Sec. 16. Quantum Reskilling, Education, and Workforce (QREW) Coordination Hub, quantum testbeds, and research security
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Title III of the National Quantum Initiative Act ( 15 U.S.C. 8841 et seq. ) is amended by adding at the end the following: The Director of the National Science Foundation, in consultation with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of Energy, and the heads of other relevant Federal agencies, shall make an award to a consortium led by an institution of higher education or an eligible nonprofit organization to establish a Quantum Reskilling, Education, and Workforce Coordination Hub (in this section referred to as the Hub ). The consortium established pursuant to subsection
(a)shall include not fewer than 4 institutions of higher education, including not fewer than 2 community colleges, and may include career and technical schools, nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities. The purpose of the Hub shall be to— identify and address cross-cutting workforce development challenges in quantum information science, engineering, and technology, the quantum industry, and other critical and emerging technology areas that share similar workforce challenges by serving as a national and regional clearinghouse; and facilitate the establishment of programs to disseminate, to institutions of higher education (including community colleges) and career and technical education entities, model curricula, best practices, and instructional materials related to the activities described in subsection (d). The activities of the Hub may include the following: Testing, implementing, scaling, disseminating, and standardizing materials, methods, best practices, and other outputs developed through activities under this Act. Promoting core competencies, such as computer science, data science, and mathematics, that are shared with other critical and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence. Increasing the integration of quantum information science, engineering, and technology content into STEM curricula at all education levels, including career and technical education programs. Providing opportunities for STEM degree students to provide feedback on quantum information science, engineering, and technology curricula. Facilitating post-education employment opportunities and workforce pathways for STEM degree recipients in quantum-related industries, including by facilitating opportunities for internships, externships, fellowships, and other such activities as determined by the Director, including through the establishment of a publicly accessible online portal. Coordinating with quantum industry and nonprofit entities and small- and medium-sized businesses and startups to inform and enhance the quality and availability of quantum education in STEM degree programs, including through the promotion of postgraduation opportunities for STEM students outside the classroom to increase exposure to quantum industries. Supporting activities and programs to enhance the recruitment of students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM to pursue undergraduate and graduate studies in quantum information science, engineering, and technology. Developing, testing, implementing, and coordinating career development programs and strategies to increase the number of quantum-informed educators at all levels of education, including by carrying out the following: Hosting career development workshops. Developing in-house and distance learning career development tools for public use. Facilitating access to related quantum technology, tools, and resources. Developing training, research, and professional development programs, including innovative pre-service and in-service programs. Facilitating relationships with State and local entities, such as a State board or local board (as such terms are defined in section 3 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act ( 29 U.S.C. 3102 )), to increase awareness of and promote quantum-related career development activities at the Hub. Establishing a framework for performing ongoing regular data collection and analysis for the quantum workforce to report on trends, and perform other activities that expand the understanding of the current and future needs of the quantum industry, and the education capacity or readiness of the quantum workforce. Such activities shall complement or align with, as relevant, authorized quantum and STEM workforce studies under section 10661(d) of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19261(d) ). Facilitating public education and outreach activities to enhance the understanding and awareness of quantum information science, engineering, and technology to a broader community to satisfy broader impact requirements of award applications. Encouraging coordination on quantum education in the broader STEM community. Subject to the restrictions described in section 301(c), the Hub may support education or policy fellowships for students at entities participating in the consortium under subsection
(a)or at other research centers established pursuant to this Act at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, or the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, for the purpose of supporting the activities described in subsection (d). The Hub shall collaborate with the Quantum Consortium established under section 201(b) or other industry consortia to identify, publish, facilitate, or enable quantum-related education and workforce development opportunities as described in subsections
(c)and (d). A consortium seeking funding under this section shall submit to the Director of the National Science Foundation an application at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may require. Each application shall include a description of how the consortium shall carry out the following: Contribute to the success of the Hub and fulfill the purposes of the Hub. Include industry participation in fulfilling the purposes of the Hub. Collaborate with other members of the consortium to share expertise in integrating quantum information science, engineering, and technology into STEM programs and other relevant fields and disciplines. Support long-term and short-term workforce development in the quantum field. Develop and implement outreach activities to increase the participation of women and other students from groups historically underrepresented in STEM. The Hub established under this section is authorized to carry out activities for a period of 5 years. A consortium receiving an award under this section may reapply for an additional, subsequent period of 5 years following a successful, merit-based review. Consistent with and in addition to the authorities of the National Science Foundation, the Director of the National Science Foundation may also terminate the Hub if it is underperforming during the performance period. The Hub shall coordinate with other research centers established under this Act at the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Department of Energy, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and other relevant Federal agencies, as appropriate, on activities and resources. