

8

ThisreportsimilarlyaugmentstheNationalStrategicOverview,inparticulartheinternationalpillar,andarticulatesseveralareasforfocus,includingreviewinginternationalcollaborativeactivities,prioritizingstrategicpartnerships,andencouragingmerit-basedandtransparentfundamentalresearchandinnovationsystems,inordertorealizethescienceandtechnology(S&T)benefitsassociatedwiththenextquantumrevolution.

ThisreportdiscussesthecurrentabilityoftheUnitedStatestofulfilltheseobjectives.Section2describesthemotivationforcontinuedinternationalcollaborationinQIST,Section3discussesopportunitiesforcollaboration,andSection4providesthreerecommendationstoenhancetheUnitedStates’abilitytoengageinQISTresearchanddevelopment(R&D)ontheglobalstage.

II.MOTIVATIONFORINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

Fordecades,QISTR&DhasthrivedinahighlyinternationalarenaandhasbeeninterconnectedwithS&Tfrontiersinmanyrelatedfields.CollaborationandcooperationinQISTbetweentheUnitedStatesanditsalliesandpartners(hereafter,“partners”)confersmanybenefitstotheNation,suchasto:

a)Movethesciencefaster.

b)Grow,attract,andengagewithinternationaltalent.

c)Promoterobustaccesstoresourcesandmarkets.

d)GuideQIST-relatedprinciples,policies,andeffectivepracticesintheinternationalcommunity.

e)Strengtheninternationalengagements.

Collectively,theseoutcomesareessentialtoU.S.scientificleadership,economiccompetitiveness,andnationalsecurity.Inthefollowingsubsections,eachofthesebenefitswillbeexploredingreaterdetail.

1AsdescribedintheNationalQuantumInitiativeAct,QISmeanstheuseofthelawsofquantumphysicsforthestorage,transmission,manipulation,computing,ormeasurementofinformation.QISTreferstoQISandtechnologiesthatleverageit.

2

3NQIAct(Pub.L.115-368),15U.S.C.§8801etseq.FortheNQIActwithamendmentsmadeasofOctober2022,see

/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NQIA2018-NDAA2022-CHIPS2022.pdf

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/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/NQI-Annual-Report-FY2024.pdf

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/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/2018_NSTC_National_Strategic_Overview_QIS.pdf

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/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/QIST-Natl-Workforce-Plan.pdf

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/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/2021_NSTC_ESIX_INTL_TALENT_QIS.pdf

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/publications-and-resources/publication-library/

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MovetheScienceFaster.InternationalinvestmentinQIST—intermsofbothfundingandindevelopingnationalstrategies—hasrisendramaticallyoverthepastseveralyears.Inthisenvironment,scientificadvancementtranscendsinstitutionsandbordersinfavorofglobalknowledgenetworks.From2018-2022,roughlyhalfoforiginal,peer-reviewedQISTresearchpublishedbyscientistsintheUnitedStatesinvolvedinternationalcollaboration,comparedto40percentacrossallscientificpublications,indicatingtheinternationalnatureofQIST.

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MostareasofQISTarenascent,withmajorscientificchallengesthatstillneedtobeaddressed.

10

Internationalcooperationiscrucialtosupportathrivingcultureofdiscoveryandtoacceleratethesolvingofkeybasicresearchquestions.

Grow,AttractandEngagewithInternationalTalent.TheriseininternationalinvestmentsinQISThascreatedcompetitiveopportunitiesfortalentedresearcherstopursuetheirworkaroundtheglobe.AsdiscussedintheQISTWorkforceDevelopmentNationalStrategicPlanandTheRoleofInternationalTalentinQISreport

,6,

7

productionofdomesticQISTtalentisnotmeetingthedemandsfromU.S.academia,industry,andgovernment.Thus,theUnitedStatesshouldleverageexistingpathwaysforinternationaltalenttoparticipateintheU.S.workforceandconsiderneweffortstocontinuetoattractandretainthetalentrequiredtoachieveU.S.QISTgoals.Atthesametime,theUnitedStatesshouldworktoensurethattheQISTtalentbasesofpartnernationsremainstrongandinterconnected.Inaddition,internationalengagementatthecompanyorresearcherlevelcreatesfamiliaritywiththeindustrialandtechnicaldevelopmentsinpartnernations,whichcanfacilitatethegrowthofscientificandeconomicinteraction.

