Photo: Thomas Niedermueller via Getty Images
For many, quantum computing sounds like science fiction or something only Neil deGrasse Tyson could explain. But the technology is advancing quickly, and Tennessee officials believe the state is uniquely positioned to drive outsized economic development. State officials are starting to write checks to make it happen.
Gov. Bill Lee’s 2026 budget allocated $43 million to the Tennessee Quantum Initiative. It’s an economic development strategy to recruit new companies, expand job creation around quantum technologies and develop academic research and public-private partnerships across the state, including in Middle Tennessee.
×
Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC256? $E@G6C[ D6?:@C 25G:D6C E@ E96 r@>>:DD:@?6C @7 }F4=62C U2>Aj "F2?EF> $EC2E68J 2E E96 %6??6DD66 s6A2CE>6?E @7 t4@?@>:4 2?5 r@>>F?:EJ s6G6=@A>6?E[ D2:5 E96 F=E:>2E6 8@2= :D E@ >2<6 E96 DE2E6’D BF2?EF> :?7C2DECF4EFC6 5FC23=6 6?@F89 E@ DFCG:G6 2 C2A:5=J 492?8:?8 7:6=5]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmQ(6 567:?:E6=J 5@?VE H2?E E96 DE2E6 :?G6DE:?8 :? E9:?8D E92E 364@>6 @3D@=6E6[Q $E@G6C E@=5 E96 k6>m!@DEk^6>m] Q%92EVD E96 492==6?86 H:E9 BF2?EF>] xEVD 56G6=@A:?8 D@ BF:4<=J E92E E96 E649?@=@8J @7 E@52J H:== 36 G2DE=J 5:776C6?E 6G6? D:I >@?E9D 7C@> ?@H]Qk^Am
Braden Stover
Photo: Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]:3>]4@>^E9:?<^E@A:4D^BF2?EF>\4@>AFE:?8Qmxq| 567:?6D BF2?EF> 4@>AFE:?8k^2m 2D 2? “6>6C8:?8 7:6=5 @7 4@>AFE6C D4:6?46 2?5 6?8:?66C:?8 E92E 92C?6DD6D E96 F?:BF6 BF2=:E:6D @7 BF2?EF> >6492?:4D E@ D@=G6 AC@3=6>D 36J@?5 E96 23:=:EJ @7 6G6? E96 >@DE A@H6C7F= 4=2DD:42= 4@>AFE6CD]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(96? 2D<65 E@ 56D4C:36 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE:?8 :? =2J>2?’D E6C>D[ $E@G6C D2:5 :E’D “32D:42==J 2 E@@= E@ 5@ 2 =@E @7 4@>A=6I 42=4F=2E:@?D 2?5 2=8@C:E9>D[ 2?5 5@ E96> 2 =@E 72DE6C E92? :E H@F=5 E2<6 2 4=2DD:42= 4@>AFE6C E@ 5@]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“%9:?< 3:886C AC@3=6>D H:E9 2 =@E >@C6 G2C:23=6D E@ 244@F?E 7@C[” $E@G6C D2:5] “{2C86\D42=6 =@8:DE:4D 492==6?86D 2C6 @?6 @7 E96 2AA=:42E:@?D H6VG6 D66? 7@C FD:?8 BF2?EF>[ @C >2<:?8 A@H6C 8C:5 5:DEC:3FE:@? >@C6 677:4:6?E]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96BF2?EF>:?D:56C]4@>^a_ad^`a^_g^H92E\:D\E96\AC:46\@7\2\BF2?EF>\4@>AFE6C\:?