Gallego touts Phoenix as quantum computing hub in State of the City speech
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Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego delivers her State of the City address. Photo: Jeremy Duda/Axios
Phoenix's semiconductor and bioscience industries are thriving, and Mayor Kate Gallego is looking at quantum computing as the city's next technological frontier.
The big picture: In her annual State of the City address on Tuesday, Gallego touted recent achievements like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. expansion, the city's investment in the new ASU Health building downtown, and light rail's extension through south Phoenix with plans to reach into Maryvale.
- She also announced several new initiatives, including:
💻 Phoenix Quantum Strategy: Gallego promoted quantum computing, communications and sensing as the next big thing in the city's technological boom, with a new initiative to attract investment in the field.
- Quantum computing is an emerging field that uses quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the abilities of traditional computers.
- The new Phoenix Quantum Strategy initiative, led by former National Science Foundation director Sethuraman Panchanathan, aims to position Phoenix as a "quantum hub" in the U.S.
🔬 Bioscience investment: Bioscience has been one of the core drivers of Phoenix's recent economic growth, and Gallego announced that Spanish cancer research company ROIS has made a $100 million commitment to Phoenix, its newest manufacturing site.
- The company makes specialized injectables to treat rare diseases, obesity and cancer, the mayor said.
- One of its cancer treatments allows chemotherapy patients to keep their hair, said Gallego, who recalled her mother's battle with cancer.
🏘️ Housing: Last year, the city created its Phoenix Housing Trust Fund, and in her speech Gallego announced that the city will begin using it to help cover costs of permits for affordable housing projects.
- "We know that sometimes permit fees can make the difference in whether a project pencils out," she said.
🍽️ Nutrition assistance: In the wake of the revelation that Arizona's massive drop in federal nutrition assistance recipients includes around 181,000 children, Gallego said she and Councilmember Anna Hernandez are partnering to put money in the city budget for navigators who will help people apply for assistance and navigate work requirements.