Below is a summary assembled by the Research & Innovation Office (RIO). Please see the full solicitation for complete information about the funding opportunity. Q-SEnSE, an existing quantum institute for CU Boulder, occupies one of the campus slots. RIO is issuing this campus call for the second submission slot. This is in accordance with the policy allowing a university to lead up to two Challenge Institutes.

Program Summary

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) Act and an NQI Advisory Committee report, Renewing the National Quantum Initiative: Recommendations for Sustaining American Leadership in Quantum Information Science.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.

Deadlines

CU Internal Deadline: 11:59pm MT November 11, 2024

Sponsor Letter of Intent Deadline: 5:00pm MT February 7, 2025

Sponsor Preliminary Proposal Deadline: 5:00pm MT March 7, 2025

Sponsor Full Proposal Deadline (by invitation only): 5:00pm MT September 17, 2025

Internal Application Requirements (all in PDF format)

  • Letter of Intent (2 pages maximum): Please include the team names, departmental and organizational affiliation of all team members, including the Principal Investigator, co-Principal Investigators, and other Senior/Key Personnel. Please describe the expertise of the Principal Investigator and at least two co-Principal Investigators. Provide a brief description of the challenge research theme and the specific goals of the proposal. Reference the review criteria section for additional details to include.
  • Lead PI Curriculum Vitae
  • Budget Overview (1 page maximum): A basic budget outlining project costs is sufficient; detailed OCG budgets are not required.

To access the online application, visit:

Limited Submission Guidelines

Lead organizations are limited to submit no more than two (2) Challenge Institute Preliminary Proposals. Lead organizations are limited to submit no more than two (2) invited Challenge Institute Full Proposals.

Q-SEnSE, an existing quantum institute for CU Boulder, occupies one of the campus slots. RIO is issuing this campus call for the second submission slot. This is in accordance with the policy allowing a university to lead up to two Challenge Institutes.

Award Information and Duration

The QLCI program will support several Challenge Institute awards, which can be funded at different levels as motivated by the science and engineering challenges and proposed approaches. It is anticipated that individual Challenge Institutes can be funded at a level between $2,000,000/year and $7,500,000/year, for up to 6 years.

Review Criteria

Reviewers will be asked to assess each of these points.

  • Vision: To what extent does the proposal present a compelling long-term vision to address a major challenge at the frontiers of QIST, and explain why an Institute is needed to address the challenge?
  • Research: To what extent are the major research activities critical for addressing the challenge theme, supported by specific research goals that can advance the state-of-the-art of quantum information science and engineering in one or more frontiers within a 6-year period, and associated with corresponding evaluation mechanisms that are well-defined and actionable for measuring progress?
  • Education and Workforce Development: To what extent are the proposed activities in education and workforce development meaningful, compelling, well-integrated with the Challenge Institute theme, and associated with corresponding evaluation mechanisms that are well-defined and actionable for measuring progress?
  • Coordination: To what extent does the proposal present a convincing and meaningful plan to coordinate activities, both within the institute and the larger QIST community, to demonstrate value-added from an institute?
  • Team: To what extent does the team make a compelling case for its readiness to operate a Challenge Institute, with cross-disciplinary expertise needed to lead all the proposed activities?
  • Strategic Plan: To what extent does the plan provide a convincing road map for the operation of the Challenge Institute in pursuit of its vision? To what extent does the plan describe roles and responsibilities for Senior/Key personnel, strategies for course correction, and options for sustainability beyond the QLCI funding?