Governor Newsom announces “Quantum California” — strengthening the Golden State’s leadership in next-generation technology – California State Portal | CA.gov

Report on the “Quantum California” Initiative and its Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

1.0 Introduction

On November 7, 2025, the State of California officially launched the “Quantum California” initiative. This statewide program establishes a multi-stakeholder partnership between government bodies, academic institutions, and private industry leaders. The initiative’s primary objective is to advance quantum innovation and secure California’s leadership in this critical emerging technology. This report outlines the initiative’s structure, objectives, and significant alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

2.0 Strategic Objectives and SDG Alignment

The Quantum California initiative is designed to achieve specific economic and technological goals that directly support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The program’s focus on innovation, job creation, and collaborative research provides a strong framework for advancing key SDGs.

• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: The core mission is to build resilient infrastructure and foster innovation by transforming quantum research into industrial output. The state will develop a strategic framework to grow the quantum economy.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: A central goal is the creation of high-quality jobs, promoting sustained, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth within the emerging quantum sector.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: By partnering with top-tier universities like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford, the initiative supports a robust talent pipeline, ensuring the development of a skilled workforce prepared for the technologies of the future.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The initiative exemplifies a multi-stakeholder partnership, uniting government, the University of California system, national labs, and industry leaders such as Google, Microsoft, and Amazon to achieve shared objectives.

3.0 Initiative Components and Implementation

The execution of Quantum California is supported by new legislation and state funding, ensuring a coordinated, statewide effort. Key operational components include:

1. Legislative and Financial Support: Assembly Bill 940 provides the legislative mandate, while a $4 million state investment will support the development of a strategic framework by the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
2. Collaborative Research Hubs: The initiative leverages California’s unique position as the only state home to both National Science Foundation and Department of Energy quantum research centers, alongside university-affiliated corporate labs.
3. Shared Infrastructure Development: National quantum centers and foundries will provide shared infrastructure and secure testbeds to standardize materials and accelerate the transition of prototypes to deployed systems for critical applications.

4.0 Quantum Technology Applications for Global Goals

The technological advancements sought by Quantum California have direct applications in addressing global challenges, contributing to progress on several specific SDGs.

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: Quantum computing’s capacity to solve complex equations rapidly will enhance and accelerate medication and drug discovery processes.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The initiative aims to utilize quantum computing to model complex climate scenarios, contributing to more effective strategies to combat climate change.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: Quantum sensing and materials research are expected to revolutionize advanced manufacturing and create new technological tools.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions: The development of quantum communication is projected to lead to unhackable networks, significantly enhancing data security and contributing to more secure and resilient institutions.

5.0 Conclusion

The Quantum California initiative is a strategic investment in technological leadership and sustainable economic progress. By embedding its objectives within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals, the state is positioning itself not only as an innovation hub but also as a key contributor to global solutions for health, climate, and security. This multi-stakeholder partnership model demonstrates a clear pathway for aligning regional economic development with the global 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

   • The article’s central theme is the “Quantum California” initiative, which aims to “advance quantum innovation” and build a robust industry around this “critical emerging technology.” It focuses on aligning researchers, industry, and government to create a strategy for innovation, which directly relates to building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and fostering innovation.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   • A primary goal of the initiative is “job creation” and strengthening California’s economic future. The article repeatedly mentions creating jobs, fostering economic progress, and maintaining the state’s position as an economic powerhouse through technological leadership. Governor Newsom is quoted saying the initiative will be “creating jobs” and securing the state’s “technological edge for decades to come.”

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The initiative relies heavily on a highly skilled workforce. The article highlights California’s role in fostering an “educated and skilled workforce” and producing the “nation’s top quantum talent.” The collaboration with universities like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and Stanford is central to developing the talent pipeline needed for the quantum industry, which aligns with ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • The “Quantum California” initiative is a multi-stakeholder partnership. The article explicitly states it “brings together government, academia, and industry” and aligns “university researchers, industry leaders, investors, national labs, and government partners around a shared strategy.” This collaborative model is the essence of SDG 17.

5. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 13: Climate Action

   • The article mentions the potential applications of quantum computing to solve major global challenges. It states that quantum technology has “immense potential to enhance medication discovery” and “drug discovery,” which connects to SDG 3. It also notes its potential to “combat climate change,” directly linking to SDG 13.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors in all countries, in particular developing countries, including, by 2030, encouraging innovation and substantially increasing the number of research and development workers per 1 million people and public and private research and development spending.

   • The article directly supports this target by describing the initiative’s goal to “advance quantum innovation” and “transform quantum research into industry output.” The state’s “$4 million investment” and the creation of a strategic framework to “grow the quantum economy” are concrete actions toward increasing R&D.

2. Target 8.2: Achieve higher levels of economic productivity through diversification, technological upgrading and innovation, including through a focus on high-value added and labour-intensive sectors.

   • The focus on quantum computing, a high-value-added technology sector, is a clear strategy for technological upgrading and economic diversification. Governor Newsom’s statement that “Quantum computing, sensing, and communication will transform the world” underscores the goal of achieving higher economic productivity through innovation.

3. Target 4.4: By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.

   • The article emphasizes the need for a “skilled workforce” and highlights that California “produces the nation’s top quantum talent.” The partnership with universities is designed to support a “robust talent pipeline,” directly addressing the need for relevant technical skills for future employment.

4. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships, building on the experience and resourcing strategies of partnerships.

   • The “Quantum California” initiative is a textbook example of this target. It is described as a collaboration that “brings together government, academia, and industry” and involves “university researchers, industry leaders, investors, national labs, and government partners.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Public and Private Investment in R&D

   • The article explicitly mentions a “$4 million investment from the state’s budget” to support the quantum industry. This is a direct indicator of public R&D spending. The mention of industry partners like Google, Microsoft, and Amazon also implies significant private investment.

2. Creation of Jobs in High-Tech Sectors

   • A recurring goal mentioned is “job creation.” Progress could be measured by tracking the number of new jobs created within California’s quantum industry as a direct result of this initiative.

3. Number of Public-Private Partnerships

   • The article itself announces the launch of the “Quantum California” partnership. The number of participating entities (universities, companies, labs) and the formation of new collaborative projects under this initiative would be a key indicator of progress toward Target 17.17.

4. Development of a Skilled Workforce

   • The emphasis on a “robust talent pipeline” and producing “top quantum talent” implies that progress can be measured. Indicators could include the number of students graduating from quantum-related programs at California universities (UC Berkeley, UCLA, etc.) and their employment rates in the sector.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Summary

Source: gov.ca.gov