Heather Evans, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing for the International Trade Administration, provided a U.S. Government Perspective as part of the "The Chips Acts and Beyond" special program during Quantum World Congress 2024.

Heather Evans is the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Manufacturing for the International Trade Administration. She directs the U.S. Department of Commerce’s efforts to advance the global competitiveness of manufacturing industries through international trade and investment policies and promotion strategies. She oversees the Office of Transportation and Machinery, the Office of Energy and Environmental Industries, the Office of Health Industries, and the Office of Information and Communications Technology. Evans previously worked at the National Institute of Standards and Technology where she led efforts on policy, budget, and strategy. In 2021-2022, she served in the Office of the Secretary of Commerce as NIST Liaison and Senior Technology Advisor, where she led efforts on international standards, cybersecurity, and emerging technologies. Evans was a Humboldt Postdoctoral Research Fellow in Germany and holds a doctorate in materials science from the University of California Santa Barbara and bachelor’s degree in physics from Macalester College.

This special high-level working session at QWC24 highlighted national visions and initiatives that aim to scale manufacturing, strengthen global supply chains, and accelerate the critical sectors that include quantum and quantum-adjacent industries. The session with feature talks by global leaders from USA, UK, EU and Japan, perspectives from key industry cooperations including IBM, NVIDIA, and DIRAQ, followed by breakouts with the attendees.

The conversation is tailored for industry leaders, researchers, and policymakers seeking to understand the latest thinking across the world and exchange ideas for scalable and secure commercialization as we seek to work at the convergence of quantum with adjacent fields and other cutting-edge technologies. Prepare to engage in deep discussions, build strategic partnerships, and learn how to navigate advancements in the global marketplace.

The session covered: the transformative opportunities and regulatory implications of national investments such as the US CHIPS and Science Act and the EU Chips Act; optimizing and securing supply chains in quantum and adjacent technologies; and strengthening cross-border partnerships.

To learn more about Quantum World Congress, please visit quantumworldcongress.com