Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The Regents of the University of Minnesota received a $550,000 CAREER award from the National Science Foundation's Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), effective June 1, 2026 through May 31, 2031. The project will develop superconducting magnetic random-access memory (SC-MRAM) technology designed to dramatically reduce energy consumption in artificial intelligence and data center operations. The primary deliverables include demonstration of a novel cryogenic memory device that leverages superconducting currents for zero-resistance read and write operations, integrated research across materials development, physical mechanism investigation, and device engineering, and establishment of a scalable pathway toward high-performance cryogenic memory systems that could enable a paradigm shift toward energy-efficient data centers.

In addition to the core technical research, the award supports an educational component titled Personalized Education with Artificial Intelligence for Quantum Engineering (PEAQ) designed to modernize cross-disciplinary workforce training at the intersection of electrical engineering and quantum technologies. Deliverables under this educational initiative include AI-assisted personalized curriculum design, development of intelligent interactive textbooks, and community outreach programs to increase quantum literacy among the general public. The project specifically addresses the exponentially growing electricity demands of AI and machine learning applications, which are projected to consume up to 12% of total U.S. electricity by 2028.