Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes are large-scale interdisciplinary research projects that aim to advance the frontiers of quantum information science and engineering. 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. Two types of awards will be supported under this program: (i) 12-month Conceptualization Grants (CGs) to support teams envisioning subsequent Institute proposals and (ii) 5-year Challenge Institute (CI) awards to establish and operate Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes. This activity is part of the Quantum Leap, one of the research Big Ideas promoted by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes program is consistent with the scope of NSF multidisciplinary centers for quantum research and education as described in the National Quantum Initiative Act 1.

In 2016, the NSF unveiled a set of “Big Ideas,” ten bold, long-term research and process ideas that identify areas for future investment at the frontiers of science and engineering (see https://www.nsf.gov/news/special_reports/big_ideas/index.jsp). The Big Ideas represent unique opportunities to position our nation at the cutting edge of global science and engineering leadership by bringing together diverse disciplinary perspectives to support convergence research. Although proposals responding to this solicitation must be submitted to the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) in the Directorate of Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), they will subsequently be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors.

Quantum information science and engineering utilizes profound aspects of quantum physics such as superposition, interference and entanglement to develop revolutionary approaches for information processing. Such approaches include quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation and quantum sensing. These rapidly developing fields have been bolstered by recent discoveries and breakthroughs. However, several foundational and technological challenges must be overcome before the full potential of quantum information science and engineering can be realized. This is the motivation for the Challenge Institutes.

The goal of the Quantum Leap Challenge Institute (QLCI) program is to support timely and bold research agendas aimed at making breakthroughs on clearly identified and compelling challenges within a 5-year period. Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes are expected to: engage an intellectually-diverse community in the pursuit of identified challenges; develop cohesive, collaborative and national-scale approaches to research in quantum information science and engineering; and enable the development of a well-trained workforce with strong cross-disciplinary skill sets needed for quantum information science and engineering.

Now is an opportune time to assemble Challenge Institutes due to several recent advances in the state of the art. For example, several prototype platforms for quantum simulation, quantum computation and secure quantum communication now exist. These developments mark a new era that builds on foundational quantum computing theory and quantum cryptography breakthroughs of the 1980s, the discovery of quantum error correcting codes and many quantum algorithms in the 1990s and the development of several technology platforms for realizing qubits and quantum gates in the 2000’s. Recent advances herald new scientific and technological opportunities that were beyond reach ten years ago. These developments also make clear the need to solve several scientific and technological grand challenges. New research and development efforts are being introduced around the globe to explore the opportunities and challenges. Thus, the time is ripe for Challenge Institutes to stimulate and accelerate research, discovery and innovation in the United States.

The Quantum Leap initiative augments a wide range of NSF investments in quantum information science and engineering. These efforts, combined with activities supported by other entities, including other government agencies and industry, indicate that the community of quantum information scientists and engineers is well-positioned to collaboratively identify challenges whose solution will catalyze breakthroughs. The QLCI program is intended to strengthen such cross-disciplinary research efforts, forge new partnerships between universities, non-profit organizations, industry, and government agencies and thus accelerate foundational discoveries, innovations and technological developments. The scope of the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes is aligned with that of NSF multidisciplinary centers for quantum research and education as described in the National Quantum Initiative Act 3. The Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes are expected to foster multiple research approaches, integrating expertise from domains such as physics, materials science, engineering, mathematics, chemistry, computer science and biology. The Challenge Institutes, in collaboration with industry and other research institutions, are also expected to develop new cross-disciplinary approaches for education, training and workforce development. Combining these elements, the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes will promote a sustainable innovation ecosystem where expertise from various disciplines, research institutions, and industry can be leveraged, as needed, to overcome scientific, technological, and workforce challenges in quantum information science and engineering. The multidisciplinary scope of quantum information science and engineering, in turn, holds promise for the development of radically new and more powerful scientific and technological tools that will open new science and engineering vistas.