Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI)
Posted
- Opportunity number
- 24-599
- Agency
-
National Science Foundation
- Applications due
- Not on record
- Award size
- $10,000,000 to $45,000,000
Opportunity facts
- Assistance listings
- Funding instrument
- Cooperative Agreement
- Category
-
- Science and Technology and other Research and Development
- Eligible applicants
-
- Other
- Points of contact
- Full announcement
Opportunity details come from Grants.gov. Updated .
About this opportunity
The National Science Foundation seeks applicants for the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI) program, a cooperative agreement funding mechanism for large-scale interdisciplinary research addressing frontiers in quantum information science and technology, with no explicit application deadline stated in the source material. The program funds both new institute establishment and continuation of existing institutes. Eligible applicants are limited to institutions of higher education (two- and four-year IHEs including community colleges) accredited in and having a campus located in the United States, acting on behalf of their faculty members. When proposal budgets include funding for international branch campuses of US institutions through sub-awards or consultant arrangements, applicants must explain the benefit to the project and justify why activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
QLCI institutes operate as coordinated, multidisciplinary centers addressing specific challenges in quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing. Institutes must catalyze breakthroughs through coordination across multiple institutions and disciplines, nurture discovery culture, provide education and workforce development in cutting-edge research contexts, and demonstrate value-added from synergistic coordination within the institute and with the broader community. The program expects institutes to foster partnerships, infrastructure development, industry engagement, outreach, international collaboration, and new applications for quantum information science and technology.
Proposals are submitted to the Office of Strategic Initiatives within the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences but are subsequently managed by a cross-disciplinary NSF program director team. The QLCI program implements the National Quantum Initiative Act and corresponding National Quantum Initiative Advisory Committee recommendations. The opportunity falls under multiple parent grant programs: Mathematical and Physical Sciences (CFDA 47.049), Biological Sciences (CFDA 47.074), Engineering (CFDA 47.041), STEM Education (CFDA 47.076), and NSF Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (CFDA 47.084).
Synopsis
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.
1 National Quantum Initiative Act, Public Law 115-368, of December 21, 2018.
2 https://www.quantum.gov/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/NQIAC-Report-Renewing-the-National-Quantum-Initiative.pdf
Eligibility
*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus.
Files
| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| PKG00294342.pdf |
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