NSF Engines Development Award: Advancing quantum and supporting technologies in the Northern Intermountain States (MT, WY, ID)

该区域创新引擎发展奖的重点是量子信息科学与工程（QISE），这是一个对国家安全和未来经济至关重要的领域。在经典计算中，信息以比特的形式编码和处理，比特可以以两种状态之一存在，通常被描述为0或1，并且每个比特独立地起作用。量子比特（量子位）的行为从根本上不同，可以处于叠加状态，代表量子位的所有可能配置的组合。这可以潜在地解决超出我们当前计算能力的复杂问题。此外，量子系统可以被纠缠，这将两个独立的项目的行为联系起来。这可以提高量子计算能力，并为量子通信提供牢不可破的加密。QISE有潜力彻底改变所有信息科学领域，在这一领域的领导地位代表着巨大的经济机会。该开发奖的服务区域包括蒙大拿州、爱达荷州和怀俄明州，其中包括美国国家科学基金会（nsf）资助的两家量子铸铸厂之一，多个现有的量子研究小组，以及作为量子供应链一部分的多家公司，这些公司不仅生产量子材料，还生产稳定、编码和解码所需的其他光子、电子、低温和经典计算组件。传输或接口与量子计算机和信息系统。由大学领导的应用启发研究将包括由博伊西州立大学的量子DNA小组研究量子器件，怀俄明大学设计和制造拓扑约瑟夫森结量子比特的新方法，蒙大拿州立大学的二维量子材料和量子网络。这项工作的大部分将与蒙大拿仪器公司、Teledyne FLIR、Cylynt、Quantel、AdvR、Wavelength Electronics、Micron和Qubitekk合作。合作研究，加上私营部门对绩效要求的投入和成果的既得利益，将提高研究成果转化的可能性。设想中的Engine团队将包括大学、社区学院和部落学院级别的教育机构、孵化器和加速器实体、商业联盟、经济发展组织、非营利组织以及州和地方政府经济发展相关办公室。该团队的成员联盟在加速新兴技术和行业的进步，将创新转化为商业化，支持和创建初创企业和小企业，劳动力发展以及促进地方和区域经济发展方面取得了成功。该开发奖将使该团队能够加强和协调这些新兴的伙伴关系，因为他们正在朝着NSF量子引擎和支持技术的方向发展。该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This Regional Innovation Engines Development Award is focused on Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE), an area of critical importance to the nation's security and future economy. In classical computing, information is encoded and processed in bits that can exist in one of two states, typically depicted as 0 or 1, and each bit acts independently. Quantum bits (qubits) behave fundamentally different and can be placed in a superposition state, representing a combination of all possible configurations of the qubit. This can potentially solve complex problems beyond our current computing capability. Additionally, quantum systems can be entangled, which links the behavior of two separate items. This can increase quantum computing capability and provide unbreakable encryption in quantum communication. QISE has the potential to revolutionize all information science areas, and leadership in this field represents a huge economic opportunity. The region of service for this Development Award includes the states of Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming, which contain one of only two NSF-funded Quantum Foundries nationally, multiple existing quantum research groups, and multiple companies that are part of the Quantum Supply Chain producing not only quantum materials but also other photonic, electronic, cryogenic and classical computing components required to stabilize, encode and decode, transmit or interface with quantum computers and information systems. University-led use-inspired research will include investigating quantum devices by Boise State University's Quantum DNA group, new methods of designing and fabricating topological Josephson junction qubits by the University of Wyoming, two-dimensional quantum materials, and quantum networking by Montana State University. Much of this work will collaborate with Montana Instruments, Teledyne FLIR, Cylynt, Quantel, AdvR, Wavelength Electronics, Micron, and Qubitekk. Collaborative research, with private sector input into performance requirements and vested interest in the outcomes, will improve the probability of translation of that research. The envisioned Engine team will comprise educational institutions at the university, community college, and Tribal college levels, incubator and accelerator entities, business alliances, economic development organizations, non-profits, and state and local government economic development-related offices. The team has a coalition of members with track records of success in accelerating advances in emerging technologies and industries, taking innovations to commercialization, supporting and creating start-ups and small businesses, workforce development, and catalyzing local and regional economic development. The Development Award will allow the team to strengthen and coordinate these emerging partnerships as they move towards an NSF Engine for quantum and supporting technologies.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.