Montana State's quantum research facility awarded $31.5 million for sponsored research, test bed expansion

BOZEMAN - QCORE, Montana State University's Quantum Collaborative Research and Education facility, has been awarded a $31.5 million contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory in Rome, New York, for novel research in quantum applications and the development of novel quantum materials, sensors, devices and network systems.

The contract will support research across the university, according to facility CEO Jayne Morrow, who said more than 50 MSU faculty and staff are affiliated with QCORE. Morrow said those individuals mentor students from across disciplines, including mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, physics, chemistry, business, philosophy and art. Krishna Rupavatharam, QCORE's chief technology officer and director of MSU's Spectrum Lab, said the work performed under the contract will provide those students with direct, hands-on research and laboratory experience that ultimately will help them pursue careers in industry and government.

"It opens doors for them to establish career paths with diverse emerging and established industry sectors, including the photonics, vacuum technology, cryogenics and materials industries located in Montana," Rupavatharam said.

QCORE was formed with an initial $26.7 million grant from AFRL to acquire specialized equipment for testing prototype quantum components. The facility now has test beds for quantum computing, sensing and quantum networks; equipment for materials synthesis and characterization; and cryogenic facilities for testing quantum components at the extremely low temperatures in which they operate. Morrow said some of the funding in the new contract will be used to expand networking test beds.

Establishing industry and government partnerships to advance strategic research priorities is a key element of QCORE's mission to lead innovative quantum advancements and create pathways for transferring those advances into hardware solutions.

"The quantum infrastructure being developed under this contract will provide researchers at all levels and locations access to cutting-edge resources, thereby transforming the research landscape in the region," Rupavatharam said.

Morrow said developing a strong sponsored research program is essential for the long-term sustainability of programs like QCORE. Alison Harmon, MSU's vice president for research and economic development, added that the sponsored research model is an exciting new vehicle to support MSU researchers.

"The QCORE has become a hive of research activity for high school-aged to advanced researchers," Harmon said. "It is impressive to see the engagement across other MSU research centers and multiple academic departments, including the School of Art."

Harmon added that QCORE is currently in the process of becoming a Montana Board of Regents approved center, which means it will have an established organizational structure and enduring leadership.

"Developing a center helps advance and accelerate quantum research at MSU and is a signal to funders that we possess the faculty and researcher talent, have invested in the needed infrastructure, and have certainty that we can execute projects successfully for the benefit of Montana and beyond," she said.

With AFRL funding, Harmon said, MSU has established nationally unique capabilities that will dramatically shorten the time to commercialization for innovations in quantum networking and communication.

"I see this as a key outcome of our land-grant mission - supporting Montana entrepreneurs and industry and building a pipeline of future quantum talent and leadership," she said.