New Report Urges Caution in the Race for Space-Based Data Centers
The report warns that space-based data centers are likely to become a reality within the next few years—well before the risks of large-scale deployment can be fully understood.
Washington, D.C. – Paul Dabbar, Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University SIPA and Chairman and CEO of Bohr Quantum Technologies, has been invited to testify before the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
“We are currently at the forefront of a game-changing technology that will have a profound impact on our economy and national security,” said Dabbar. “The United States is leading the way in quantum computers and networks. Now is the perfect time to accelerate increased research and faster deployment of these technologies.”
The hearing will evaluate the state of quantum research, development, and technology (RD&T) in the U.S., review the first five years of the National Quantum Initiative Act (NQIA), and examine policy considerations for the next five years. The hearing will also inform the reauthorization of the NQIA program, which expires on September 30, 2023.
Prior to joining the Center, Dabbar served as Under Secretary for Science at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) from 2017-2021. At DOE, he served as the principal advisor on fundamental energy research, energy technologies, science, and commercialization of technologies. He also oversaw key areas of research including basic energy sciences, nuclear and high energy physics, advanced computing, and fusion.
Additional witnesses include Dr. Charles Tahan, Director, National Quantum Coordination Office, OSTP; Dr. Eleanor G. Rieffel, Senior Researcher for Advanced Computing and Data Analytics, NASA/Ames Research Center; Dr. Celia Merzbacher, Executive Director, Quantum Economic Development Consortium; and Dr. Emily Edwards, Executive Director, IQUIST, University of Illinois.
The hearing will be live streamed at 10:00am ET on the House committee’s website. Dabbar’s oral and written testimonies will be available at energypolicy.columbia.edu on June 7.
The report warns that space-based data centers are likely to become a reality within the next few years—well before the risks of large-scale deployment can be fully understood.
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