ADVANCINGINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

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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

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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

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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)

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

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codifiedin2018bytheNQIAct,

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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.

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SubsequentstrategydocumentshaveaugmentedtheNationalStrategicOverview,suchasthoseonworkforceandtheroleofinternationaltalent,allofwhichcanbefoundon

.

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

ThisreportdiscussesthecurrentabilityoftheUnitedStatestofulfilltheseobjectives.Section2describesthemotivationforcontinuedinternationalcollaborationinQIST,Section3discussesopportunitiesforcollaboration,andSection4providesthreerecommendationstoenhancetheUnitedStatesabilitytoengageinQISTresearchanddevelopment(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.

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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.

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Internationalcooperationiscrucialtosupportathrivingcultureofdiscoveryandtoacceleratethesolvingofkeybasicresearchquestions.

Grow,AttractandEngagewithInternationalTalent.TheriseininternationalinvestmentsinQISThascreatedcompetitiveopportunitiesfortalentedresearcherstopursuetheirworkaroundtheglobe.AsdiscussedintheQISTWorkforceDevelopmentNationalStrategicPlanandTheRoleofInternationalTalentinQISreport

,6,

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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,includingaspartnersinDOE’sNationalQISResearchCenters,andasusersofDOEuserfacilities,whichareopentoresearchersworldwide.TheDepartmentofDefense(DOD)candirectlyfundinternationalR&Dthroughtheservices’internationaloffices.TheNationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology(NIST)collaborateswithNationalMetrologyInstitutesgloballytodevelopandvalidatemeasurementcapabilitiesandstandards.

ThisfederatedapproachtoU.S.Government-sponsoredR&DhasservedU.S.innovationwell.ThedecentralizedstructureprovidesadiversityandflexibilitythatoftenresultsinagreatvarietyofS&Tsolutions.Thisdistributedfundingmodel,however,cancreatechallengesforU.S.participationinsubstantialandconcertedinternationalcollaboration.Aone-sizefits-allapproachtointernationalactivitiesisinfeasibleduetodifferencesinagencyauthoritiesacrosstheU.S.Government.Thus,theU.S.GovernmentshouldtakestepstoincreasetheabilityofagenciestorealizethepositiveimpactofinternationalengagementinQIST.

SeveralmechanismsexisttoreinforceagencyparticipationininternationalcooperationandcollaborationopportunitiesrelatedtoQIST.ThisincludestheNationalScienceandTechnologyCouncil(NSTC)SubcommitteeonQIS(SCQIS)andtheSubcommitteeontheEconomicandSecurityImplicationsofQIS(ESIX).Additionally,theNSTCSubcommitteeonInternationalScienceandTechnologyCoordination(ISTC)focusesoninternationalS&Tcooperationmorebroadly,includingQIST.

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TheStateDepartmentinformsandenablesinternationalengagementincloseconnectionwithQIST-relatedinteragencygroups,whiletheNationalQuantumCoordinationOffice(NQCO)servesasacentralpointofcontacttoassistwithQIST-relatedinquiriesfromforeignpartners;however,neithertheStateDepartmentnortheNQCOhasasignificantR&Dbudgettodriveinternationalcollaborativeactivities.AdditionalinternationalcooperationeffortsincludethoseundertakenattheDepartmentofHomelandSecurity,theNationalInstitutesofHealth,andtheNationalAeronauticsandSpaceAdministration.Thislistisnotintendedtobecomprehensive,butratherillustratessomeoftherangeofactivitiesofagenciesengagedininternationalcooperation.

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/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/2024-Biennial-Report-to-Congress-on-International-Science-Technology-

Cooperation.pdf

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IV.RECOMMENDATIONSTOADVANCEINTERNATIONALCOOPERATIONINQIST

Formalizedinternationalengagementsshouldbemadeinatargetedmanner,anchoredtonationalprioritiesandgoalsincludingnationalsecurityconsiderations.TheseengagementsshouldbeinformedbycriteriasuchascriticalorcomplementaryQISTR&Dcapabilities,supplychainequities,andsignificantalignmentwithU.S.agencymissions.Engagementsthroughcommunity-ledactivities,suchastechnicalworkshops,talentmobility,andresearcher-to-researcherinteractions,areparticularlyvaluableascountriesestablishnationaleffortsandQISTstrategies.

U.S.participationininternationalQIST-relevantdiscussionsstrengthensitsnetworksandpartnershipswithinternationalstakeholdersandhelpstoidentifyopportunitiesforimprovedcollaboration.WithmuchofQISTbeingpre-competitive,earlyengagementanddialogueinmultinationalforumscanfosteranenvironmentconducivetoinnovationandinvestmentsacrossborders.Asnewandunforeseenapplicationsbecomeapparent,multilateralengagementprovidesanopportunitytoproactivelyshareinformationonemergentpossibilities,acceleratefundamentaldiscoveryandearlytechnologyadoption,andtakecollectiveactiontomitigatenegativeimpactswhilepromotingandcultivatingpositiveoutcomes.

Agenciesshouldcontinueleveragingexistingprograms,suchastheStateDepartment’sEmbassyScienceFellows,U.S.ScienceEnvoys,andRegionalTechnologyOfficersprograms,andtheDOD’sEngineerandScientistExchangeProgramtosupportengagements,aswellasstrengthenandbuildacadreofU.S.expertswithinternationalexpertiseandnetworks.Additionally,agenciesinvolvedinQISTshouldconsidercoordinatingandstrengtheningengagementacrossvariousforumswhereQIST-relevantstandards,guidingprinciples,andpoliciesarediscussed.

Asquantum-enabledtechnologyadvancesandattractsmorepublicattention,governmentsaroundtheworldmaymovetopreemptivelyinhibitcooperation—evenforearly-stageresearch—toretainaperceivedstrategicadvantage.Suchactionscouldsignificantlystuntthegrowthofthefield,stressresources,andunderminefundamentalresearch.TheUnitedStatesshouldworkwithitsinternationalpartnerstoencourageaunifiedvoicebasedoneconomicdata,soundscientificreasoning,andsharedprinciples,suchasthosediscussedintheBoxonPursuingQuantumInformationTogether.

Motivatedbytheimportanceofinternationalcooperationandbythecurrentchallengesarticulatedinearliersections,thisreportmakesthreerecommendationsfortheUnitedStatestoadvanceinternationalcooperationinQISTtowardanoverarchinggoal:

OverarchingGoal:Enableinternationalcooperationthatimpartsmutualbenefitsandprioritizessharedv