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House lawmakers put a spotlight Tuesday on an emerging quantum tech industry seeking state aid.
The House Communications and Technology Committee held a hearing in State College on boosting development of quantum and semi-conductor technology.
Quantum technology involves building ultra-powerful computers to do complex math problems, create secure communications and undertake precise measuring of things like time and gravity.
Quantum technology can bring advantages with economic benefits and better calculations, but there is a massive underside with cybersecurity, said Committee Majority Chair Joseph Ciresi, D-Montgomery.
Jen Gilburg, a deputy secretary for the state Department of Community and Economic Development, said research universities in Pennsylvania are collaborating on creating the state-backed Keystone AI and Quantum Factory.
This collaboration is a major plus for Pennsylvania with attracting corporate and government research investment, she said.
The Quantum Industry Coalition, a Pennsylvania group, is lobbying for a $40 million, two-year state quantum technology initiative to boost the emerging industry.
Pennsylvania has the potential to capture significant economic benefits from a growing quantum industry, Paul Stimers, the coalition's executive director, told the committee.
Quantum computers can solve problems that other computers cannot, he said.
The coalition wants state aid for workforce, development, applied research, infrastructure and help competing for large federal grants in the future.
The proposal calls for creating a Pennsylvania Quantum Initiative Advisory Board and a Quantum Ethics and Governance Commission to review ethical, legal and social issues with the new technology.
The need exists to train technicians capable of building and operating quantum systems, the coalition said. Quantum programming should be available in tech schools, community colleges and universities.
Matt Brandsema, a research professor at Pennsylvania State University, said quantum computers can more precisely measure elements of physics like time, gravity and acceleration.
But Brandsema said quantum computers can eventually break the current encryption methods used in computer security because of their computational ability.
Current research is focused on keeping information sharing secure in a quantum computer world, he said.
Penn State recently received a $4.6 million federal grant for quantum research at its 2D Crystal Materials Innovation Platform. The lab produces crystal samples to explore using new materials and do computing simulations.