WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Energy announced Thursday a $625 million investment to renew its five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, reaffirming President Trump’s push to keep America at the forefront of the global quantum technology race.
The five-year funding commitment, made under the National Quantum Initiative Act signed by Trump in 2018, aims to accelerate breakthroughs in computing, communication, and sensing — technologies that could transform everything from national defense to artificial intelligence. Officials said the renewal represents a new phase in the administration’s effort to secure American dominance in a field increasingly seen as the foundation of 21st-century innovation and security.
“President Trump positioned America to lead the world in quantum science and technology, and today, a new frontier of scientific discovery lies before us,” said Darío Gil, Under Secretary for Science at the Department of Energy. “The renewal of DOE’s National Quantum Information Science Research Centers will empower America to secure our advantage in pioneering the next generation of scientific and engineering advancements needed for this technology.”
The Department of Energy said the renewed centers — based at five of the nation’s premier national laboratories — will expand research into quantum computing, networking, and materials science while strengthening the domestic innovation ecosystem and workforce pipeline.
The five centers include:
- Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA) at Brookhaven National Laboratory, which will improve superconducting and diamond-based quantum devices and develop modular approaches to quantum computing systems.
- Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center (SQMS) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, focusing on scaling superconducting microwave technologies to enable large quantum processors and data centers.
- Q-NEXT at Argonne National Laboratory, developing new algorithms, quantum networking hardware, and entanglement-preserving technologies to connect labs and cities through quantum communication.
- Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, advancing large-scale quantum computers through error correction in neutral atom, ion, and superconducting systems to address core Department of Energy research challenges.
- Quantum Science Center (QSC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, pioneering quantum-accelerated high-performance computing and open-source software to advance scientific research across multiple disciplines.
Each center will continue advancing research with what DOE describes as “disruptive potential” across quantum computing, simulation, and sensing — while also establishing partnerships with academia and private industry to translate discoveries into real-world applications.
Total funding includes $125 million allocated for Fiscal Year 2025, with future appropriations contingent on congressional approval. Awards were selected through a competitive peer-review process under DOE’s National Laboratory Program.
Officials said the renewed investment fulfills the National Quantum Initiative Act’s mission to build a cohesive federal research ecosystem — one that merges government, academia, and private-sector expertise to propel quantum innovation and maintain America’s technological edge in an increasingly competitive global landscape.
For the latest news on everything happening in Chester County and the surrounding area, be sure to follow MyChesCo on Google News and MSN.