The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced $625 million in funding to renew its five National Quantum Information Science (QIS) Research Centers. These centers were initially established under the National Quantum Initiative Act, which was signed into law by President Donald Trump in December 2018.
This renewed investment aims to further the United States’ leadership in quantum science and technology. The DOE is focusing on aligning its quantum research efforts with national priorities, including advancing critical research and development across the American QIS sector, strengthening the innovation ecosystem, accelerating technological discoveries, and maintaining U.S. leadership in quantum computing and related applications.
U.S. Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil stated, “President Trump positioned America to lead the world in quantum science and technology and today, a new frontier of scientific discovery lies before us. Breakthroughs in QIS have the potential to revolutionize the ways we sense, communicate, and compute, sparking entirely new technologies and industries. The renewal of DOE’s National Quantum Information Science Research Centers will empower America to secure our advantage in pioneering the next generation of scientific and engineering advancements needed for this technology.”
Each National Quantum Information Science Research Center (NQISRC) supports fundamental science with significant potential across areas such as quantum computing, simulation, networking, and sensing. They also develop specialized tools and equipment that expand QIS capabilities; advance quantum technology for scientific and national security challenges; and build community resources through workforce opportunities and industry partnerships.
The renewed centers include:
– Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA) at Brookhaven National Laboratory: This center will focus on improving materials used in superconducting and diamond-based quantum devices while developing modular approaches for various systems.
– Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory: SQMS plans to scale up devices based on superconducting microwave cavities by creating new refrigeration methods and technologies that connect multiple processors.
– Q-NEXT at Argonne National Laboratory: This center will work on algorithms and chip components designed to scale operations both within chips and between different locations while preserving entanglement.
– Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: QSA aims to enable large-scale quantum computers through improved error correction using several types of circuits.
– Quantum Science Center (QSC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory: The QSC intends to pioneer high-performance computing powered by quantum acceleration through open-source software for combined classical-quantum workflows.
Awards were selected through a competitive peer review process under the DOE’s program announcement for these research centers.
Funding totals $625 million over up to five years. Of this amount, $125 million is allocated from Fiscal Year 2025 funds; future funding depends on congressional appropriations. Additional information about these awards can be found on the QIS initiative homepage as well as NQISRC.org.
The DOE noted that selection for award negotiations does not guarantee an award or funding; negotiations may be canceled or rescinded during the process.
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