Penn FoQuS 2026 Unites Global Experts to Shape the Future of Information Science
FoQuS
Penn FoQuS 2026, the third annual Penn Forum on Quantum Systems, took place at the Singh Center for Nanotechnology, a quantum innovation hub. Nearly 200 academics, students, and business executives attended the conference, which was hosted by Penn Engineering’s Center for Quantum Information, Engineering, Science, and Technology (QUIEST). This turnout demonstrated the increasing importance of quantum research in the academic and professional circles and was the largest and most institutionally varied audience in the event’s history.
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A Growing Hub for Interdisciplinary Exchange
FoQuS 2026 aimed to promote technical innovation and cross-sector collaboration. The forum has fixed its place in the regional and national quantum ecosystem by serving as a center for transdisciplinary exchange. According to Lee Bassett, Director of QUIEST and Associate Professor in Electrical and Systems Engineering, the meeting’s influence is intended to last long after the event. According to Bassett, the momentum created at the Singh Center is already leading to additional partnerships, especially with statewide quantum programs and regional partners.
Although the 2026 forum’s success was based on earlier years, it greatly broadened its scope throughout the academic community. The attendance of delegates from over 20 prestigious universities was a distinguishing aspect of this year’s event. MIT, Princeton, Columbia, Carnegie Mellon, and Johns Hopkins were among the esteemed organizations on this list. Additionally, Drexel University, Temple University, Rutgers, the University of Delaware, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County also contributed to regional participation.
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Bridging Academia, Industry, and Government
FoQuS 2026 actively bridged the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation by involving government agencies and industrial titans; it was not confined to academic circles. Participants included representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Lockheed Martin, and Nasdaq. Deep conversations about the future of quantum technologies and the steps needed to scale these innovations into practical applications were made possible by this varied mix of stakeholders.
The forum included keynote speeches and high-level panel discussions that outlined the field’s present difficulties. Eric Stach, the Robert D. Bent Professor of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering at Penn, Josh Gladden, Vice President of Research at Temple University, and Peter Maurer from the University of Chicago were among the prominent panelists. These specialists investigated the nexus between quantum physics and materials science, which is essential for the creation of novel hardware.
Margaret Martonosi, William M. Addy ’82 University Professor in Computer Science at Princeton, gave a keynote address that was a highlight of the speaking program. In her discussion, “Mind the Gap: Challenges and Opportunities in Closing the Algorithms-to-Devices Gap in Quantum Computing,” she discussed how important it is to match software advancements with the physical capabilities of newly developed quantum hardware.
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Cultivating the Next Generation of Scientists
Elevating early-career researchers was one of FoQuS 2026’s main objectives. The excitement around student engagement, according to QUIEST Program Coordinator Marian Bechtel-Prabakaran, is evidence of the critical role these researchers play in the field’s future. To do this, the event included an enlarged poster session and a new lightning presentation session.
The gathered specialists heard presentations from 28 undergraduate and graduate students. Quantum information science, which explores how the laws of quantum physics might be applied to matter and energy at the tiniest scales to process and transfer data in innovative ways, was covered in these talks. Student-led contributions included, for instance:
- Ph.D. candidate Jordan Gusdorff took part in the lightning talk session with colleagues from Penn and other outside universities.
- Joseph Minnella, a Ph.D. candidate, demonstrated experimental gear intended for outreach and laboratory courses on quantum computing.
The “quantum connections” that gave the forum its name were made possible by these sessions, which enabled students and postdoctoral fellows a chance to interact with industry executives.
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Regional Ecosystem and Future Impact
The way the event was organized further demonstrated its collaborative nature. Steven May, a professor of materials science and engineering at Drexel University, and Maria Iavarone, a professor and chair of physics at Temple University, co-organized FoQuS 2026. Iavarone said she was happy with the event and mentioned how well the postdocs and students participated in the interactive sessions. The connections within the local quantum ecosystem have been reinforced by this collaboration between Penn, Drexel, and Temple, forming a more unified community for upcoming research initiatives.
The study presented at FoQuS 2026 has a wide range of transformational potential applications. Innovations in medicine and materials design, as well as advances in cybersecurity through secure communication and quicker computer problem-solving, could result from insights acquired from quantum physics research. The forum made sure to satisfy both the high-level theoretical needs and the practical training requirements of the next generation of quantum engineers by concentrating on both the “algorithms-to-devices gap” and the creation of instructional hardware.
As the meeting came to an end, organizers and attendees expressed a sense of persistent momentum. Penn FoQuS 2026 has set a high standard for upcoming conferences in the field of quantum systems with a record-breaking level of external involvement and a distinct emphasis on student-driven research.
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