How a Convening at UC San Diego Could Help Shape California’s Quantum Future Published Date Article Content Key Takeaways - California is shaping its quantum future. The San Diego convening will gather leaders from industry, academia and government to inform the state’s strategy. - Quantum computing could unlock powerful new tools. Promising uses include designing materials, preparing cybersecurity for quantum-era risks and improving complex logistics. - A major challenge is scaling by design. Quantum computers need to become larger and more reliable, with hardware and algorithms developed together. The University of California San Diego Qualcomm Institute (QI) will host an invitation-only Quantum San Diego Convening on May 18–19, bringing together approximately 200 leaders from industry, academia, national laboratories and government to help the state shape its future in quantum. Here, QI Research Specialist Riley Need, one of the event organizers, discusses the gathering and its goals in the context of the rapidly developing field. (This interview is edited for length and clarity.) Qualcomm Institute: What is the backstory of this event? Riley Need: Late last year, California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the statewide Quantum California initiative, a public-private initiative meant to solidify California as a global leader in quantum computing, sensing, networking and materials. Related state legislation (AB 940) instructed the California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to put together a strategic framework to help policy makers understand the California quantum ecosystem: What are our strengths? What are our weaknesses? What are our opportunities? What should state legislators focus on in terms of funding or legislation that will help the state not only be part of the quantum revolution, but a leader nationally and globally? A convening was held at UC Berkeley to kick off Quantum California and have discussions that would contribute to this report. The