Van Hollen, Cardin, Hoyer Announce $3.5 Million for UMD/NIST Quantum Information Research

U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Ben Cardin and Congressman Steny Hoyer (all D-Md.) have announced an award of $3.5 million for the University of Maryland (UMD) College Park and the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) and Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). Research at JQI and QuICS explores the possibilities of quantum mechanics and information processing. This funding, provided by NIST, will be used to supply resources for JQI and QuICS and fund research by UMD faculty, students, and NIST scientists over the next five years.

“Since 2006, the University of Maryland and NIST have successfully partnered to produce crucial research in the quantum information field. These funds will support the groundbreaking work being done by our scientists and researchers, which will ultimately lead to greater innovation and opportunity,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees. “In the Senate, I will continue to fight for funding to ensure our agencies and universities have the resources they need to conduct research and keep our country at the forefront of scientific discovery.”

“Maryland’s academic and scientific institutions are driving progress in the field of national security. This funding will allow the Joint Quantum Institute and Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science to continue to drive advancement in the area of quantum information. I am committed to ensuring strong federal funding for priority research like this project,” said Senator Cardin.

 “I’m pleased that the Joint Quantum Institute and Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science will receive this important funding,” said Congressman Hoyer. “JQI and QuICS complete critical research that spurs innovation, and I look forward to the important work both the Joint Institute and Joint Center will continue to produce.”

NIST, one of the nation's oldest physical science laboratories, was founded in 1901 and is now part of the U.S. Department of Commerce. NIST’s mission is to drive scientific and technological innovation by providing measurement capabilities to the US research community. The lawmakers have been a strong supporter of NIST and advocated for its full funding for Fiscal Year 2019. NIST is headquartered in Gaithersburg, Maryland.

###