CUSP Releases Preliminary Report Defining Near-Term U.S. Quantum Primacy Priorities
Key Takeaways
Quantum Primacy Framework: Enduring ability to discover, develop, deploy, and scale capabilities for national security and competitiveness.
Funding Comparison: China commits roughly $3 billion (€2.68 billion) annually versus about $1 billion (€892 million) in U.S. federal R&D.
Near-Term Focus: Priorities span research funding, hardware-software co-development, deployment pathways, and industrial scale.
The Commission on U.S. Quantum Primacy (CUSP), convened by the Special Competitive Studies Project and co-chaired by Senators Todd Young and Ben Ray Luján with Ylli Bajraktari, released its preliminary report on November 10, 2026. Titled Defining the American Quantum Era, the document argues scientific leadership must convert into deployable systems and manufacturing capacity. China allocates approximately $3 billion (€2.68 billion) in annual public quantum funding against roughly $1 billion (€892 million) in U.S. federal research and development.
Quantum Capabilities and Competitive Position
Quantum technologies mature at different speeds. Sensing delivers precision timing, magnetic-field detection, and gravity measurement for navigation and defense today while computing and networking face error rates, scale limits, and infrastructure needs.
The table below compares selected indicators of research impact, software adoption, and deployed quantum systems between the United States and China as drawn from the CUSP preliminary report.
| Metric | United States | China |
|---|---|---|
| Share of most-cited quantum papers | 35 percent | Lower share implied by U.S. lead |
| Software kit downloads (December 2025) | More than 100 times Chinese volume | Lower volume |
| Deployed quantum machines (2025 estimates) | 39–73 | 15–18 |
| Notable systems and programs | DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative targeting utility-scale by 2033; hybrid Pathfinder at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with IQM Radiance | Origin Quantum Wukong-180 cloud-accessible since May 2026 |
Above Table: Selected Indicators of U.S. and Chinese Quantum Capabilities
Priorities for Deployment and Industrial Scale
The report organizes near-term actions across four elements to align federal efforts with scientific progress, industrial capacity, and adoption. A final report scheduled for Spring 2027 will add implementation details and infrastructure needs.
The table below summarizes the near-term priorities identified by the Commission for each of the four mutually reinforcing elements of quantum primacy.
| Element | Near-Term Priority |
|---|---|
| Discovery | Sustained funding for quantum materials, devices, architectures, networks, sensing, and protocols plus dedicated algorithm and application tracks |
| Development | Co-design of software and hardware modeled on the Exascale Computing Project and a NIST-led public-private effort on interoperable systems, benchmarks, and interfaces with DOE and industry |
| Deployment | Mission-relevant use cases through DOE Quantum Grand Challenges, repeatable integration pathways, and accelerated post-quantum cryptography migration via risk assessments, testing, and phased plans |
| Scale | Supply-chain security for helium-3, photonics, and cryogenics via the Defense Production Act and National Quantum Foundry Access Program; workforce pathways from technicians to Ph.D. researchers; allied markets through AUKUS Pillar 2 and bilateral technology deals |
Above Table: Near-Term Priorities Across the Four Elements of Quantum Primacy
Bottom Line
The preliminary report frames quantum primacy as sustained capacity to turn discoveries into deployed and manufactured systems.
Find out more in the report. The PDF is here.
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