COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force Holds Sixth Meeting, Shares Recommendation for the Development of a Regional Quantum Innovation Center; Charts Long-term Collaborative Agenda
Regional COVID-19 task force transitions to delivery of its initiatives that promote social equity and economic growth in the DMV, underpinned by emerging technology
WASHINGTON, DC, October 16, 2020 – Connected DMV’s COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force held its sixth meeting on Thursday, adopting a recommendation to accelerate the formation of a regional network and key partnerships to launch the Potomac Quantum Innovation Center (PQIC) that would position the region as a leader in the next generation of quantum technology. Task Force members agreed that regional collaboration across borders and disciplines to meet this goal is both a national imperative and achievable.
The Task Force also weighed perspectives about the region’s economic future, as members deliberated on the promise of quantum computing. David M. Rubenstein, co-founder and co-executive chairman of The Carlyle Group and president of The Economic Club of Washington, D.C., led a discussion about the impacts of the pandemic on businesses in the region and an outlook on corporate priorities. "The Industrial Revolution took about 100 years to change the way we live. The internet took about 20 years. The pandemic changed everything in less than a year,” said Rubenstein. “I don't think we're going back to where we were, and companies are now rethinking their operations and strategies without looking back."
“The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has, among many things, highlighted the need for next- generation technologies as both a safeguard against future disruptions and a north star toward the region’s economic recovery and renewal,” said Manny Rouvelas, partner at K&L Gates and Task Force champion of the Quantum Innovation initiative. “The DMV is uniquely positioned to establish a world-class quantum ecosystem with assets across research, technology, domain knowledge, investment, and policy. Through the establishment of the Potomac Quantum Innovation Center, we can drive innovation, economic development, and positive social impact regionally, nationally, and globally.”
Dr. Charles Tahan, Assistant Director for Quantum Information Science and Director of the National Quantum Coordination Office at the White House Office of Science & Technology Policy, addressed the Task Force to highlight the strategic importance and impact of quantum innovation, including implications for STEM educational programs.
Task Force members closed the meeting by outlining the contents of a forthcoming summary report of its activities and recommendations, as well as discussing a long-term operations plan to support delivery of the strategic recommendations developed and ratified during the past six months of its convenings.
Potomac Quantum Innovation Center
The 51-member Task Force—comprised of regional leaders from the public and private sectors, academia, and community—approved a recommendation to accelerate the formation of a regional network and key partnerships to launch the Potomac Quantum Innovation Center (PQIC). The Center will create a cohesive regional quantum ecosystem where our capabilities, resources, and assets are maximized. The Center will strengthen the region’s competitiveness, develop quantum-ready talent, and create an informed loop between research and real world solutions. The Center will serve as a national hub for quantum policy, law and regulations, and standards. Keeping with Connected DMV’s values, the Center will integrate diverse communities and talent into our regional quantum ecosystem.
"Maryland prides itself on being a home for innovation and a place that nurtures bold new ideas and new technologies. We believe it is important for industry, government, and academia to work together to support the development of quantum technology, which can enhance the cutting-edge work of many industry sectors including the life sciences, where critical work is being done to protect public health." said Maryland Commerce Secretary Kelly M. Schulz. "We look forward to working with Connected DMV, the University of Maryland, College Park, and other partners to help make our region a global leader in quantum innovation."
"Over the coming years, the Commonwealth of Virginia will enable and grow a leadership role in quantum information sciences. Already a thriving hub for information technology, cybersecurity, national security, and much more, Virginia is well placed to help prepare our state, region, and country for the quantum era. We look forward to working collaboratively with Connected DMV, partners, and institutions across the region to help develop our national capital region’s quantum innovation ecosystem." – David Ihrie, Chief Technology Officer, Center for Innovative Technology, Commonwealth of Virginia
To learn more about this effort or join the Quantum Innovation Initiative, please visit www.connecteddmv.org/pqic.
Connected DMV COVID-19 Strategic Renewal Task Force Members:
Regional Organizations
Chuck Bean
Executive Director
Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments
Mary Brady
Executive Director
The Economic Club of Washington, D.C.
Bob Buchanan
President
The 2030 Group
Dr. Andrew Flagel
President & CEO
Consortium of Universities of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Julie Coons
President & CEO
Northern Virginia Chamber of Commerce
David Harrington
President & CEO
Prince George's Chamber of Commerce, representing DMV Chambers of Commerce
Jennifer Taylor
President & CEO
Northern Virginia Technology Council
Jack McDougle
President & CEO
Greater Washington Board of Trade
John E. Potter
President & CEO
Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority
Martin Rosendale
CEO
Maryland Tech Council
Stu Solomon
President & CEO
Connected DMV
Paul J. Wiedefeld
General Manager & CEO
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
Hon. Anthony Williams
CEO & Executive Director
Federal City Council
Academia
Katherine Bradley
Founder & Chair
CityBridge Education
Dr. Wayne Frederick
President
Howard University
Dr. Anne M. Kress
President
Northern Virginia Community College
Public Sector
Dr. C. Anneta Arno
Director, Office of Health Equity
DC Health
Victor Hoskins
President & CEO
Fairfax County Economic Development Authority
Eugene D. Kinlow
Director of the Office for Federal and Regional Affairs
Executive Office of the Mayor of the District of Columbia
Allison Mayer
Deputy Chief of Staff
State of Maryland Governor's Office
Cassidy Rasnick
Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade
Commonwealth of Virginia
Kelly M. Schulz
Secretary of the Maryland Department of Commerce
State of Maryland
Hon. Todd M. Turner
Chair
Prince George's County Council
Benjamin H. Wu
President & CEO
Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation
Industry & Community
Denise Rolark Barnes
Publisher
Washington Informer
Rich Bendis
President & CEO
BioHealth Innovation
Sameer Bhargava
Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Clark Construction
Richard Bynum
Chief Corporate Responsibility Officer
PNC Financial Services Group
James Cook
Vice President, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships
The MITRE Corporation
Stephanie Davis
Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer
Volkswagen Group of America
Stacey Dion
Managing Director and Head of Global Government Affairs
The Carlyle Group
Elliott Ferguson
President & CEO
Destination DC
Scott Frisch
Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer
AARP
Nora Gardner
Managing Partner, Washington DC
McKinsey & Company
Tim Gillis
Chesapeake Market Hub Leader & Office Managing Partner
KPMG
Samuel Gordy
General Manager - Chief Strategy Officer, IBM Public and Federal Market
IBM Corporation
David Grissen
Group President of the Americas
Marriott
Lesley Kalan
Corporate Vice President and Chief Strategy and Development Officer
Northrop Grumman
Brian Kenner
Head of HQ2 Policy & Economic Development
Amazon
Evan Kraus
President & Managing Director of Operations
APCO Worldwide
Tony Lewis
Region Vice President, Public Policy
Verizon
Anne Mahlum
Founder, Owner and CEO
Solidcore
Radha Muthiah
President & CEO
Capital Area Food Bank
Tim O'Brien
MTV Site Director
Micron
Manny Rouvelas
Partner
K&L Gates
Ken Samet
President & CEO
MedStar Health
Dave Velazquez
President & CEO
Pepco Holdings
Federal Government
Glenn Blanchette
Regional Emergency Coordinator
US Department of Health and Human Services
Major General Omar Jones
Commanding General
Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region
Kim Kadesch
Director, Office of National Capital Region Coordination
Federal Emergency Management Agency
William Ryan
Regional Director
Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency
Please see https://www.connecteddmv.org/covid19-strategic-renewal-task-force for additional information on the Connected DMV Task Force.