Chattanooga has further solidified its position at the forefront of cutting-edge technology through a new partnership between quantum computing leader IonQ and EPB to create EPB Quantum CenterSM. By early next year, the nation’s first commercially available quantum computing hub to offer both quantum computing and networking capabilities will be operational downtown.
Expected early users of EPB’s IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer (currently being built) include those in the energy, cybersecurity and advanced research fields, said Jane Mazur, vice president of public relations and communications for IonQ.
The local municipal utility’s innovative partnership is a natural progression and a continuation of community-driven investments like its fiber optic network, which put Chattanooga on the map as “Gig City” thanks to early adaptation of the technology through widespread infrastructure investments.
“As we saw with The Gig, adopting technologies with an eye to community benefit can have a powerful impact” said Sophie Moore, public relations specialist for EPB. “If Chattanooga can be a first mover, based on our experience with fiber, just think of what amazing investments could come. We can only imagine the workforce, economic and public impacts.”
Already, institutions like the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga have made use of the existing EPB Quantum NetworkSM, developing their own Quantum Center to expand on opportunities provided by EPB’s investment.
“You can’t build a quantum economy without investing in people,” Mazur says. “We’re partnering with local schools and institutions to give students and researchers direct access to enterprise-grade quantum systems. The next generation of quantum talent doesn’t have to come from MIT or Stanford — it can also come from right here in Chattanooga’s backyard.”
What does a quantum-ready workforce involve?
In order to consider what a quantum-ready education looks like, it’s important to understand that physicists and developers are only two of many role opportunities to work in the future space, Moore said.
From installation to marketing and sales to repair, the burgeoning technology is expected to generate approximately 250,000 new jobs by 2030 — and 840,000 by 2035, according to The Quantum Insider’s 2024 fall report.
“In any industry, you need the full spectrum of professionals,” she says. “Just like healthcare has different specialties, quantum requires different disciplines, too, like engineers, installation and maintenance techs, manufacturing jobs and more.”
Currently, Moore added, EPB is already working to hire a physicist and an engineer to work with the new technology. As commercial use grows, additional hires for the Quantum Center are expected. Those hires will make up just a few of the workers tapping into the potential $2-3 trillion dollars of economic impact projected for the industry by 2040, according to McKinsey’s 2024 Quantum Monitor.
Quantum computing versus quantum networking
Both quantum networking, EPB’s current offering, and quantum computing, which will become commercially available early next year following the delivery of the IonQ Forte Enterprise computer, utilize the power of light at a subatomic level.
“Quantum computing also fundamentally changes how information is processed,” Moore says.
In a standard computer, a combination of ones and zeros reflect the computer’s “language.” And, while that process of converting that data into the information the user sees and understands happens quickly, quantum computing offers the ability to transmit much larger amounts of information simultaneously.
“We’re very early in the technology, but the promise and potential is huge,” Moore says.
A history of investment in cutting-edge innovation
In 2022, EPB launched its quantum network, but foundational investments in fiber in the early 2000s set the stage to work with the Department of Energy through the nearby Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
“That created about a $2.7 million community benefit during the first ten years,” Moore says of the 2010-era focus on building the now well-known fiber network. “And that opened the door for a lot of collaboration and the partnerships that led us to where we are today.”
The automotive, logistics, banking and insurance industries that call Chattanooga home are yet another driving factor for the innovation investments. All are expected to evolve thanks to the capabilities of quantum networking and computing. And, having the only commercial network available in the U.S. is another selling point to attract new business — and jobs — to the area.
“By running equipment on EPB Quantum Network, it allows developers to assert commercial viability. In other words, that it can operate in the real world rather than just in a lab,” Moore explains. “It’s the difference between testing a car’s horsepower performance in a lab versus on a real course. It gives the company the ability to say that something has commercial application, which is, of course, important to anyone seeking investors or other funding.”
The growth of a successful public-private partnership
A few years after the EPB’s initial quantum partnership with Oak Ridge Lab began, an opportunity arose for EPB to further partner with an associated company called Qubitekk to work on a cybersecurity project. In 2021, the project went on to win an R&D 100 Award, also known as “The Oscars of Innovation” awards, for the focus on highlighting pioneers in the fields of science and technology.
