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

这一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，信息以比特进行编码和处理，这些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(量子比特)的行为从根本上是不同的，可以被置于叠加状态，代表量子比特所有可能配置的组合。这可能会解决超出我们当前计算能力的复杂问题。此外，量子系统可能是纠缠的，这将两个独立物体的行为联系在一起。这可以增加量子计算能力，并在量子通信中提供牢不可破的加密。QISE有可能给所有信息科学领域带来革命性的变化，在这一领域的领先地位代表着巨大的经济机遇。该发展奖的服务地区包括蒙大拿州、爱达荷州和怀俄明州，这三个州包括全国仅有的两个由NSF资助的量子基金会之一、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，还生产其他光子、电子、低温和经典计算组件，这些组件需要稳定、编码和解码、传输或与量子计算机和信息系统接口。大学主导的受使用启发的研究将包括博伊西州立大学的量子DNA小组调查量子设备，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，二维量子材料，以及蒙大拿州立大学的量子网络。这项工作的大部分将与蒙大拿仪器、Teledyne FLIR、Cylynt、Quantel、ADVR、波长电子、美光和Qubitekk合作。通过私营部门对业绩要求的投入和对成果的既得利益进行合作研究，将提高该研究成果转化的可能性。设想的引擎团队将包括大学、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。该团队拥有一个由成员组成的联盟，这些成员在加快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、劳动力发展以及催化当地和区域经济发展方面取得了成功。发展奖将允许团队在迈向量子和支持技术的NSF引擎的过程中加强和协调这些新兴的合作伙伴关系。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势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.