The initiative builds on more than 15 years of quantum technology work at Lockheed Martin. QuIC will combine enterprise-level engineering processes with faster development cycles intended to move new capabilities into the company’s systems at scale.
“The QuIC represents our ongoing commitment to develop and integrate the best of American technology in quantum to help ensure an advantage for our nation and allies in deterring future threats,” said Sarah Hiza, senior vice president of Technology and Innovation at Lockheed Martin. “The QuIC builds on our heritage of doing hard things with speed at scale, and is modeled after our 20 years of success developing artificial intelligence for national security through our Lockheed Martin AI Center, or LAIC.”
QuIC will operate as a center of excellence covering a broad range of quantum applications. It will also assess and integrate technologies developed outside Lockheed Martin, including products from companies backed by Lockheed Martin Ventures.
Lockheed Martin recently expanded its venture-capital fund to $1 billion, increasing the pool available for investments in emerging technology companies. Those portfolio businesses are among the external sources of quantum capabilities that QuIC is expected to evaluate for integration.
The company’s international quantum work includes a Swiss innovation hub established with IBM and ETH Zurich. Lockheed Martin has also allocated $100 million in venture funding for investments in the United Kingdom and Europe across emerging technologies, including quantum research.
Workforce development will form another part of the center’s remit as Lockheed Martin seeks to expand its pool of quantum specialists. Existing initiatives include the Quantum Talent Pipeline program for current employees and Quantum Sprouts, which funds internal research and development projects.