EnsureRobustAccesstoResourcesandMarkets.KeyresourcesforQISTresearch,development,andcommercializationarespreadacrosstheworld.Resourcesincludescientificandtechnicalexpertise,criticalcomponents,infrastructure,laboratorieswithmodernequipment,hardwaretestbeds,andfoundries.StrengtheningandexpandingaccesstoresourceswilllowerbarrierstocollaborativeR&Dandcommercialization,whichwilldrivethedevelopmentofcriticalcomponentsandfacilitateasustainablesupplychain.AccesstoglobalmarketsisalsoimportanttoensurethatQIST-relevantproductsandservicescanbroadentheirreach,generaterevenue,andbenefitallcollaborators.Thus,enablingcontinuedaccesstoresourcesandmarketsbetweentrustedpartnersisvitalforthehealthoftheglobalQISTcommunity,whilemaintainingU.S.globalcompetitivenessandensuringnationalsecurity.

GuideQIST-RelatedPrinciples,Policies,andEffectivePracticesintheInternationalCommunity.InternationalQISTactivitiesshouldbeguidedbysharedprinciples,policies,andeffectivepracticesthatpromotetheopenandfairpursuitofS&T,includingrespectforintellectualproperty(IP),datasharingpractices,andstandard-settingprocesses,aswellastheprotectionofprivacy,civilrights,andcivilliberties.Internationalcollaborationandcooperationshouldpromotemerit-basedcompetition,rigorandintegrityinresearch,andeffectiveresearchsecurity.ForumsliketheG7,G20,OrganisationforEconomicCo-operationandDevelopment(OECD),andothersincludediscussionsonemergingtechnologiesandsciencepolicymattersrelevanttoQIST.BilateralS&Tagreementscanarticulatethatcooperationshouldbebuiltuponsharedvalues,specifyrightsandobligationsrelatingtoIPprotection,andsetrulesfordisputesettlementrelatedtosuchrights.

9StatisticsfromtheIncitesdatabase,comparingQISTarticlesfrom2018-2022comparedtoallarticlesinthesametimeperiod.

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/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/QuantumFrontiers.pdf

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

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BoxonPursuingQuantumInformationTogether-RoundtableDiscussions

Figure:(Left)PictureoftheparticipantsfromtheinauguralmeetingonPursuingQuantumInformationTogether.(Right)PosterfromthemeetingattheWhiteHouse.

ItisU.S.policytopromoteandsupportinternationalcooperationonQISTresearchandskillsdevelopment,especiallyinwaysthataffirmprinciplesofscientificrigorandresearchintegrity,freedomofinquiry,merit-basedcompetition,openness,andtransparency.TheseidealsarereflectedinthebilateralquantumcooperationstatementsthattheUnitedStateshassignedwithAustralia,Denmark,Finland,France,Germany,Japan,theRepublicofKorea,theNetherlands,Sweden,Switzerland,andtheUnitedKingdom.

In2022,theNationalQuantumCoordinationOffice(NQCO)andtheStateDepartmentlaunchedaninternationalroundtableonPursuingQuantumInformationTogether:2Nvs2N.ThisroundtablereinforcedtheimportanceofinternationalcooperationinQISTtoacceleratediscovery,shareresources,andjointlyaddressglobalchallenges.

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ThemostrecentmeetinginOctober2023wascohostedbyDenmarkandtheNetherlands.Atthismeeting,thegroupdiscussedasetofdraftguidingprinciplesforsupportingtheglobalQISTcommunity,aswellasensuringthatitisinformedbythebestavailabledata:

1.PromotescientificcollaborationandtheexchangeofideastosupportquickerscientificdiscoveryinQIST.

2.Incorporatesubject-matterexpertiseinpolicydiscussionsanddecisions.

3.SharebestpracticesandcoordinateoutreachinjointeffortstogrowtheQISTtalentbase.

4.Promoteresearchsecurity,alignandreinforcetechnologyprotectionmeasures,andsupportafairmarketplacetocreateavibrantandtrustedglobalQISTindustry.

5.Planforthedeploymentofquantum-resistantcyberinfrastructure,suchasquantum-resistantcryptography,toresponsiblyaddresstherisksofQIST.

6.Increasequantumawarenessandreadinessinthedevelopmentanduseofquantum-basedtechnologiesandapplications.

7.EncouragethediscoveryofQISTusecasesforthebenefitofsociety.

Standardsplayanimportantroleateachstageoftechnologydevelopment:standardterminologyhelpsbridgediversestakeholdercommunities;standardmeasurementandcharacterizationtechniquesbothhelpmaturenewtechnologyandprovideconsumerconfidenceincommercial

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/readout-international-roundtable-2n/

ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

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products;interfacestandardsprovidethefoundationforaplug-and-playmarket;andcertificationandteststandardsestablishabasisfortrust.Standardsaredevelopedthroughconsensusatappropriateforumsandareintrinsicallycollaborative.However,standardscanalsobeusedtocreateacompetitiveadvantage.SomecountriesthatdonotsharethevaluesoftheUnitedStatesmaytrytoexertundueinfluenceinanemergingmarket,likeQIST,byattemptingtoaggressivelysteerstandardscreationbodies.Tocounterthisundueinfluence,theUnitedStatesshouldworkmultilaterallytoprotecttheintegrityoftheinternationalstandardizationforums,inalignmentwiththeobjectivesoftheU.S.GovernmentNationalStandardsStrategyforCriticalEmergingTechnology,

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andhelptoensurethatresultingstandardsreflectsharedvaluesandarebasedonthebestavailabledata.

