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.Apply for 19 559
- 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).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes opportunity?
It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity that supports large, interdisciplinary, institute-scale research efforts in quantum information science and engineering. The goal is to build coordinated teams that can take on major scientific and engineering challenges in quantum technologies at a scale larger than typical individual-investigator awards.
2. What kinds of activities does this program fund?
The program funds two main categories of activity:
- Institute-scale research spanning one or more quantum focus areas (quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing).
- Technology, education, and workforce development activities, such as training plans, curriculum or professional pathway development, and building an environment where multiple disciplines work together on complex quantum problems.
3. What are the core quantum focus areas supported by the institutes?
Research may span one or more of the following core areas:
- Quantum computation
- Quantum communication
- Quantum simulation
- Quantum sensing
4. Does a proposal need to include more than just research?
Yes. The opportunity explicitly expects proposals to go beyond cutting-edge technical research by setting clear technology, education, and workforce development goals. Proposals are expected to describe how the institute will train people, support curriculum or professional pathways, and foster a convergent, interdisciplinary environment.
5. What award types are offered under this opportunity?
The opportunity supports two distinct award types:
- 12-month Conceptualization Grants (planning awards)
- 5-year Challenge Institute awards (to establish and operate an institute)
6. What is a Conceptualization Grant and what is it used for?
A Conceptualization Grant is a 12-month planning award intended for teams that are still forming their institute vision and partnership structure. These grants support activities like refining the scientific agenda, defining collaborative roles, developing governance and management approaches, and aligning research plans with education and workforce objectives.
7. What is a Challenge Institute award?
A Challenge Institute award is a larger, 5-year award to establish and operate a Quantum Leap Challenge Institute. It supports a sustained, coordinated program of research and broader impacts (including education and workforce development) at an institute scale.
8. How long are the awards?
Based on the information provided, Conceptualization Grants are 12 months, and Challenge Institute awards are 5 years.
9. How large can the funding be?
The listed award ceiling is $25,000,000, which signals the institute-scale nature of the Challenge Institute awards.
10. How many awards were anticipated?
The opportunity anticipated up to 28 awards overall across the program.
11. What is the role of interdisciplinary or convergence research in this program?
Interdisciplinary convergence is central. The institutes are expected to integrate perspectives, methods, and expertise across traditional disciplinary boundaries. This aligns with NSF's emphasis on convergence research under its "Big Ideas" framework.
12. What disciplines are expected to be involved in these institutes?
The program anticipates cross-disciplinary teams that can include fields such as physics, mathematics, computer science, engineering, materials science, and related areas, alongside education and workforce components.
13. How does this opportunity relate to NSF's "Quantum Leap" initiative?
This program is positioned within NSF's broader "Quantum Leap" initiative, one of NSF's ten long-term "Big Ideas" introduced in 2016. The "Quantum Leap" initiative focuses on advancing quantum research and engineering at the frontiers of science and technology, with strong emphasis on convergence.
14. How does this opportunity connect to the National Quantum Initiative Act?
The solicitation is aligned with the National Quantum Initiative Act, which provides a national framework for expanding U.S. leadership in quantum research and education and encourages multidisciplinary centers that combine research, training, and collaboration.
15. Where within NSF are proposals submitted?
Proposals must be submitted to the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA) within NSF's Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS).
16. Is the program still cross-disciplinary even though it is submitted to OMA/MPS?
Yes. While proposals are submitted to OMA within MPS, the program is explicitly cross-disciplinary in oversight and is managed by a team of NSF Program Directors spanning multiple disciplines. This reflects the expectation that institute projects will cut across standard program boundaries.
17. What is the funding opportunity number for this solicitation?
The funding opportunity number provided is 19-559.
18. When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?
The opportunity was created on February 18, 2019, and the original closing date was June 3, 2019.
19. What is the funding category or type described for this opportunity?
It is described as a discretionary NSF grant program within the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
20. What do the multiple CFDA listings indicate?
Multiple CFDA listings are noted as indicating relevance across several NSF program areas, consistent with the cross-disciplinary nature of the opportunity.
21. Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with a note that clarification is referenced in an additional eligibility section. This typically means applicants should review the full solicitation to confirm which organization types and partnership structures are permitted.
22. Why does the eligibility field say "Others"?
Based on the information provided, "Others" appears to be a broad placeholder with further details referenced elsewhere (an additional eligibility section). This suggests eligibility may depend on specific organizational types, partnerships, or structures that are defined in the full solicitation.
23. What is the overall aim of the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes program?
The overall aim is to fund ambitious, coordinated quantum research and education hubs that can push the boundaries of quantum information science and engineering and help set a national pace in quantum-enabled technologies, while also building the next generation quantum workforce.
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