EPB joins Southeastern Quantum Collaborative to Support Regional Quantum Development
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Insider Brief EPB has joined the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative (SQC), a regional initiative led by UAH to advance quantum technology development and applications. The collaboration brings together universities, industry, and government to strengthen workforce development and position the Southeast as a quantum innovation hub. EPB’s existing quantum network and upcoming IonQ system reinforce Chattanooga’s role in providing commercial access to quantum infrastructure. PRESS RELEASE — EPB has joined the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative (SQC) as an inaugural member. SQC is an association of universities, technology companies and research institutions working together to accelerate the advancement and real-world application of quantum technologies across the Southeast. Led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), the collaborative brings together organizations from academia, industry and government to strengthen regional leadership in quantum information science while developing the workforce needed to support emerging quantum technologies. The effort is also designed to help position the Southeast as a global hub for quantum innovation, supporting economic growth, national security and next-generation technology development. EPB’s participation reflects Chattanooga’s growing role as a center for advanced technology and innovation. In 2023, EPB launched the EPB Quantum Network®, the nation’s first commercially available, industry-led quantum network, lowering barriers to the development of a wide range of quantum technologies. Later this year, with the completion of an IonQ Forte Enterprise computer, EPB Quantum Center℠ will become the first U.S. quantum technology center to provide commercial access to both quantum networking and quantum computing resources. EPB Quantum Center will provide a destination to explore quantum possibilities while benefiting EPB’s customers in its 600-square-mile service area in and around Chattanooga. “Quantum technology represents one of the most significant innovation opportunities of our time,” said Janet Rehberg, president and CEO-elect, EPB. “By joining the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative, EPB supports the development of a regional ecosystem that connects research, infrastructure and industry to accelerate innovation and drive economic development across the Southeast.” EPB joins neighboring University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC), which joined SQC earlier this year. Through a partnership with EPB, UTC became the first American university to host a node on a commercially available quantum network through its connection to EPB Quantum Network, enabling new research in quantum communications and networking. Additional regional momentum continues to grow, including the recent announcement of the Institute for Quantum Innovation led by EPB and Vanderbilt University, which aims to expand research and collaboration in quantum science and engineering. EPB’s leadership in quantum technology builds on its experience as the operator of the nation’s most advanced automated grid and the world’s fastest community-wide internet, which generated $5.3 billion and 10,000 jobs in the first 15 years of operations. EPB began working in quantum technology with Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Los Alamos National Laboratory through an R&D 100 Award-winning collaboration that demonstrated how quantum security protocols can be deployed on power grids. “Partners like EPB bring unique infrastructure and real-world deployment experience that will help accelerate the transition of quantum technologies from research to application,” said Dr. Rainer Steinwandt, Dean of the UAH College of Science and Executive Director of the SQC. “Their leadership strengthens the Southeast’s ability to compete in the rapidly evolving quantum economy.” Through collaboration, research partnerships and workforce initiatives, the Southeastern Quantum Collaborative aims to strengthen the region’s position as a national leader in quantum innovation while creating new opportunities for economic growth and technology-driven investment.
Mohib Ur Rehman LinkedIn Mohib has been tech-savvy since his teens, always tearing things apart to see how they worked. His curiosity for cybersecurity and privacy evolved from tinkering with code and hardware to writing about the hidden layers of digital life. Now, he brings that same analytical curiosity to quantum technologies, exploring how they will shape the next frontier of computing. Share this article: