Quantum at a Turning Point: From Foundational Research to Scalable Systems

A hundred years since the birth of quantum mechanics — and after more than 40 years of MIT leadership in quantum computing, sensing, and communication — the field is at an inflection point, ready to translate quantum science and technology into practical applications. This Leading Edge webinar brings together MIT faculty and innovators driving this transformation, exploring how the field is evolving from fundamental research to scalable, commercially viable systems.

Professor Danna Freedman, inaugural Director of the new MIT Quantum Initiative (QMIT), will introduce this institute-wide effort to unify and accelerate MIT’s quantum research across disciplines. Professor Will Oliver will provide a foundational overview of quantum computing—its principles, current frontiers, and the challenges on the path toward practical quantum advantage. Building on this foundation, the session will feature two MIT-connected startups at the forefront of the quantum ecosystem. QuEra Computing is pioneering neutral-atom quantum processors and recently demonstrated key milestones toward fault-tolerant computation. NanoQT is advancing a new class of quantum interconnects, enabling modular and distributed quantum computing systems.

Together, these speakers will illuminate how academia, startups, and industry are converging to define quantum’s next era—an era of scalability, interoperability, and global impact.

Registration Questions: ocrevents@mit.edu