  The second quantum revolution has been built on a foundation of fundamental
research at the intersection of physics and information science, giving rise to
the discipline we now call Quantum Information Science (QIS). The quest for new
knowledge and understanding drove the development of new experimental tools and
rigorous theory, which defined the roadmap for second-wave quantum
technologies, including quantum computers, quantum-enhanced sensors, and
communication systems. As technology has matured, the race to develop and
commercialize near-term applications has accelerated. In the current regime of
Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum (NISQ) devices, the continued necessity of
basic research is manifest. Under what conditions can we truly harness quantum
complexity and what are its implications for potential useful applications?
These questions remain largely unanswered, and as the QIS industry ramps up, a
continuous feedback between basic science and technology is essential. In this
Perspective I review how curiosity-driven research led to radical new
technologies and why the quest for basic understanding is essential for further
progress.
