(September 5, 2024) Ten Energy Frontier Research Centers (EFRCs) have been funded in nine states by the U.S. Department of Energy. ERFCs are designed to bring together world-class teams of scientists for groundbreaking fundamental research, including research in quantum information science (QIS). Three of the announced EFRC projects are focused on strengthening our understanding of QIS toward the goal of improving future energy technologies. Projects include quantum photonic integrated design, molecular quantum transduction, and quantum sensing and quantum materials.

(August 30, 2024) This week, NSF released an updated solicitation for the next phase of the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes program. Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI) are large-scale interdisciplinary research projects motivated by major challenges at the frontiers of quantum information science and technology. The establishment of new QLCI or the renewal of existing QLCI may be proposed in response to Solicitation NSF 24-599. Proposals in both cases will be considered in a single merit review process. The QLCI program directors will hold an informational webinar about the QLCI program solicitation NSF 24-599 on Tuesday, December 3rd, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. NSF program directors will describe the program and answer questions.

(August 29, 2024) DARPA is hosting a Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) proposers day on Sept. 3, 2024, for quantum computing companies that believe they are on track to develop an industrial-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in the near term. The goal of the hybrid in-person and virtual proposers day is to introduce the quantum computing research and development community to DARPA and the QBI vision and goals, explain the mechanics and milestones of the QBI solicitation, and solicit and reply to questions from attendees. DARPA will also offer individual, brief sidebar discussions (in person or virtually) with the QBI Program Manager. The proposers day and sidebar discussions are open to U.S. and international quantum computing companies and organizations.

(August 13, 2024) The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has finalized its principal set of encryption algorithms designed to withstand cyberattacks from a quantum computer. Researchers around the world are racing to build quantum computers that would operate in radically different ways from ordinary computers and could break the current encryption that provides security and privacy for just about everything we do online. To defend against this vulnerability, the recently announced algorithms are specified in the first completed standards from NIST’s post-quantum cryptography (PQC) standardization project and are ready for immediate use. These post-quantum encryption standards secure a wide range of electronic information, from confidential email messages to e-commerce transactions that propel the modern economy. NIST is encouraging computer system administrators to begin transitioning to the new standards as soon as possible.

(July 10, 2024) In October 2023, the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) designated 31 Tech Hubs in regions across the country, including two focused on quantum information science. Now, EDA has announced projects for funding at 12 of the Tech Hubs, including one of the quantum Tech Hubs at an estimated $41 million for:

(July 1, 2024) The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) announced a nearly $20 million award that will support the construction of a nanoscale fabrication facility to accelerate the co-design and development of atomic-photonic quantum devices, positioning the U.S. as a global leader in quantum science and engineering.

(May 06, 2024) The Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) Qubit Collaboratory (LQC) is hosting its 4th annual Quantum Computing Summer Short Course from July 8th to July 19th. This virtual 2 week short course provides an introduction to quantum computing to 1st-2nd year graduate students and advanced undergraduates in physics and related fields. The course will have subject matter experts teaching key topics from algorithms to hardware. The applications are now being accepted through May 17th. Click here to learn more and apply.

Highlighting the LPS Qubit Collaboratory

Highlighting the National Q-12 Education Partnership