Opportunity Information: Apply for 21 553
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity "Enabling Quantum Leap: Quantum Interconnect Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems" (QuIC-TAQS, Funding Opportunity Number 21-553) was created to push forward a key bottleneck in quantum information science: how to reliably move quantum states between different devices, materials, and physical platforms, and how to do so over meaningful distances. It sits within NSF's broader "Big Ideas" framework launched in 2016, specifically the "Quantum Leap" Big Idea, which aims to accelerate next-generation quantum-enabled capabilities in sensing, communications, simulation, and computing. The solicitation also aligns with the national direction set by the National Quantum Initiative Act signed in 2018, which called for coordinated federal action to maintain and expand US leadership in quantum information science and its technology applications.
At the center of the program is the concept of a quantum interconnect. In practical terms, quantum systems often excel in different areas depending on their underlying physics: one platform may store quantum information well, another may process it efficiently, and another may transmit it over distance. Quantum interconnects are the mechanisms that would let these different parts talk to each other without destroying the fragile quantum states involved. The solicitation emphasizes transferring quantum states "across platforms and over large length scales," meaning it is not only about improving a single device, but about enabling coherent links between different physical systems (for example, connecting disparate qubit types, converting quantum information between frequencies, or building interfaces between matter-based qubits and photonic channels). NSF frames progress on these interconnects as a foundation for bigger breakthroughs across the quantum landscape, because scalable quantum networks, modular quantum computers, distributed sensing, and hybrid quantum architectures all depend on being able to interconnect quantum resources with high fidelity and low loss.
QuIC-TAQS is designed to fund highly innovative, potentially transformative research that develops new concepts, platforms, or approaches for quantum interconnection. Proposals are expected to go beyond theory alone: they must focus on quantum functionality and should culminate in experimental demonstrations, proof-of-concept validations, or other concrete advances that clearly move the field toward working quantum systems. The solicitation is explicitly interdisciplinary and convergence-oriented. Although proposals are submitted through the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (MPS/OMA), NSF notes that projects will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of program directors, reflecting the expectation that the most competitive efforts will integrate expertise spanning multiple fields rather than remaining within a single traditional discipline.
Team composition is a major feature of the opportunity. Competitive proposals are expected to be led by an interdisciplinary research team with at least three investigators, bringing complementary and synergistic expertise drawn from areas such as engineering, mathematics, computational science, computer and information science, and the physical, chemical, biological, and materials sciences. The goal is not just parallel contributions from different fields, but an integrated effort where the mix of skills materially improves the chances of achieving a transformational result in quantum interconnects. In review, proposals are judged heavily on how convincingly they leverage and advance quantum interconnect capabilities, and on how likely the integrated team approach is to produce a genuinely transformative leap in quantum interconnection.
Administratively, this was a discretionary NSF grant opportunity (CFDA listings include multiple NSF research programs: 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083). The posting date was January 14, 2021, with an original closing date of June 14, 2021. NSF anticipated making around 12 awards. The public listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that the ceiling is not specified in the summary field and applicants must consult the full solicitation or program guidance for budget expectations and limits. Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others" with details provided in the full eligibility text, indicating that prospective applicants would need to confirm their organizational fit against NSF's detailed requirements.
Overall, the opportunity is best understood as NSF carving out a targeted push within the national quantum strategy: funding multi-investigator teams to solve the hard, enabling problem of quantum interconnects so that quantum computers, sensors, and communication systems can move from isolated demonstrations to more scalable, networked, and hybrid architectures. The solicitation is structured to reward bold ideas that are still grounded in deliverable quantum functionality, with clear pathways to experimental validation and system-level relevance.Apply for 21 553
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Enabling Quantum Leap: Quantum Interconnect Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems" 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 Jan 14, 2021.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 14, 2021. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 12 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the NSF QuIC-TAQS funding opportunity?
QuIC-TAQS stands for "Enabling Quantum Leap: Quantum Interconnect Challenges for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems." It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number 21-553) focused on advancing quantum interconnects as a key enabling capability for quantum information science.
What problem is this program trying to solve?
The program targets a major bottleneck in quantum information science: reliably transferring quantum states between different devices, materials, and physical platforms, and doing so over meaningful distances without destroying fragile quantum states.
What is a "quantum interconnect" in practical terms?
