Innovation Lightbulb: U.S. Federal Investments in Quantum Technology Research and Infrastructure

Of the 52 federal investments to date, 36 began in 2020 with funding from the National Quantum Initiative Act and the CHIPS and Science Act. They are geographically distributed across 19 states, highlighting major regional quantum research hubs. Currently, Illinois and Maryland lead with seven institutes each, followed by New York with six, California with five, and Colorado and New Mexico with four and three, respectively. As highlighted in the figure, these investments are led by multiple federal agencies, each leveraging its existing infrastructure and expertise.

Federal Agencies and Their Roles in QIST

Federal agencies play central roles in supporting progress in QIST research and infrastructure, including by coordinating funding and resources, promoting public-private-academic collaboration, and advancing human resource development and innovation.

Department of Energy (DOE): DOE combines cross-disciplinary scientific expertise in fields such as particle physics, materials science, and laser physics with knowledge of how to operate premier, large-scale research facilities.

• National Quantum Information Science Research Centers (NQISRCs):  DOE has committed $575 million in quantum over 5 years through five NQISRCs and has announced an additional $625 million in funding for these centers this year. Each center integrates DOE's national labs and talent pools with private sector partners to advance R&D in quantum technologies. This investment represents the largest single federal investment in QIST.
• DOE laboratories: Three additional DOE laboratories support quantum R&D outside of the five NQISRCs. For example, SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory's advanced cryogenic infrastructure and Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory's expertise in fusion energy research support the Quantum Diamond Institute. Those labs provide specialized quantum technical platforms and environmental control technology.

National Science Foundation (NSF): The NSF supports basic interdisciplinary research in QIST by leveraging a collaborative network with universities. NSF also promotes human resource development by funding diverse research and education programs.

• Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes:  The NSF funded five “Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes” with an investment of $125 million over five years, that aim to drive academic-led, interdisciplinary research on fundamental QIST challenges while also prioritizing education, workforce development, and the creation of a collaborative innovation ecosystem.
• National Quantum Virtual Laboratories: The NSF funded 11 laboratories, each supported by $1 million in funding for 12 months, expanding access to specialized research infrastructure for a wide range of researchers in the U.S. This serves as a national resource that eliminates geographical constraints to participation.
• NSF Engines Development Awards: NSF provides five $1 million grants each year to support research partnerships in regions in quantum and its enabling technologies, that have missed out on recent technological growth. 

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST): NIST-led quantum research, often carried out in collaboration with universities, has played a critical role in advancing QIST. NIST’s decades-long expertise in quantum has grown from its foundational work in precision time and electrical metrology. For example, the Joint Institute for Laboratory Astrophysics (JILA), a research institute run jointly by NIST and the University of Colorado, has emerged as an institution with an extraordinary track record of breakthrough innovations, and whose alumni are engaged prominently across the whole spectrum of public, private and academic quantum activity in Colorado. 

Department of Defense (DOD): DOD specializes in research and development of QIST for military operations. DOD’s deep technical expertise in QIST has resulted in the development of real-world applications, including navigation and tactical sensing in environments where GPS is unavailable and probabilistic simulation of outcomes for risk assessment. Military quantum research facilities form a specialized ecosystem that converts quantum science into mission-specific applications and integrates QIST with existing military systems.

• Quantum Information Science Research Centers: The DOD operates four research centers, which are led by the Army Research Laboratory (ARL), Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), and the NSA. These centers engage with public and private sector organizations, including academic organizations, to enhance and accelerate the research, development, and deployment of quantum-enabled technologies and systems.
• Microelectronics Commons Hubs and American Institute for Manufacturing Integrated Photonics: While these organizations do not solely research quantum technologies, they serve as manufacturing and prototyping partners for the DOD. As part of the DOD’s wider ecosystem, they help to bridge the gap between fundamental quantum research and practical military applications.

Amidst global competition to secure advantages in the field of QIST, the U.S. quantum ecosystem faces urgent needs, including expanding early commercialization of quantum technologies, addressing talent shortages, and modernizing R&D infrastructure. Given the nascency of the U.S. quantum industry and the importance of U.S. leadership in quantum for competitive market and national security advantage, this integrated federal leadership is critical to building up the quantum ecosystem. 

Data visualization by Sabina Hung