\a_ad^Qm"F2?EF> x?D:56C D2JDk^2m E92E E@52J[ BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6CD 2C6 6IEC6>6=J C2C6[ 6IA6?D:G6 2?5 4@>A=6I E@ AC@5F46] |@DE BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6CD 2C6 7@F?5 :? E96 724:=:E:6D @7 =2C86 4@CA@C2E:@?D[ F?:G6CD:E:6D @C ?2E:@?2= =23@C2E@C:6D] p?J@?6 H9@ 9@A6D E@ FD6 2 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6C H@F=5 =:<6=J 92G6 E@ 5@ D@ G:2 4=@F5\32D65 2446DD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:ED=@2?]>:E]65F^:562D\>256\E@\>2EE6C^BF2?EF>\4@>AFE:?8\C62=:EJ\4964<\H92E\3FD:?6DD\?665D\E@\<?@H\?@HQmtIA6CED 2=D@ 6DE:>2E6k^2m E92E 4@>>6C4:2=:K65 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6CD 2?5 2AA=:42E:@?D E@ D@=G6 3FD:?6DD AC@3=6>D 2C6 =:<6=J 2 564256 @C >@C6 2H2J] p?5 H9:=6 2 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6C H:== @FEA6C7@C> 2 EC25:E:@?2= 4@>AFE6C 7@C 46CE2:? AC@3=6>D[ E96 6>6C8:?8 E649?@=@8J :D ?@E 6?G:D:@?65 2D 2 C6A=246>6?E 7@C 4=2DD:42= 4@>AFE:?8] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E@G6C E@=5 E96 k6>m!@DEk^6>m E92E %6??6DD66VD 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 8@2=D 46?E6C @? BF2?EF> ?6EH@C<:?8] %96 A=2? :D E@ 4@??64E C6D62C49 2?5 4@>>6C4:2=:K2E:@? 9F3D 24C@DD E96 '@=F?E66C $E2E6 D@ 4@>A2?:6D 92G6 2 7F== A:A6=:?6 @7 C6D@FC46D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%9C66 C68:@?D 92G6 6>6C865 2D %6??6DD66’D BF2?EF> 2?49@CD] x? r92EE2?@@82[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^6A3]4@>^?6HDC@@>^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^6A3\BF2?EF>\46?E6C^Qmt!q C646?E=J A2CE?6C65 H:E9 x@?"k^2m[ 2 BF2?EF> E649?@=@8J 4@>A2?J[ E@ 56G6=@A E96 ?2E:@?’D 7:CDE BF2?EF> E649?@=@8J 46?E6C] p=@?8 H:E9 FD:?8 2 ?6H x@?" u@CE6 t?E6CAC:D6 "F2?EF> r@>AFE6C E@ D64FC6 2?5 @AE:>:K6 :ED A@H6C 8C:5[ t!q H:== D6== 2446DD E@ 4@>A2?:6D]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? t2DE %6??6DD66[ ~2< #:586 }2E:@?2= {23@C2E@CJ W~#}{X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E96BF2?EF>:?D:56C]4@>^a_ae^_e^`f^:B>\56A=@JD\:ED\7:CDE\F\D\BF2?EF>\4@>AFE6C\2E\@2<\C:586\?2E:@?2=\=23@C2E@CJ^Qm=2F?4965 !2E97:?56C :? yF?6k^2m[ E96 7:CDE 4@>>6C4:2==J AC@4FC65 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE6C 2E ~#}{] |62?H9:=6[ E96 &?:G6CD:EJ @7 %6??6DD66 2E z?@IG:==6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^?6HD]FE<]65F^a_ae^_d^ah^FE\=2F?496D\<?@IG:==6\BF2?EF>\2446=6C2E@C\E@\25G2?46\E6??6DD66D\7FEFC6^Qm=2F?4965 E96 z?@IG:==6 "F2?EF> p446=6C2E@Ck^2m[ 2=D@ <?@H? 2D z\"F2?EF>[ :? |2J] z\"F2?EF> H:== :?4=F56 :?G6DE>6?ED :? 