(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