500 million dollars over five years! U.S. Air Force Launches New Round of Bids for Quantum Technology

Recently, the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory has issued a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) soliciting white papers for quantum information science research, design, development, concept testing, evaluation, and experimentation in support of command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I)-related information and communications technologies.

The goal of this effort is to advance and evaluate advanced algorithm designs and techniques that leverage emerging quantum computing technologies, and investigate entanglement distribution across heterogeneous quantum networks in support of AFRL/RI's C4I mission.

Research supporting this portfolio will include quantum algorithms and computation, memory node-based quantum networks, quantum information processing, heterogeneous quantum platforms, and quantum information science. These technologies will have internal and contract-based requirements to support the overall mission of the RITQ Sector.

Focus Area 1: Quantum Algorithms and Computing. This technology area includes the development, characterization, implementation, and testing of quantum algorithms with a focus on their execution/validation/benchmarking on current hardware platforms, including NISQ computers and quantum annealing/adiabatic quantum computers. Specifics include but are not limited to quantum algorithms for machine learning, neural networks, optimization, quantum walks (walks), unstructured search, decision making and risk analysis, hybrid classical/quantum algorithms, efficient quantum gate/circuit decomposition and characterization, protocols and algorithms that can be implemented on quantum photonic integrated waveguide chips, superconducting quantum bits and trapped ion platforms.

Focus Area 2: Quantum Information Processing. This technology area includes entanglement distribution, quantum information processing, and local/distributed quantum computing, with a focus on photon-based quantum bits, including quantum integrated photonic circuits, interactions between photon-based quantum bits and other quantum bit technologies (trapped ions, superconducting quantum bits, etc.), quantum repeaters, high-dimensional entanglement, efficient generation and measurement of quantum states, characterization and discrimination of quantum channels, and measurement-based quantum computing. Emphasis is also placed on the use of photon-based quantum bits, the need for single-photon/entangled photons, quantum algorithms employing clustered/graphic states, trapped ion quantum bits, superconducting quantum bits, quantum annealing or adiabatic quantum computing, and blind quantum computing. This technology area also includes quantum information processing and quantum networks based on captured ion and superconducting quantum bits, including coherent transmission between quantum bit technologies for long-range communication, remote entanglement schemes, quantum node development, quantum repeaters, and photon-based interconnects.

Focus area 3: Memory node based quantum networks. This technology area includes quantum networks, quantum communications, and quantum information processing, with a focus on capturing ion quantum bits, superconducting quantum bits, integrated circuit-based quantum bits, and entanglement distribution. Specific areas of focus include multi-node network connectivity, quantum transmission across frequency bands, interfaces to heterogeneous quantum bit technologies, quantum information mapping between homogeneous and/or heterogeneous quantum bit technologies, entanglement distribution, entanglement verification and validation, ultra-high vacuum technologies, dilution cooling technologies, laser development and laser control, and interfaces to different platforms.

Focus Area 4: Heterogeneous Quantum Platforms. This technology area focuses on the development of new quantum devices, new functionalities, and the exploration of the underlying physics associated with quantum network architectures. Specific prospective research directions include trans-quantum techniques for interfacing superconducting quantum bits and circuits with ion trap systems, integrated photonic circuits, electromechanical and opto-mechanical systems; quantum and classical microwave-optical interfaces; development of three-dimensional integrated heterogeneous quantum architectures; novel chip-level cooling techniques; and methods for implementing quantum interfaces across large temperature gradients (e.g., between milli-Kelvin and Kelvin or ambient temperature).

Focus Area 5: Quantum Information Science. This technology area focuses on additional topics related to the fields of quantum communications, quantum networks, and quantum computing. Specific focus areas are novel quantum bit technologies, quantum protocols for networks and computing, and the development of enabling technologies.

In addition, AFRL/RI is interested in developing a user community around this emerging technology, including other U.S. government organizations (federal, state, and local), U.S. government contractors and commercial industry, and academia (both public and private).

This BAA is a follow-on to BAA FA8750-20-S-7006 entitled Quantum Information Science, which is estimated to be funded at approximately $499,999,999. Individual awards typically do not exceed 36 months and typically range from $500,000 to $27 million; awards of up to $99.9 million may also be available.

Multiple awards are expected. However, the Air Force reserves the right to award zero, one or more procurement contracts, assistance instruments, or other transactions for all, some, or all of the solicited work, depending on the offeror's ability to perform the required work and funding fluctuations; where there is no limit on the number of OTs an individual offeror may receive.

This BAA also provides an exciting opportunity for researchers and innovators to collaborate and advance quantum information science, in support of the Air Force's C4I mission.

Reference links:

[1] https://sam.gov/opp/03e6c9dbc79f439aac57fef0cece28f9/view

[2] https://thequantuminsider.com/2023/05/09/air-force-research-lab-looking-for-quantum-research-proposals-with-500-million-in- potential-funding/