The University of Texas at Dallas is hosting a summit next week that will bring together industry experts, researchers and government officials to discuss the future of quantum information science in Texas.
Quantum technology refers to using the properties of particles like atoms and electrons to process, sense and transmit information.
“Over the last decade or so, there have been rapid advances in our ability to control things at the quantum scale,” said Michael Kolodrubetz, an associate professor of physics and director of the Center for Quantum Integrated Systems at UT Dallas. He is also the primary organizer of the event.
Innovations in quantum technology could revolutionize electronics, computing and communications, as well as our ability to store and protect data. Kolodrubetz pointed to its potential uses in drug design and biological sensors to detect cancer.
“We’re in the second quantum revolution now,” he said. “We’re going beyond simple quantum mechanical principles and we’re actually controlling and manipulating individual quantum particles in such a way that we can use fundamentally different routes in information processing.”
The 2026 Texas Quantum Summit runs Aug. 13-14 and is part of the state’s efforts toward advancing quantum technology. Presentations and panel discussions will cover recent developments in quantum technologies and what they mean for the future of the state’s research, workforce and economy. Panelists include representatives from Nvidia, Amazon, IBM and Microsoft.
Although registration for the summit is full, all talks and panels on UTD’s campus are open to the public.
The public is also invited to pre-summit events, including a tutorial on quantum information science and engineering on Aug. 12 from 1-5 p.m. Later that day, at 6:30 p.m., there will be a lecture from David Awschalom, a condensed matter experimental physicist and professor from the University of Chicago.
Niamh Ordner is a science reporting fellow at The Dallas Morning News. Her fellowship is supported by the University of Texas at Dallas. The News makes all editorial decisions.