Federal Project Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF), Division of Mathematical Sciences, awarded The Ohio State University a Project Grant totaling $232,033 on August 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049). The three-year research project, scheduled for completion by July 31, 2029, will develop a mathematical framework based on Fourier analysis to characterize quantum advantage in computation and information processing. The primary deliverables include the design of rigorous mathematical tests and analytical results that distinguish quantum operations that classical computers cannot efficiently reproduce, thereby providing a principled methodology for identifying and quantifying quantum computational speedups and the resources underlying them.

The project addresses a critical scientific challenge in quantum information science by establishing clear mathematical boundaries between classically simulable quantum processes and those that generate genuine quantum computational power. Beyond the core research deliverables, the project will support workforce development through graduate student and early-career researcher training at the intersection of mathematics, computer science, and physics. The research outcomes are intended to strengthen U.S. leadership in quantum information science and provide reliable evaluation and certification methods for emerging quantum technologies with applications in communication, materials science, optimization, and physical system simulation.