US Quantum Technology Development Hit by Engineering Bottleneck

Brian Gaucher, an engineer and IBM veteran, recently co-chaired ERVA's report on Engineering Research to Advance Quantum Technologies. He explained that while US quantum science remains strong, global competition is accelerating, and engineering has become the key limiter in making quantum technologies usable.

The report emphasizes the importance of moving from lab discoveries to scalable, manufacturable systems. Gaucher noted that the US needs a coordinated national strategy with shared pilot lines, standards, metrology, public-private investment, and a broader workforce, not just physicists.

The ERVA report identifies four pillars in quantum technologies: materials, biology, computing, and AI. It highlights the need for domestic fabrication and suggests that biology and quantum sensing may deliver near-term impact.