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall allocate up to $10,000,000 for the Hub for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, subject to the availability of appropriations. Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Science Foundation. Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024 , the Director shall prepare and submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a progress report that includes current (as of the date of the report) and planned activities of the Hub. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of the National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act of 2024 , the Director of the National Science Foundation, in coordination with the Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the Secretary of Energy, the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and the heads of other Federal agencies, as determined appropriate by the Director of the National Science Foundation, shall make awards on a competitive, merit-reviewed basis to institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, federally funded research and development centers, or consortia thereof, to establish testbeds for accelerating the development of viable quantum applications. The quantum testbeds established under subsection
(a)shall focus on advancing the development of quantum application use cases that show promise of commercialization in the near- to medium-term, as determined by the Director, through proof-of-concept testing, demonstrations, pilot projects, benchmarking, and prototyping, by— supporting translational quantum research and development activities for quantum application use cases, including, for testbeds featuring quantum software and quantum algorithms driving toward utility, leveraging approaches such as algorithm innovation and tools such as resource estimators; providing accessible research resources for developing, testing, and benchmarking the application of quantum technologies to likely use cases, including enabling quantum cloud access; investing in quantum computing technologies that show promise for viability, including directing funding to advance each layer of the stack and related systems engineering and integration; and establishing cost and benefit. An applicant for an award under this section shall submit to the Director a proposal at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Director may reasonably require. The proposal shall, at a minimum, describe the following: How the applicant will assemble a workforce, including from populations that are historically underrepresented in STEM, with the skills needed to operate a quantum testbed. How the applicant will ensure broad access to a quantum testbed, including for start-ups and small businesses. How a quantum testbed will operate after Federal funding has ended. How the applicant will contribute to the quantum testbed, such as through funding or other resources required to develop quantum applications. How the applicant will protect any research or advancements made as a result of using the quantum testbed. In awarding grants under this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall prioritize the following: Applicants that ensure not less than 25 percent of the cost for a testbed awarded under this section is provided by private or non-Federal entities, including in-kind contributions. Awards for consortia that include quantum industry participation. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall be responsible for the following: Maintaining a record of notable outcomes from each quantum testbed established under this section. Partnering with other Federal agencies to enable opportunities for quantum testbed outcomes to be appropriately taken up by such agencies in alignment with the missions of such agencies. Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment of this section and every 2 years thereafter until December 31, 2030, briefing the appropriate committees of Congress on the status of such quantum testbeds and providing recommendations for improving such quantum testbeds. In establishing quantum testbeds under this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall ensure coordination with other testbeds and other quantum facilities hosting Federal quantum technology and infrastructure supported by the National Science Foundation, including those testbeds and facilities authorized pursuant to section 10390 of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19110 ), or by other Federal agencies as determined appropriate by the Director, to avoid duplication and maximize use of Federal resources. In carrying out this section, the Director of the National Science Foundation shall collaborate with the Quantum Consortium established pursuant to section 201(b) to accomplish the purposes of the quantum testbeds program described in subsection
(b)and ensure there is strong collaboration with industry stakeholders. The Director may also engage with National Laboratories, federally funded research and development centers, industry, and other members of the United States quantum ecosystem. The Director shall ensure regional and geographic diversity in issuing awards under this section. The Director of the National Science Foundation shall allocate up to $50,000,000 for the quantum testbeds under this section for each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029, subject to the availability of appropriations. Amounts made available to carry out this section shall be derived from amounts appropriated or otherwise made available to the National Science Foundation. The activities authorized under this title shall be carried out in a manner consistent with subtitle D of title VI of the Research and Development, Competition, and Innovation Act ( 42 U.S.C. 19231 et seq. ). .
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Sec. 16
Quantum Reskilling, Education, and Workforce (QREW) Coordination Hub, quantum testbeds, and research security
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