The Department of Energy (DOE) handed out two quantum-related contracts last week totaling $82.1 million.
On August 26, the DOE announced a contract for research in Quantum Information Science (QIS) totaling $21.4 million. Of that total, $12 million will go to 21 projects that will span two to three years and involve developing quantum sensors for rare particle detection, quantum computing to analyze particle physics data, and “quantum simulation experiments connecting the cosmos to quantum systems.”
“This research will open up important new avenues of investigation in areas like artificial intelligence, while helping keep American science on the cutting edge of the growing field of QIS,” Paul Dabbar, DoE’s Under Secretary for Science, said.
On August 29, DOE announced $60.7 million in funding to “advance the development of quantum computing and networking.” Of that amount, $47 million will be for three five-year projects aimed at accelerating quantum computing progress. Additionally, $13.7 million in funding will be awarded for five four-year projects that will be geared towards developing quantum networks and improving quantum-based communications.
“We are on the threshold of a new era in [QIS] and quantum computing and networking, with potentially great promise for science and society,” Dabbar said.
