Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes | 19 559

Opportunity Information: Apply for 19 559

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes opportunity supports large, interdisciplinary research efforts designed to push the boundaries of quantum information science and engineering. The central idea is to build institute-scale teams that can tackle major scientific and engineering challenges in quantum technologies, with research spanning one or more of the core quantum focus areas: quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing. Beyond advancing research, the institutes are also expected to set clear technology, education, and workforce development goals, meaning proposals should not only describe cutting-edge technical work but also show how they will train people, develop curricula or professional pathways, and create an environment where multiple disciplines converge to solve complex quantum problems.

The program supports two distinct award types that reflect different stages of institute development. First, it offers 12-month Conceptualization Grants intended for teams that are still forming their vision and partnership structure and need time and resources to plan a competitive, full institute proposal. These planning awards help groups refine their scientific agenda, define collaborative roles, develop governance and management approaches, and align research with education and workforce objectives. Second, it offers 5-year Challenge Institute awards to actually establish and operate a Quantum Leap Challenge Institute. These larger awards are meant to fund a sustained, coordinated program of research and broader impacts at a scale that individual investigator awards typically cannot support.

This opportunity is positioned within NSF's broader "Quantum Leap" initiative, one of the agency's ten long-term "Big Ideas" introduced in 2016 to guide future investments at the frontiers of science and engineering. The Big Ideas framework emphasizes convergence research, where progress depends on integrating perspectives, methods, and expertise across traditional disciplinary boundaries. In practice, that means these institutes are expected to bring together researchers from fields such as physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, materials science, and related areas, along with education and workforce components, to accelerate advances in quantum-enabled technologies and the foundational science that underpins them.

The solicitation is also aligned with the National Quantum Initiative Act, which provides a national-level framework for expanding U.S. leadership in quantum research and education and encourages multidisciplinary centers that combine research, training, and collaboration. While proposals must be submitted to the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) within NSF's Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), the program is explicitly cross-disciplinary in how it is overseen: awards are managed by a team of NSF Program Directors spanning multiple disciplines, reflecting the expectation that institute projects will cut across standard program boundaries.

From the funding details provided, this is a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, with multiple CFDA listings indicating relevance across several NSF program areas. The award ceiling is listed at $25,000,000, signaling the institute-scale nature of the Challenge Institute awards. The opportunity anticipated up to 28 awards overall across the program. The opportunity was created February 18, 2019, with an original closing date of June 3, 2019, under funding opportunity number 19-559. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with clarification referenced in an additional eligibility section, which typically indicates that applicants should carefully review the full solicitation to confirm which organization types and partnership structures are allowed.

Overall, the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes program is designed to fund ambitious, coordinated quantum research and education hubs that can set a national pace in quantum information science and engineering, combining high-impact technical research with a concrete plan for building the next generation of the quantum workforce.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083.
• This funding opportunity was created on Feb 18, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 03, 2019. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $25,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 28 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).

Apply for 19 559

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