PNW CIVS and Computer Science Leaders Participate in National Competitiveness Talks on AI and Quantum Technologies
Professor Chenn Zhou, CIVS Director and Disfigured Professor of Engineering Simulation, and Professor Grace Yang, Department Head of Computer Science, participated in the “Competitiveness Conversations Across America: Maryland — Unlocking American Innovation in the AI and Quantum Era,” hosted by Council on Competitiveness, University of Maryland College Park, and Morgan State University. The event was co-hosted by Dr. Darryll Pines, President of the University of Maryland, College Park, Dr. David Wilson, President of Morgan State University, and the Hon. Deborah L. Wince-Smith, President and CEO of the Council on Competitiveness. Professors Zhou and Yang also had the honor of speaking with Dr. William Phillips, a Distinguished University Professor in the University of Maryland and the 1997 Nobel Prize winner in Physics for developing methods to cool and trap atoms with laser light which is foundational for quantum computing.
The conference was exciting, inspiring, and highly beneficial for all attendees. This important national conversation brought together leaders from academia, industry, and government to explore how the United States can strengthen its competitiveness in the rapidly evolving AI and quantum landscape. The discussions emphasized a clear message: innovation today requires coordinated efforts across policy, infrastructure, workforce development, and cross-sector collaboration.
At Purdue University Northwest (PNW), we are actively aligning our strategies, policies, and infrastructure to support the transformative opportunities created by emerging technologies such as AI and quantum. Our Department of Computer Science brings together a strong community of faculty and students with expertise in AI, quantum computing, and related fields. In parallel, CIVS serves as a critical platform to bridge research and real-world impact, supporting the pipeline from discovery to deployment. Together, CIVS, Computer Science, and other departments are building deeper collaborations to accelerate the translation of research breakthroughs into practical solutions that benefit industry and society, contributing to our regional innovation ecosystem.
As these technologies continue to reshape the future, PNW remains committed to fostering discovery, enabling innovation, and preparing the next generation of talent to lead in the AI and quantum era and enhance competitiveness.