Texas Quantum Summit to Bring Industry, Government and Academic Leaders Together at UT Dallas

Insider BriefLeading quantum technology companies, researchers and policymakers will gather next week at The University of Texas at Dallas to discuss the future of quantum computing, networking and workforce development as Texas expands its ambitions to become a national hub for quantum technology, according to a university news release.The Texas Quantum Summit 2026 will take place Aug. 13-14 and convene representatives from academia, industry, state government and federal organizations to examine the latest advances in quantum science and the policies needed to accelerate commercialization.The event comes as Texas increases its investment in quantum technologies following passage of the Texas Quantum Initiative in 2025, legislation intended to strengthen the state’s position in quantum research, economic development and workforce training.“Quantum computing is a transformative technology with the potential to significantly impact the Texas economy and workforce,” Dr. Joseph Pancrazio, vice president for research and innovation and professor of bioengineering at UT Dallas, said, according to the release. “Bringing together leaders across the quantum ecosystem is critical as Texas continues to drive advances in quantum science and helps unlock its potential for society.”Quantum computing harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics to process certain calculations differently than conventional computers. Instead of using binary bits that exist as either zero or one, quantum computers use quantum bits, or qubits, which can theoretically exist in multiple states simultaneously. Researchers believe this approach could eventually accelerate selected applications in areas such as materials science, chemistry, optimization and cryptography.According to UT Dallas, the summit will feature discussions on quantum hardware, software, commercial applications, university-industry collaboration and the role of Texas government in supporting the emerging sector.Scheduled participants include representatives from NVIDIA, Amazon, IBM, Microsoft, Citigroup, IonQ, QuEra Computing and Infleqtion, alongside academic researchers and policymakers.“The use of quantum technology in business and industry is not yet at the off-the-shelf phase, but quantum computers and algorithms have been tested, fine-tuned and calibrated for specific uses,” said Dr. Michael Kolodrubetz, associate professor of physics in the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, director of the Center for Quantum Integrated Systems at UT Dallas, and organizer of the symposium. “The Texas Quantum Summit brings together the people who are developing these technologies with those who want to use the technology, with the goal of setting priorities as the field quickly progresses.”The meeting reflects growing state and federal efforts to build quantum capabilities. At the federal level, the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018 established a coordinated research and development program to advance quantum technologies for economic competitiveness and national security. Texas has sought to complement those efforts through its own statewide initiative focused on research, commercialization and workforce development.Beyond research and technology, workforce development is expected to be a central theme of the summit.UT Dallas researchers affiliated with the Center for Quantum Integrated Systems conduct research spanning quantum materials, quantum algorithms and quantum simulation. The university has also established undergraduate and graduate certificate programs designed to prepare scientists, engineers and professionals for work involving quantum technologies.“These programs are designed to provide professionals with core knowledge about quantum science and computers that will complement their expertise in other fields,” Kolodrubetz said. “For example, as quantum computing becomes more prevalent in drug design, biologists, biochemists and engineers who understand the language and how to design algorithms for quantum computers will have an advantage in the workplace. It is vitally important that we train the professionals who will become the end-users as well as the next generation of scientists and engineers who will design and develop quantum information technology.”The summit will be preceded on Aug. 12 by the 2026 Anson L.

Clark Memorial Lecture, featuring Dr. David Awschalom of the University of Chicago and Q-NEXT. Awschalom, a pioneer in quantum information science, will discuss the rapid progress of quantum technologies and their potential societal impact.TopicsShare Get the latest research, company news, and market intelligence every week. MENTIONED IN THE ARTICLENVIDIA Corporation is an American multinational technology company and a global player in accelerated computing and Artificial Intelligence (AI). Founded in 1993, the company pushes the aerospace frontier with the Space-1 Vera Rubin Module, a platform for orbital data centers that delivers massive AI-compute Space Computing. This NVIDIA technology enables satellites and autonomous spacecraft to process and fuse sensor data rapidly Space Computing.Amazon is a multinational technology company founded in 1994, headquartered in Seattle, Washington. The company focuses on e-commerce, cloud computing, digital streaming, and artificial intelligence. Through its Climate Pledge Fund, established in 2020 with an initial $2 billion investment, Amazon invests in companies developing sustainability-focused technologies and services to help achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.IBM is an iconic technology pioneer founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company and officially renamed International Business Machines Corporation in 1924. Beyond foundational computing, IBM possesses a deep legacy in aerospace and defense from building the guidance computers and Instrument Unit for NASA's historic Apollo missions to partnering with Airbus on CIMON, the first AI assistant on the ISS.Microsoft engages in the creation and licensing of software for both consumer and enterprise use. The company is renowned for its development of Windows operating systems and the Office suite designed for productivity. Microsoft's structure encompasses three major segments of roughly equal size: productivity and business processes, which encompasses legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, and Dynamics; the intelligence cloud, which includes offerings like Azure, Windows Server OS, and SQL Server; and more personal computing, which covers Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and a range of Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops.Citigroup Inc. or Citi is an American multinational investment bank and financial services corporation headquartered in New York City.IonQ is a developer in trapped ion quantum computing founded in 2015 that actively applies its technology to the aerospace and defense sectors. The company empowers satellite-based quantum networks and quantum enabled drones to improve positioning, navigation, and timing resilience in GPS denied environments, and collaborates with industry leaders like Airbus to optimize aircraft loading.QuEra Computing uses research on neutral atoms, developed at Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, as the basis for a scalable, programmable quantum computer solution. QuEra’s quantum processing technology is based on trapping, energizing, and shuttling atoms with laser beams.Infleqtion, founded in 2007 at the University of Colorado Boulder, specializes in neutral atom quantum technology for the aerospace and defense sectors. The company is heavily involved in orbital infrastructure, notably supplying atomic clocks and contributing quantum sensors to NASA's Cold Atom Lab and the Quantum Gravity Gradiometer Pathfinder mission to enhance space navigation, timing, and Earth observation capabilities.More in Research