US President Donald Trump on 9 October 2026 announced a target to deliver a quantum computer for scientific discovery by 2028, unveiling a sweeping technology agenda at the New Golden Age Summit in Washington that also encompasses superintelligence, next-generation nuclear energy, and renewed American missions to the Moon and Mars.

The announcement positions quantum computing alongside artificial intelligence and advanced energy as the three pillars of the administration's scientific programme — a signal of how broadly the White House is defining technological competition with rival powers.

Quantum Computing and the 2028 Target

'I signed an order to support the advancement of quantum computing and set the goal of delivering a quantum computer for scientific discovery by 2028,' Trump said at the summit. Quantum computing harnesses principles of quantum mechanics to process information in ways conventional computers cannot, with potential applications spanning materials science, chemistry, and medicine. Researchers caution, however, that significant technical hurdles remain before large-scale practical systems become widely available.

Nuclear Energy and Regulatory Overhaul

Trump said his administration was actively removing regulatory obstacles to deploying next-generation nuclear energy systems. 'Our country started up four cutting-edge small modular reactors just this year alone,' he said. Small modular reactors (SMRs) are compact nuclear units seen as a faster-to-deploy alternative to conventional large-scale plants, and their acceleration signals a deliberate energy diversification push alongside the AI-driven power demand surge.

Superintelligence and the Genesis Mission

The US President also highlighted the Genesis mission, an administration initiative designed to deploy advanced artificial intelligence to tackle complex scientific problems. 'We've also created the Genesis mission to solve some of the biggest mysteries in science and technology with superintelligence,' Trump said. He added that the White House had brokered a new accord on superintelligence the previous week: 'Last week, we brokered the White House Accord on Super Intelligence, keeping America at the forefront of Super Intelligence.'

Moon, Mars and the Artemis Programme

Trump reaffirmed plans to establish a permanent American presence on the Moon under NASA's Artemis programme. 'American astronauts will soon return to establish a permanent American presence on the Moon,' he said. Mars was described as the next major destination, with Trump directly addressing NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman — 'We're gonna be going to Mars pretty soon, Jared?' — to underline the administration's ambitions. The Artemis programme is also designed to build the technologies and operational experience required for eventual human missions to Mars.

Broader Context and What Officials Said

Michael Kratsios, Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, invoked the Manhattan Project, the development of integrated circuits, the Apollo Moon landing, and the early internet as benchmarks the administration aspires to match. 'Today, our dream is a new golden age of scientific progress and technological innovation,' Kratsios said. The summit also recognised six prominent technology leaders with the National Medal of Science and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation. The breadth of the agenda — from subatomic computing to interplanetary exploration — reflects a deliberate effort to frame American scientific ambition as a geopolitical asset, not merely a domestic policy priority.