Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes | 24 599

Opportunity Information: Apply for 24 599

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI) opportunity supports large, coordinated, interdisciplinary research institutes designed to tackle major, high-impact challenges at the leading edge of quantum information science and technology (QIST). The intent is to fund institute-scale efforts that can do more than a collection of smaller projects by creating sustained, synergistic collaboration across multiple institutions and disciplines. These institutes are expected to drive breakthroughs in foundational and enabling areas of QIST, including quantum computation, quantum communication, quantum simulation, and quantum sensing, while also building the broader ecosystem needed for quantum technologies to mature.

A central theme of the program is that each institute should integrate research, technology development, and community-building into a unified plan. On the research side, institutes should pursue ambitious scientific and engineering goals that advance the frontiers of QIST and address important bottlenecks or challenges that stand in the way of practical development and use of quantum technologies. On the broader impact side, institutes are expected to cultivate a strong culture of discovery and collaboration, provide meaningful education and training embedded in cutting-edge research, and deliver workforce development that helps maintain long-term US leadership in QIST. The solicitation also emphasizes the importance of coordination that creates clear added value, both internally (across the institute participants) and externally (through engagement with the wider research and innovation community).

QLCI places strong weight on building the connective tissue around quantum research. Proposals are expected to foster partnerships and infrastructure, encourage industry engagement, support outreach, enable international collaboration when appropriate, and stimulate new applications of quantum technologies. These elements are not presented as optional extras; they are part of how an institute demonstrates that it can accelerate progress and amplify impact beyond what would happen without the institute structure. The program can fund either the continuation of existing QLCIs or the creation and operation of new institutes, and in both cases proposers follow the same institute proposal preparation guidance described in the solicitation.

Administratively, this is a crosscutting NSF program, but proposals must be submitted to the Office of Strategic Initiatives (OSI) within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS). After submission, awards are managed by a cross-disciplinary team of NSF Program Directors, reflecting the program expectation that institutes span multiple fields and communities. The program aligns with national priorities established by the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) Act (Public Law 115-368) and guidance in the NQI Advisory Committee report on sustaining US leadership in QIST, with explicit emphasis on research, engineering, technology development, and pathways toward application and commercialization.

Eligibility is limited to US Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), including accredited two- and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) that have a campus located in the United States and submit on behalf of their faculty. If a proposal includes funding for an international branch campus of a US IHE (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why conducting work at that branch campus benefits the project and why the activities cannot be performed at the US campus.

Key funding details provided in the opportunity listing include an expected number of about 10 awards and an award ceiling of $45,000,000. The funding instrument is a grant, the opportunity is categorized as discretionary, and the original closing date is September 17, 2025. The opportunity number is 24-599, offered by NSF, and it is associated with multiple CFDA numbers (47.041, 47.049, 47.070, 47.074, 47.076, 47.084), reflecting the program’s multidisciplinary scope.

• 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, 47.070, 47.074, 47.076, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-08-27.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-09-17. (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 $45,000,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 10 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for 24 599

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