2 ?6H `__[___\DBF2C6\7@@E BF2?EF> 7@F?5CJ E@ 36 3F:=E 2E &% #6D62C49 !2C<]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm|:55=6 %6??6DD66 2=D@ 92D 2 C@=6 :? E96 DE2E6’D BF2?EF> 56G6=@A>6?E] {2DE J62C[ |:55=6 %6??6DD66 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>EDF?6HD]4@>^a_ad^`_^b`^>EDF\FD96CD\:?\?6H\BF2?EF>\6C2\H:E9\BC:D6\46?E6C^Qm2??@F?465 2 ?6H BF2?EF> 46?E6Ck^2m :? E96 r@==686 @7 q2D:4 2?5 pAA=:65 $4:6?46D] r2==65 "#x$t — "F2?EF> #6D62C49 x?E6C5:D4:A=:?2CJ $4:6?46 2?5 t5F42E:@? — E96 46?E6C H:== 7@4FD @? C6D62C49 @7 E96 6>6C8:?8 E649?@=@8J]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm%96 "#x$t r6?E6C 92D D64FC65 >@C6 E92? Sh >:==:@? :? 7656C2= C6D62C49 2H2C5D[ 2 A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 ~2< #:586 }2E:@?2= {23@C2E@CJ[ 2?5 8C@H:?8 4@==23@C2E:@?D H:E9 |:55=6 %6??6DD66 F?:G6CD:E:6D @? BF2?EF> E649?@=@8J 2?5 D4:6?46[ :?4=F5:?8 %6??6DD66 $E2E6 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 u:D< &?:G6CD:EJ]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmx? |2J[ |%$& 2?5 |:55=6 %6??6DD66 t=64EC:4 W|%tX k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>EDF?6HD]4@>^a_ae^_d^`h^>EDF\>:55=6\E6??6DD66\6=64EC:4\D:8?\BF2?EF>\>@F^QmD:8?65 2 >6>@C2?5F> @7 F?56CDE2?5:?8k^2m D@=:5:7J:?8 2 BF2?EF> D4:6?46 2?5 C6D62C49 4@==23@C2E:@?] |%t :D 2 7@F?5:?8 A2CE?6C :? |%$&’D "#x$t r6?E6C[ 2?5 E96 EH@ 6?E:E:6D 7@C>65 E96 |:55=6 %6??6DD66 "F2?EF> %649?@=@8J wF3[ @C |%\"F%649 wF3[ 62C=:6C E9:D J62C]k^Am
Brad Gibson
Photo: Middle Tennessee Electric
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmqC25 v:3D@?[ |%t’D 49:67 @A6C2E:?8 @77:46C[ D2:5 F?=:<6 t!q :? r92EE2?@@82[ |%t 92D?VE :?G6DE65 :? 2 BF2?EF> ?6EH@C< @C 4@>AFE6C @7 :ED @H?[ E9@F89 E92E >2J 92AA6? 6G6?EF2==J] x?DE625[ |%t’D 7@4FD 92D 366? H@C<7@C46 56G6=@A>6?E[ 3F:=E 2C@F?5 :ED A2CE?6CD9:A H:E9 E96 "#x$t r6?E6C] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmv:3D@? D2:5 E92E 92D >62?E CF??:?8 2? :?E6C?2= Q"F2?EF> `_`Q EC2:?:?8 AC@8C2> 7@C |%t 6>A=@J66D 2?5 D6?5:?8 DE277 E9C@F89 @FED:56 4@9@CED E@ 86E |%tVD x% H@C<7@C46 =:E6C2E6 :? BF2?EF> 4@?46AED 367@C6 E96 E649?@=@8J >2EFC6D :?E@ 52:=J FD6]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm(@C<7@C46 56G6=@A>6?E :? BF2?EF> :D 4C:E:42= 2D >@C6 4@>A2?:6D 364@>6 :?E6C6DE65 :? E96 E649?@=@8J] %96 56>2?5 7@C BF2?EF> D<:==D 92D ?62C=J EC:A=65 D:?46 a_`g[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^>:ED=@2?]>:E]65F^:562D\>256\E@\>2EE6C^?6H\>:E\C6A@CE\42AEFC6D\DE2E6\BF2?EF>\4@>AFE:?8Qm244@C5:?8 E@ |x% $=@2? |2?286>6?Ek^2m] pD 2 C6DF=E[ >@C6 F?:G6CD:E:6D — =:<6 |%$& 2?5 &%\z?