Chattanooga has long established a reputation as a tech hub, and the addition of a quantum computer center puts the city further at the forefront of today’s technological advancements and innovations.
“The reason this is so important to the city and state and nation, for that matter, is I think there’s almost no observers that don’t believe the future of the internet and cybersecurity runs right through quantum networking,” Niccolo de Masi, CEO and President of IonQ says.
“Even as we start thinking about our electric system, the things we can improve and do as this technology matures–it’s just incredible,” David Wade, CEO of EPB says. “We’re excited about it for the community,” he says.
The new center is a collaboration between EPB and IonQ and a momentous step toward a new technological era.
“I think this early-moving advance is going to move the city in great stead, the state in great stead and also be a shining light to the country,” de Masi says. “It’s groundbreaking–very exciting. Our whole company was cheering all week as we heard this was going to be something that went into the board meeting for EPB earlier in the week, and David was texting me while he was signing the contract.”
The project will cost $22 million, but a report from the McKinsey Digital Quantum Technology Monitor projects the industry to generate $1-2 trillion over the next decade.
But, what is quantum computing, and what makes it unique?
Wade says quantum computing is a relatively new type of computing that’s more powerful and more advanced than regular computing. Traditional computing explores paths one at a time and is more linear, whereas quantum computing can explore various possibilities all at the same time. Wade says a real-world example is like using GPS to leave a crowded event.
“Today’s technology doesn’t try to look ahead and say ‘there’s 10,000 people going [in the same direction]. We need to split some of them in an opposite direction,’ so it waits until we have that and then it reroutes.” he says. “With technology like quantum, we’ll be able to do things in a totally different way and forecast where folks will be.”
In other words, it’s the equivalent of trying to find an exit in a maze: A regular computer is like sending one person into the maze — exploring one path at a time until they reach the exit. Quantum computing is like sending a million versions of yourself in the maze, exploring millions of paths, all the same time. Wade says most of quantum computing is found in research labs and academia and used for cyber security purposes.
Integrating it into commercial life, like our regular businesses, services and products, is a monumental step for our city’s future. de Masi says, for Chattanooga, they plan to work on the city’s energy distribution.
de Masi says this is the type of technology that will define our future, and it begins here in the Scenic City.
“It’s going to create the next generation of jobs,” de Masi says. “There’s going to be a whole new 5,10, 20, 30 years of recruits who are learning to use quantum computers and quantum networks early enough in their career so they can pioneer and build businesses on this wonderful infrastructure that EPB and IonQ are delivering to Chattanooga.”
De Masi says the entire system is the size of a commercial refrigerator and uses laser scanning to analyze a very intricate chip. The machine plugs into a wall socket and is extremely space efficient.
“They don’t need to be cooled down, and they don’t need a football field of space to run,” he says.
Next steps include the project’s build-out and commissioning, which is expected to be complete by early 2026.
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