Last week NSF issued a request for the next round of proposals for its Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI). First established in 2020, the QLCI program, as directed by National Quantum Initiative Act (2018), is intended to support “large-scale interdisciplinary research projects motivated by major challenges at the frontiers of quantum information science and technology (QIST).”

These institutes are expected to catalyze breakthroughs on important problems underpinning QIST, for example in the focus areas of quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation and/or quantum sensing.

Here are two examples, both established in 2021.

• The Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Quantum Sensing for Biophysics and Bioengineering (QuBBE) at the University of Chicago. QuBBE is working to create quantum measurements and imaging systems that exceed classical limits to extract novel information from biology while we create and train the quantum technology.
• The NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation led by the University of Maryland, College Park. It’s charter is to develop quantum systems and develop the methods and tools for large-scale quantum simulators that will allow for quantum computation.

While proposals are restricted to institutions of higher learning, collaboration with industry is encouraged.

NSF says, “Now is an important time to extend the QLCI program, after the first five years of the National Quantum Initiative. The opportunity to strengthen existing Challenge Institutes or establish new Challenge Institutes will leverage recent breakthroughs in science and engineering and catalyze partnerships with industry, national laboratories and an increasingly diverse range of academic institutions. As platforms for quantum technology grow in sophistication and scale, Challenge Institutes will explore new horizons in QIS and pioneer new applications QIST, in partnership with potential end-users from a range of fields.”

Here’s the NSF synopsis of the program:

“Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes are large-scale interdisciplinary research projects motivated by major challenges at the frontiers of quantum information science and technology (QIST). Institutes are expected to catalyze breakthroughs on important problems underpinning QIST, for example in the focus areas of quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation and/or quantum sensing. Successful institutes will coordinate a variety of approaches to specific scientific, technological, and educational goals in these fields, including multiple institutions and building upon multiple disciplines, as motivated by the science and engineering challenges. In so doing, Institutes will nurture a culture of discovery, provide education, training, and workforce development opportunities in the context of cutting-edge research, and demonstrate value-added from synergistic coordination within the institute and with the broader community. Partnerships, infrastructure, industry engagement, outreach, international collaboration, and new applications for QIST should be fostered by Institutes in support of their research, education, and coordination goals.

“The QLCI program can support awards to continue existing Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes or to establish and operate new Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes. In either case, proposers should follow the same guidance for Challenge Institute proposal preparation described in this solicitation. While this is a crosscutting program, proposals responding to this solicitation must be submitted to the Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) in the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). They will subsequently be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors.

“The QLCI program enables NSF multidisciplinary centers for quantum research and education as called for in the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act1 and an NQI Advisory Committee report, Renewing the National Quantum Initiative: Recommendations for Sustaining American Leadership in Quantum Information Science2. In alignment with the NQI Act, Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes shall pursue research at the frontiers of quantum information science, engineering, and technology, and explore solutions to important challenges for the development, application, commercialization, and pioneering use of quantum technologies. QLCI Institutes shall also lead education, training, and workforce development activities as may be needed for sustained leadership in QIST and related topics. Coordination both within each Institute and with new partners and the broader ecosystem should also serve to galvanize the community and catalyze the research and education activities in ways that go beyond what smaller projects could accomplish in isolation.”

Letters of intent are required and due by February 7, 2025. Preliminary proposals are due by March 7, 2025.

Link to NSF notice, https://new.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/quantum-leap-challenge-institutes-qlci