In this episode, host Stephen Ibaraki speaks with Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), about the rapidly evolving world of quantum technologies and their growing impact on business, cybersecurity, public policy, and the global economy.

Discover how quantum computing, quantum sensing, and quantum communications are advancing from research laboratories toward real-world applications, while governments, academia, and industry work together to accelerate innovation and commercialization.

Dr. Merzbacher shares insights from her multidisciplinary career spanning scientific research, federal science policy, and industry consortium leadership. She also explains how QED-C is helping strengthen the global quantum ecosystem through collaboration, standards development, workforce initiatives, and supply chain resilience.

The conversation explores several critical topics, including:

• The evolution of the global quantum ecosystem

• The mission and impact of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C)

• The accelerating timeline for practical quantum computing

• Post-quantum cryptography and the urgent need for cybersecurity preparedness

• Advances in quantum hardware, software, algorithms, and error correction