EPB announces partnership to bring quantum computer to Chattanooga
IonQ’s Forte Enterprise Quantum Computer, which will be coming to Chattanooga. (Courtesy: IonQ)
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF)- EPB has announced the next step in growing their Quantum Network.
EPB’s goal over the past couple of years has been to make Chattanooga a preeminent destination for quantum computing.
On Friday, they approved the next step of that plan, a quantum computer to be set up here in Chattanooga.
EPB’s CEO David Wade said, “We have the ability now to not just pass entangled photons, but really to write applications and algorithms, and to start learning something that will be transformative for us.”
They are partnering with Maryland based company, Ion-Q, to install Chattanooga’s first quantum computer.
This will be part of the new Quantum Computing Center, which will make the Gig City the first hub for quantum technology.
Unlike our everyday computers that can only process one thing at a time, quantum computers can explore multiple things at once.
Niccolo De Masi, IonQ’s CEO and President, said, “It’s allowed really a startup ecosystem to blossom. The extension of that, logically of course is the next generation, beyond what is called Internet 1.0. An Internet 2.0, 3.0, we think that all of that is only possible through quantum computing and networking.”
De Masi says that this technology is vital to ensuring not just Chattanooga, but America remains safe and competitive in the decades to come.
Economic analysis has shown this technology could lead to one to two trillion dollars in economic development across the country.
De Masi said, “The U-S will not win the next decade if we don’t win the quantum race, whether it’s computing or networking. Chattanooga is very much a shining light in this city, state, and national initiative.”
Locally, Wade says he sees a lot of benefits for how EPB will operate.
He said, “One that comes to mind is certainly cyber security. Certainly how do you optimize, how do you route our crews around, because if you can have this, this quantum technology will give more access to these.”
Additionally, he sees benefits ranging from educational opportunities to how it could affect our daily drives.
Today, if many of us downtown put in that we were going to Hamilton Place, it would direct us all on the freeway until it created a traffic jam, then it would reroute us around that. With quantum technology, we’ll be able to anticipate where we’re going to be at a point in time, and make adjustments before we create that traffic jam,” Wade said.
Wade says the quantum computer and center will be up and running in Chattanooga by early next year.