A quantum interconnect is a mechanism or interface that allows different quantum components to "talk" to each other while preserving quantum information. This includes coherent links that can move quantum states across platforms and over large length scales (for example, connecting different qubit types, converting quantum information between frequencies, or interfacing matter-based qubits with photonic channels).
Why does NSF emphasize transferring quantum states "across platforms and over large length scales"?
The solicitation highlights system-level impact rather than improvements to a single isolated device. Many quantum platforms have different strengths (storage, processing, transmission), and connecting them coherently is viewed as foundational for scalable quantum networks, modular quantum computers, distributed sensing, and hybrid quantum architectures.
How does QuIC-TAQS fit within NSF's broader priorities?
QuIC-TAQS sits within NSF's "Big Ideas" framework launched in 2016 and specifically aligns with the "Quantum Leap" Big Idea, which aims to accelerate next-generation quantum-enabled capabilities in sensing, communications, simulation, and computing.
How does this opportunity relate to the National Quantum Initiative Act?
The solicitation aligns with the national direction set by the National Quantum Initiative Act (signed in 2018), which called for coordinated federal action to maintain and expand US leadership in quantum information science and its technology applications.
What kinds of research projects are encouraged under QuIC-TAQS?
The opportunity is designed to fund highly innovative, potentially transformative research that develops new concepts, platforms, or approaches for quantum interconnection, with clear relevance to building working quantum systems.
Are purely theoretical proposals appropriate for this program?
Based on the provided description, proposals are expected to go beyond theory alone. They must focus on quantum functionality and should culminate in experimental demonstrations, proof-of-concept validations, or other concrete advances toward working quantum systems.
What does NSF mean by "transformative" in this solicitation?
NSF frames the program around making a "transformational" leap in quantum interconnect capability. The emphasis is on bold ideas that materially advance interconnection (fidelity, loss, coherence across platforms, distance, or interface performance) and enable broader breakthroughs across quantum computing, communication, and sensing.
Is this solicitation interdisciplinary?
Yes. The solicitation is explicitly interdisciplinary and convergence-oriented, reflecting the view that major advances in quantum interconnects require integrated expertise across multiple fields rather than a single traditional discipline.
Which NSF unit handles proposal submission for QuIC-TAQS?
Proposals are submitted through the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (OMA).
Who manages projects once awarded?
NSF indicates that projects will be managed by a cross-disciplinary team of program directors, consistent with the program's convergence-oriented goals.
What team size and structure does the program expect?
Competitive proposals are expected to be led by an interdisciplinary research team with at least three investigators, bringing complementary and synergistic expertise.
Which disciplines are specifically mentioned as relevant for team composition?
The opportunity explicitly mentions expertise drawn from areas such as engineering, mathematics, computational science, computer and information science, and the physical, chemical, biological, and materials sciences.
Does the solicitation value parallel contributions, or integrated teamwork?
The emphasis is on an integrated effort, not simply parallel workstreams. The team mix should be synergistic and should materially improve the likelihood of achieving a transformational quantum interconnect result.
What are reviewers likely to focus on, based on the solicitation summary?
Review is described as heavily weighing (1) how convincingly the proposal leverages and advances quantum interconnect capabilities and (2) how likely the integrated, interdisciplinary team approach is to produce a genuinely transformative leap in quantum interconnection.
What is the posting date and closing date for this opportunity?
The posting date was January 14, 2021, and the original closing date was June 14, 2021.
How many awards did NSF anticipate making?
NSF anticipated making around 12 awards.
Is there a specified award ceiling?
The public listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically indicates that the ceiling is not specified in the summary field and that applicants should consult the full solicitation or program guidance for budget expectations and any limits.
What does "discretionary NSF grant opportunity" mean here?
The opportunity is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity, meaning it is offered under NSF's research funding authorities and is competed according to NSF's solicitation and review processes, as reflected in the program listing information provided.
Which CFDA program listings are associated with this opportunity?
CFDA listings include multiple NSF research programs: 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, and 47.083.
Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with details provided in the full eligibility text. Prospective applicants would need to confirm their organizational fit by consulting NSF's detailed eligibility requirements in the full solicitation.
What is the core takeaway for applicants?
The opportunity is best understood as a targeted NSF push to enable scalable, networked, and hybrid quantum architectures by solving quantum interconnect challenges through bold, interdisciplinary, multi-investigator projects grounded in deliverable quantum functionality and experimental validation pathways.
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