International Quantum Research Exchange Act
SB 1397, the International Quantum Research Exchange Act, would direct the Secretary of State to create and operate a Department of State program to promote international cooperation in quantum information science. The program would do this primarily through competitive matching grants to institutions of higher education and eligible nonprofit organizations, as well as through support for international scientist exchange programs ranging from short visits to multi-year exchanges.
The bill defines quantum information science broadly to include the storage, transmission, manipulation, computing, and measurement of information using quantum physics. It also requires the State Department to coordinate the new program with existing federal quantum policy offices and strategy bodies, align activities with the National Quantum Information Science Strategy, consult with relevant congressional committees and experts, and provide annual reports to Congress describing activities and priority countries for collaboration.
The bill includes guardrails intended to limit security risks. As amended, it would allow collaborative research only with countries that have signed quantum cooperation statements with the United States or are members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, and it would prohibit funding programs involving foreign adversaries as defined in existing law. It also requires compliance with federal research security and research integrity policies. The bill authorizes $20 million for fiscal year 2026 and sunsets the program 10 years after enactment.
The bill’s impact would be to add a new foreign-policy and research-diplomacy tool within the State Department, creating a federal grant and exchange mechanism specifically for quantum science partnerships. It would not directly amend the National Quantum Initiative Act, but it would build on that framework by tying State Department activities to existing national quantum strategy offices and security-related policy requirements. The main affected parties would be universities, nonprofit research organizations, foreign research partners, and federal agencies involved in quantum policy and research security.
Overall sentiment appears favorable and bipartisan. The bill was introduced by Senators Shaheen, Young, and Coons and was reported by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with an amendment, suggesting committee support for the concept while refining its scope. The principal point of contention reflected in the amended text is security: the bill narrows eligible foreign partners and explicitly excludes foreign adversaries, indicating concern about technology transfer, espionage, and research exploitation. No recorded floor votes or committee transcript debate were provided.
SB 1397 would create a new statutory program in the Department of State focused on international quantum cooperation, funded by authorized appropriations of $20 million for FY 2026. It would establish grant and exchange authorities, require coordination with existing federal quantum governance structures, impose research-security conditions, mandate annual reporting to Congress, and sunset the authority after 10 years. The bill would primarily affect universities, nonprofit research entities, and international partners engaged in quantum research, while reinforcing existing federal restrictions on foreign-adversary involvement and research integrity.
The available legislative history suggests generally positive, bipartisan support. The bill was introduced by senators from both parties and was reported out of committee with an amendment, which usually indicates agreement on the underlying policy with some refinement. The amendment’s added restrictions on eligible partner ქვეყნies and foreign adversaries also show that support is conditioned on maintaining strong national-security safeguards.
The main area of contention is the balance between scientific openness and national security. Supporters appear to favor expanding international collaboration in quantum science, but the amended bill limits participation to countries with quantum cooperation statements or Five Eyes membership and bars funding involving foreign adversaries. That suggests concern from some lawmakers or committee members about protecting sensitive research, preventing foreign influence, and ensuring the program does not undermine U.S. technology security.