(October 23, 2023) The National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced several new opportunities to facilitate international collaboration in Quantum Information Science (QIS), with mechanisms for joint or supplemental funding. Opportunities to apply for joint funding from NSF and partnering organizations are described in the announcements listed below (in reverse chronological order). Also highlighted here are some opportunities to apply for supplemental funding to initiate or enhance an international aspect of an ongoing QIS project funded by NSF. These examples of NSF Dear Colleague Letters encourage international collaboration in QIS in alignment with principles articulated in several bilateral quantum cooperation statements, and consistent with the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

(August 24, 2023) Eighteen new projects are part of the National Science Foundation’s strategy to realize the scientific and technological advances called for in the National Science and Technology Council report, Bringing Quantum Sensors to Fruition, and the National Quantum Initiative Act.

(June 23, 2023) The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Research Cooperation. The MOU provides a framework to encourage collaboration between U.S. and Swiss research communities and sets out the principles by which jointly supported activities might be developed. The MOU provides for an international collaboration arrangement whereby U.S. researchers may receive funding from NSF and Swiss researchers may receive funding from SNSF.

(June 8, 2023) A new report from the National Academies, with support from DOE and NSF, looks at the promise of using chemistry to push past current limits of QIS, and how QIS, in turn, can solve problems in chemistry. In particular, well-designed molecular qubits could open a new class of memory storage that would revolutionize computing, strengthen encryption, and enhance quantum sensing, among other applications. The report identifies opportunities in three areas of QIS and chemistry research; (1) design and synthesis of molecular qubit systems; (2) measurement and control of molecular quantum systems; and (3) experimental and computational approaches for scaling qubit design and function. The report details targeted research priorities in each area to advance the field in the near future.

(May 3, 2023) The National Science Foundation issued a Request for Information to gather insights for the development of an investment roadmap for its Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP). The “CHIPS and Science Act” tasks the TIP Directorate with developing a roadmap to guide investment decisions in use-inspired and translational research over a three-year time frame to advance U.S. competitiveness and develop the U.S. workforce in 10 critical technology areas and to address societal, national and geostrategic challenges. Quantum information science and technology is one of the critical technology focus areas.