Dr Celia Merzbacher is a leading architect and advocate for the quantum industry, spanning policy, workforce development, and international collaboration.

As Executive Director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C), part of the U.S. National Quantum Initiative, she has built a trusted, industry-driven community that accelerates the application of quantum technologies for economic, social, and national security benefits.

Merzbacher has served on the U.S. delegation to the NATO Transatlantic Quantum Community, led studies assessing how to address quantum workforce shortages, and identified high-impact use cases in sectors such as energy, biomedicine, and transportation. She has testified before the U.S. House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology and participated in discussions at NATO, the G7, and bilateral international meetings, consistently representing the industry’s perspective and fostering cross-border collaboration.

Through her leadership, Merzbacher has strengthened the global quantum ecosystem, promoted commercialization, and ensured that emerging quantum technologies translate from research into practical impact, earning wide recognition as a beacon in the field.