New Southern California coalition aims to accelerate quantum research, workforce development.
Southern California’s research institutions and aerospace and technology companies are formalizing a regional partnership aimed at advancing quantum science and building a specialized workforce for the emerging field.
UCLA announced the formation of the SoCal Quantum Alliance, a coalition that brings together universities, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and private-sector companies to coordinate research, industry engagement, and economic development tied to quantum technologies. The effort builds on the broader statewide Quantum California initiative, which seeks to position the state as a leader in next-generation computing and related sciences.
UCLA spearheaded the alliance through its Center for Quantum Science and Engineering, which is jointly operated by the UCLA College’s Division of Physical Sciences and the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering. The center oversees the Quantum Innovation Hub, a collaborative space planned for UCLA’s Research Park, formerly the Westside Pavilion, that will host researchers, students, startups, and industry partners working on quantum science and engineering.
Founding members of the SoCal Quantum Alliance include USC, Cal State San Marcos, Caltech, UC Irvine, UC San Diego, Pasadena City College, along with JPL and companies such as HRL Laboratories, Boeing, Monarch Quantum, Cisco, IBM, and the Aerospace Corp.
University officials said the alliance is intended to strengthen research partnerships and help prepare a workforce trained in quantum computing, communications, and sensing. By aligning academic institutions with industry and government laboratories, organizers hope to accelerate technology development while expanding career pathways in the field.
The alliance is led by UCLA physics professor Eric Hudson, who directs the Center for Quantum Science and Engineering. Hudson described the initiative as the result of longstanding collaborations among Southern California researchers and said the group plans to expand membership to additional organizations in the region.
