Guest Post — The Quantum Inflection Point: Charting a Science-First Roadmap for the Nation

By Dr. Darío Gil, the Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy. His office is the nation’s largest federal sponsor of basic research in the physical sciences, supporting all 17 National Laboratories of the United States, and responsible for programs including advanced computing, fusion, nuclear and high energy particle physics, basic energy sciences, and biological and environmental research.

Every major shift in technology promises to redefine the boundaries of discovery. Quantum computing is rapidly transitioning from a phase of fundamental laboratory research into a scientifically revolutionary capability. As this technology races forward, we need a clear, defined path to success. That is why I charged the Office of Science Advisory Committee (SCAC) Quantum Subcommittee with an ambitious task: to chart a milestone-driven roadmap toward demonstrating a scientifically relevant, error-corrected quantum computer by 2028, and to articulate a long-term vision for a dedicated Quantum Computing User Facility. 

Today, I am proud to share their newly released report, “SCAC Quantum Committee Report: Path to an Integrated Quantum Future.” It confirms what many of us in the scientific community have felt: we have reached a historic inflection point.