TheearlydevelopmentstageofQISTalsopresentsanopportunityfortheglobalQISTcommunitytoengagewithpolicymakersandthepublic.Thisengagementcanaddressunrealisticexpectationsandcountermisunderstandingsregardingthepotentialcapabilities,applications,andtimelinesofQIST.TheUnitedStatescanplayaleadingrole,butinternationalcooperationisneededtoensurethatthepotentialbenefitsandrisksofQISTarewellunderstoodandthatfuturepoliciesanddecisionsrelatedtoQISTarebasedonthebestavailabledata,whilesupportingavibrantandsecureglobalecosystem.TheBoxonPursuingQuantumInformationTogetherdescribesmultilateralroundtablesthatdiscussthesetopics.

StrengthenInternationalEngagements.Historically,internationalcollaborationhasprovidedcommongroundthroughwhichnationscandeepenrelationships.Theserelationshipshaveinturnprovidedplatformstoestablishtrust,shareanddemonstratemutuallyaffirmedvalues,andfacilitatecommunication.Therefore,internationalengagementscenteredaroundQISTcanserveasaplatformforstrengtheninginternationalcooperationthatmayhaveimpactsbeyondthefield.Forexample,theU.S.Governmenthassignedanumberofbilateralquantumcooperationstatementswithforeignpartners.ThemechanismsanddialoguescreatedtosupporttheseactivitieswithintheframeworkoftheQISTstatementsareimmediatelyapplicableacrossothertechnologyandsocialarenas.

III.CURRENTPATHWAYSANDOPPORTUNITIESFORINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONANDCOORDINATIONINQIST

Strong,sustainableS&TcooperationisbestachievedbyenablingscientistsandtechnologistsengaginginR&Dtointeractwitheachotheranddrivespecificactivities.Whilehigh-levelS&Tdiscussionswithinternationalpartnersarevaluable,theUnitedStatesdevelopsdomesticandinternationalcooperationinfundamentalQISTresearchfromthebottomup.Researchers,forexample,arebestsuitedtoidentifyandformmeaningfulR&Dcollaborations,andpromisingtechnicalprogramsaremoreapttobeidentifiedbyanexpert’smerit-basedreviewofresearchproposalsthanbyhigh-leveldiscussions.Accordingly,strengtheningQISTcollaborationswithinternationalpartnersrequirescreatingmechanismsandopportunitiesforexpertstointeract;exploresharedinterests;identifycomplementarycapabilities;andthenpursuespecificactivitiestogether.Asthelevelofinteresthasgrownaroundtheglobe,U.S.entitiesarereceivinganinfluxofnewrequestsforinternationalagreementsandengagements.ToavoidoverwhelmingtheU.S.QISTcommunity,theUnitedStatesshouldprioritizeQISTcollaborationsthatsupportmeaningfulscientific,technological,and/oreconomicvalue.Asthenumberofinternationalactivitiesandinterestgrows,eachagencywillremainresponsibleforfindingandrealizinginternationalopportunitiesinaccordancewiththeirmissionset.

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/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/US-Gov-National-Standards-Strategy-2023.pdf

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TheNationalStrategicOverviewforQISestablishesinternationalcooperationasacorepillarofmaintainingcompetitiveness,withQISTactivities—includinginternationalefforts—informedbyeachagency’smissionspaceandspecificauthorities.Whileauthoritiesvarybyagency,manyhavemechanismsthatcansupportinternationalcollaboration,includingfundingforU.S.portionsofjointresearchactivities,supportforinternationalstudentsworkinginU.S.-fundedlabs,supportforvisitinginternationalresearchersaccessingU.S.researchinfrastructure,andsomelimitedoptionsfordirectlyfundinginternationalresearchers.Forinstance,theNationalScienceFoundation(NSF)cansupportcollaborativeinternationalprojectsinQISTthatarejointlyfundedbyNSFandpartneringorganizations.InternationalinstitutionsparticipateintheDepartmentofEnergy’s(DOE’s)QISTactivitiesthroughcollaborationswithDOENationalLaboratoriesorU.S.universities,includingaspartne