A New NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center in Indiana: The Center for Quantum Technologies
CQT Partner Institution Roundtable
Earlier this year, an inaugural meeting marked the creation of the Center for Quantum Technologies, an NSF Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC) for quantum research and development in Indiana. A partnership of three prominent higher education institutions, Purdue, Notre Dame, and Indiana University — both Bloomington and Indianapolis (IUPUI) campuses — spawned the new center.
With the help and guidance of David Stewart, managing director of the CQT, Campus Technology hosted CQT leaders from each of the partner institutions for a virtual roundtable discussion of the structure and goals of the CQT. Participants in the following discussion include:
- Sabre Kais, Distinguished Professor of Chemical Physics, Purdue University; CQT Center Director and Purdue Site Director
- Peter Kogge, Ted H. McCourtney Professor of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Notre Dame; CQT Notre Dame Site Director
- Gerardo Ortiz, Professor of Physics and Scientific Director of IU Quantum Science and Engineering Center, Indiana University; CQT Indiana Site Director
- Ricardo Decca, Professor and Department Chair of Physics, Indiana University Purdue University-Indianapolis (IUPUI); IUPUI CQT Campus Director
- David Stewart, Managing Director, Purdue Quantum Science and Engineering Institute; Industry Liaison Officer and Managing Director, CQT
Mary Grush: Tell us about the Center for Quantum Technologies.
David Stewart: The CQT is a National Science Foundation (NSF) Industry/University Cooperative Research Center (IUCRC). It is a partnership between Purdue University, the University of Notre Dame, and Indiana University, which includes both the Bloomington and Indianapolis (IUPUI) campuses. The CQT brings together academia, industry, and government to enable use-inspired, industry-relevant quantum technology research and development.
The CQT brings together academia, industry, and government to enable use-inspired, industry-relevant quantum technology research and development.
Grush: Can you explain the IUCRC model further?
Stewart: Absolutely. This is a unique NSF program that has been around for decades. There are about 80 IUCRCs in the country, but the CQT is the first with a quantum focus. The NSF provides funding for administration and management costs, and a framework for how the center functions. Industry and government members then join the center and pay an annual fee, which goes 100 percent to the center's research efforts. What is unique is that the industry and government members collectively vote on which projects get funded, and they also provide input in new research directions — so they really have significant influence in the center's future.
What is unique is that the industry and government members collectively vote on which projects get funded, and they also provide input in new research directions.
Grush: You mentioned your industry and government members. Who are they?
Peter Kogge: We are excited to have a diverse membership from a variety of sectors, allowing us to touch many different areas of quantum. Our members include the Air Force Research Lab, AWS, Cummins, D-Wave, Eli Lilly, Entanglement Inc., Hewlett Packard, IBM, Northrop Grumman, Naval Surface Warfare Center-Crane Division, Quantum Innovative Solutions, Qrypt, Skywater, and Toyota.
Grush: How did the university partners envision the idea of creating an IUCRC, and has that been a long process?