As Utah takes steps to establish itself in the emerging quantum computing industry, BYU Electrical and Computer Engineering professor Dr. Ryan Camacho is helping inform the state’s approach to the rapidly developing technology.
Gov. Spencer Cox recently launched the Utah Quantum Initiative, a statewide effort aimed at advancing quantum research, commercialization, workforce development, and advanced manufacturing. Camacho provided input on the initiative, bringing his expertise in quantum technology and engineering to discussions about where Utah can make a meaningful contribution.
Camacho has watched quantum computing evolve significantly since his graduate school years in the early 2000s, when the field was largely centered on physics research.
“We’re definitely in the middle of an inflection point,” Camacho said. “It’s interesting times.”
While quantum computing holds significant promise, Camacho emphasized that major technical challenges remain, particularly in maintaining stable quantum bits, or qubits, and correcting errors.
“The error correction and keeping those atoms stable is a massive problem,” Camacho said. “That’s essentially the whole show right now.”
Despite those challenges, Camacho believes Utah has good reason to invest in the field now. The state can build on its strong technology economy, universities, defense sector, and innovation ecosystem while collaborating with national laboratories and established quantum companies.
For BYU students, the initiative could also create new opportunities closer to home. Students developing quantum-related expertise are already finding strong demand for their skills outside Utah. A growing quantum technology ecosystem could help retain that talent while attracting new companies and research opportunities to the state.
“If quantum turns out to be what we hope it will, and it could, it’s going to change the landscape of how we do compute and how we solve problems in so many sectors,” Camacho said. “We really want to be a part of it.”
Read the full KUTV story: Utah bets on quantum computing as state seeks place in emerging industry