Quantum infrastructure owned by EPB is a clear advantage for Chattanooga over other cities, according to a site selection consultant who is helping the city study its competitive edge on economic development.
EPB purchased a quantum computer last year and plans to begin operating it at the utility’s quantum center in Chattanooga by the end of May to get a head start on the technology.
City officials should move quickly to advertise their lead on the early-stage technology, said Kim Moore, executive managing director at New York City-based Newmark. The commercial real estate firm is studying how Chattanooga compares to four similar cities in a competitiveness study commissioned by the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce.
“I would say your quantum computing capabilities make you absolutely unique right now,” Moore said at a chamber breakfast Thursday. “There’s no one else that’s this far ahead, and jumping on that as quickly as possible will just be a huge impact to the economy here.”
(READ MORE: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee forms quantum initiative)