@IG:==6 — 2C6 6DE23=:D9:?8 BF2?EF> 9F3D 2?5 4C62E:?8 AC@8C2>D E92E 4@??64E 3FD:?6DD =6256CD H:E9 C6D62C496CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E@G6C D2:5 E96 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 42D6 7@C E96 DE2E6VD :?G6DE>6?E :D 2 =@?8 82>6] w6 A@:?E65 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]>4<:?D6J]4@>^42A23:=:E:6D^>4<:?D6J\E649?@=@8J^@FC\:?D:89ED^>4<:?D6J\BF2?EF>\E649?@=@8J\>@?:E@C\a_ae\2\4@>>6C4:2=\E:AA:?8\A@:?EQm2 |4z:?D6J 6DE:>2E6k^2m AFEE:?8 E96 8=@32= G2=F6 @7 BF2?EF> E649 2E FA E@ Sa]f EC:==:@? 3J a_bd] %96 |4z:?D6J C6A@CE 2=D@ ?@E6D E92E >@C6 E92? b__ 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 4@==23@C2E:?8 H:E9 BF2?EF> E649?@=@8J 7:C>D E@52J[ :?4=F5:?8 p:C3FD[ y!|@C82? r92D6 2?5 {:36CEJ |FEF2=] qFE $E@G6C 42FE:@?D E92E E9@FD2?5D @7 ?6H %6??6DD66 ;@3D 2C6?VE 4@>:?8 :? E96 ?6IE J62C @C EH@] k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“x E9:?< E96 >@C6 ?62C\E6C> @AA@CEF?:EJ :D 86EE:?8 =2C86 4@CA@C2E6 A2CE?6CD 96C6 :? E96 DE2E6 E@ DE2CE 25@AE:?8 BF2?EF> E649?@=@8J[” $E@G6C D2:5] “}@E ;FDE 7@C 677:4:6?4J[ 3FE 3J 255:?8 6>A=@J66D E@ E96:C E62>D]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E@G6C D2:5 D@>6 %6??6DD66 4@>A2?:6D 2C6 5@:?8 E92E 2=C625J[ H9:=6 @E96CD 2C6 DE:== 6G2=F2E:?8 E96 A@DD:3:=:E:6D] “x? E96 =@?8 E6C>[ :EV== 36 >@C6 23@FE 86EE:?8 BF2?EF> 4@>A2?:6D E@ >2?F724EFC6 E96D6 >2E6C:2=D 96C6[” 96 D2:5] “%92EVD H96C6 2 =@E @7 E96 ;@3D H:== 4@>6 7C@> 2D H6==[ AC@323=J >@C6 :? E96 =@?8 CF?]”k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQmq@E9 v:3D@? 2?5 $E@G6C H6C6 2=D@ 42C67F= E@ 5:DE:?8F:D9 BF2?EF> 4@>AFE:?8 7C@> E96 >@C6 72>:=:2C 2?I:6E:6D 2C@F?5 2CE:7:4:2= :?E6==:86?46 2?5 52E2 46?E6CD] "F2?EF>[ $E@G6C D2:5[ :D 36EE6C F?56CDE@@5 2D 2 DA64:2=:K65 E@@= E92E 42? >2<6 px DJDE6>D >@C6 677:4:6?E C2E96C E92? 2 52E2\9F?8CJ A=2E7@C> :? :ED @H? C:89E E92E H@F=5 DA2C< E96 AF3=:4 324<=2D9 DFCC@F?5:?8 52E2 46?E6CD]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm$E@G6C D2:5 %6??6DD66 :D 2=D@ 4@>A6E:?8 282:?DE DE2E6D =:<6 &E29 2?5 %6I2D[ H9:49 92G6 E96:C @H? C@3FDE BF2?EF> :?:E:2E:G6D[ E@ 4=2:> 2 =625 :? 2 7:6=5 DE:== J62CD 7C@> 7F== 4@>>6C4:2= D42=6] w6 D2:5 E96 DE2E6VD 25G2?E286 :D 4@@C5:?2E:@? 2?5 2=:8?:?8 C6D62C49[ E6DE:?8 8C@F?5D 2?5 E96 H@C<7@C46 367@C6 4@>A6E:E@CD 42E49 FA]k^Am
kA 5:ClQ=ECQm“~FC =@?8\E6C> G:D:@? :D E@ AC@G:56 E96 =2E6DE 2?5 8C62E6DE @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C @FC <:5D 2?5 E96:C A2C6?ED[ 2?5 @AA@CEF?:E:6D E@ FAD<:== 2?5 86E :?E@ 2 ?6H D64E@C E92E 42? AC@G:56 36EE6C 86?6C2E:@?2= H62=E9 2?5 @AA@CEF?:EJ 7@C E96:C 72>:=:6D[” $E@G6C D2:5]k^Am