The US Department of Energy’s Office of Science has announced a $625 million funding opportunity to establish five additional National Quantum Information Science (QIS) research centers.
The first five centers were established in 2020 and are located at Brookhaven National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory.
According to the DOE Office of Science, each center tackles “major challenges in QIS” using “complementary and co-design approaches” to advance quantum technologies. Current research projects include qubit optimization, quantum system material, and quantum algorithms and simulations.
In a document detailing the funding opportunity, the DOE expressed an interest in receiving proposals from multi-institutional, multidisciplinary teams to establish National Quantum Information Science Research Centers.
The funding set to be awarded by the department is intended to support research into quantum computing and simulation, quantum communications, quantum sensing, quantum materials and chemistry, and quantum foundries.
“The goal of this announcement is to select proposals that will accelerate the transformational advances in basic science and quantum-based novel-technology platforms needed to develop world-leading capabilities in Quantum Information Science, and in support of the National Quantum Initiative Act,” the document reads.
Proposals must be led by DOE national laboratories, with other entities eligible to participate as sub-awardees. The department intends to award five individual awards of $125 million over a five-year period.
The closing date for required pre-proposals is March 12, 2025, and full proposals by June 4, 2025.