Oak Ridge National Laboratory hosted the three-day Southeastern Quantum Conference in Chattanooga, Tennessee, bringing together experts to accelerate the transition of quantum research into practical applications. The event featured a panel of directors from all five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, signaling a shift in the nation’s quantum ecosystem from foundational research to scalable technologies. “The pace of innovation in quantum science depends on bringing together expertise from across the research community,” said Gina Tourassi, associate laboratory director for ORNL’s Computing and Computational Sciences Directorate, alongside Cynthia Jenks, associate laboratory director for ORNL’s Physical Sciences Directorate, as they welcomed attendees. The conference underscored the growing need for collaboration to integrate quantum technologies with artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. DOE Centers Advance Scalable Quantum Technologies & Applications OpenQSE, an international effort to establish common architectures for hybrid computing, exemplifies the growing emphasis on collaborative development within the quantum field, according to Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center headquartered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The panel underscored a national shift in quantum research, moving beyond foundational studies toward technologies capable of scaling for practical applications and addressing complex scientific challenges. The five NQISRCs have evolved into complementary organizations, each possessing distinct strengths while prioritizing scalable quantum hardware, advanced materials, algorithm development, resource estimation, and workforce training, panelists reported. ORNL’s Hybrid Architectures Integrate Quantum with HPC & AI ORNL is actively developing hybrid quantum-classical computing architectures, combining its leadership-class supercomputers with emerging quantum technologies to accelerate scientific discovery, according to Humble. This approach moves beyond simply constructing quantum computers to focusing on their practical application within existing high-performance computing ecosystems. He emphasized that the future hinges on integrating quantum technologies with artificial intelligence and HPC, creating workflows capable of solving problems intractable for conventional systems. “The question is no longer