“It was the first time a utility in the U.S. field-tested the technology — and the first time EPB worked in the technology,” Moore says of EPB’s role. “We found that there’s this great technology out there, but you couldn’t go out and buy it.”
EPB later purchased equipment from Qubitekk to create EPB Quantum Network, the nation’s first commercially available quantum network, which gained its first customer in 2023. When IonQ toured the network shortly after its launch, the quantum computing company connected with Qubitekk, creating the foundation for what would become a successful acquisition to expand into quantum networking.
“Chattanooga has a long track record of tech firsts — fiber internet, advanced electric grid automation and now quantum,” Mazur explains of IonQ’s involvement. “What drew us in was the alignment with EPB on the quantum opportunity and the existing network infrastructure and vision to act on it. They don’t just want to host technology, they want to help shape the future of it. That kind of partnership is rare, and the local support, technical talent and strong civic alignment made it clear that Chattanooga is a place where long-term quantum investment can thrive.”
What makes EPB’s network unique in addition to its commercial availability is that it is configurable, Moore says, meaning the network can be defined to customer specifications.
“As a municipal utility with a mission to improve quality of life, we see this as an amazing opportunity to put Chattanooga at the front of the line,” she explains. “By attracting companies to Chattanooga to run their tech on our network, it helps commercialize and advance the U.S.’ position as a leader among the world for this extremely competitive technology that has a very compelling defense component, among many other uses.”
Covering cost
While the cost for quantum computing technology is high, EPB expects to see a return on the investment within just a few years.
“Since launching EPB Quantum Network in 2023, revenue from our quantum initiative has exceeded our cost in deploying the network,” explained J.Ed Marston, vice president of strategic communications for EPB. “Because quantum computing access is such a rare resource, our projections show that selling time on the quantum computer will more than cover the cost of the computer within three years.”
For IonQ, whose global footprint has now expanded to include a new Chattanooga office, the opportunity cost of forgoing the partnership would have been much higher than the multi-million dollar computer price tag.
“It’s also a catalyst for economic growth,” Mazur says of the growing partnership. “EPB’s fiber optics network has already generated $2.7 billion in community benefit over 10 years and created or retained nearly 10,000 jobs. With the addition of EPB Quantum Network, announced in 2023, and this new collaboration, we’re deepening that impact, bringing in cutting-edge infrastructure, training for a quantum-ready workforce, and creating opportunities for companies to build real-world applications, positioning Chattanooga not only as a tech leader, but as a national model for quantum-driven development.”
Quantum science at the university level
“Quantum science has become increasingly vital today, as it holds the promise to tackle complex global issues, enable groundbreaking technologies and transform entire industries,” says Dr. Rick Mukherjee, Director of UTC’s Quantum Center.
Founded in large part thanks to a recent $3.5 million in funding from the National Institute of Standards and Technology, part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, the UTC Quantum Center is unique in the area. Beyond educational opportunities for students, the center, which has a node on EPB’s quantum network, is dedicated to utilizing quantum technology to tackle real-world problems like citywide traffic and pedestrian safety infrastructure, energy optimization and much more through research collaborations.
“As classical computing nears its limits, quantum computing opens up new possibilities in fields such as cryptography, artificial intelligence, drug development and energy solutions,” he says. “It also plays a crucial role in addressing pressing concerns like cybersecurity and climate change, while contributing to economic advancement and international competitiveness.”
UTC also now offers a certificate program for those interested in entering the quantum field and has also proposed a doctoral program for next year, positioning the university as a leader in quantum education and workforce development for the region.
“Fundamental to this progress is a strong foundation in education and basic scientific research, which nurtures the talent, curiosity and innovation needed to drive quantum breakthroughs,” Mukherjee says. “By converging with other cutting-edge disciplines (and supported by sustained investment in education and research) quantum science is set to revolutionize technology and deepen our understanding of the universe.”