NSF gearing up to fund new quantum research institutes

The National Science Foundation (NSF) has announced awards for Conceptualization Grants (CG) for Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes, which are large-scale interdisciplinary research projects that aim to advance the frontiers of quantum information science and engineering. The CG awards, up to $150,000 each, are to support teams as they work toward the overall challenge research theme and focus areas for a future Challenge Institute proposal. The next phase will fund 5-year Challenge Institute awards to establish and operate Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes. Research at these institutes will span the focus areas of quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation and/or quantum sensing.  The institutes are expected to foster multidisciplinary approaches to specific scientific, technological, educational workforce development goals in these fields. More information on the winners of the Conceptualization Grants and future rounds of funding are available here.