Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing | DE FOA 0003265

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0003265

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through its Advanced Scientific Computing Research (ASCR) program, is funding the "Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing" opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0003265). The grant is meant to push quantum computing from promising research results toward practical, measurable benefits for scientific computing, especially where quantum approaches could eventually improve time-to-solution, power-to-solution, or the accuracy of results compared to the best classical systems. While DOE notes strong progress since 2015 across the quantum software stack (algorithms, languages, compilers, and error mitigation), the agency is emphasizing that real deployments that clearly outperform classical computing for scientific workloads are not yet in hand. This FOA is aligned with priority research directions highlighted in the 2023 Basic Research Needs Workshop in Quantum Computing and Networking, particularly: scalable end-to-end toolchains (programming and control at scale), algorithms that can deliver quantum advantage, and resilience methods spanning error detection through full correction.

A central feature of the opportunity is that applicants must pick one of two research topics as the primary focus of the proposal. The first topic, "Modular Software Stack," targets the practical reality that quantum hardware is diverse and likely to remain so for years. DOE is looking for basic research in computer science and applied mathematics that helps build a general-purpose quantum software stack that can adapt to multiple hardware types while still delivering performance. In practice, this means addressing bottlenecks that prevent modularity and interoperability across different architectures, creating integration approaches that remain useful as hardware evolves, figuring out how quantum processors can be embedded into parallel and distributed computing models (so they can be treated more like accelerators or components in larger workflows), and integrating error management throughout the stack rather than treating it as a narrow, isolated layer.

The second topic, "Quantum Utility," is more application-facing and aims to accelerate credible demonstrations of quantum utility by pairing new algorithms with deliberate tuning of the software stack for a chosen portfolio of promising ASCR-relevant problems. Under this topic, DOE expects applicants to select application-inspired target problems that are generalizable (not one-off demos), develop algorithms and optimized mathematical kernels/primitives that significantly advance performance for those targets on near-term (NISQ) and future systems, and adapt any necessary layers of the stack to make those workloads run well. A notable requirement here is resource estimation using multiple metrics, not just qubit counts or circuit depth. DOE explicitly calls out complementary measures such as energy-to-solution, reinforcing that "better" needs to be argued in practical computing terms, not solely theoretical speedups.

Across both topics, DOE emphasizes the importance of verification protocols and tools. In other words, proposals should address how results will be validated and how correctness or performance claims will be substantiated, which is particularly important given noisy devices, probabilistic outputs, and the complexity of comparing quantum and classical performance fairly. Applicants are also encouraged, regardless of topic selection, to consider multiple hardware-aware metrics when motivating and evaluating their approach, including qubit count, gate fidelity, and qubit connectivity.

Eligibility is broad for domestic applicants, with an explicit exclusion for 501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations that engaged in lobbying activities after December 31, 1995. Federally affiliated entities have special participation rules. DOE/NNSA National Laboratories may apply as a lead or as a team member, but they cannot be listed as subrecipients under another applicant; if selected, their funding flows through DOE mechanisms and work is performed under their existing DOE contracts. Similarly, non-DOE/NNSA Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) and other federal agencies may participate, but also cannot be subrecipients; instead, they must submit their own applications as team members in multi-institutional efforts, with funding handled through interagency agreements.

Key administrative details include that this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the science and technology R and D category (CFDA 81.049) run by the DOE Office of Science. The original closing date listed is May 8, 2024, and the award ceiling is $15,000,000. Overall, the FOA is aimed at moving beyond isolated advances and toward end-to-end progress: either by making quantum software stacks more modular, interoperable, and error-aware across hardware platforms (Topic 1), or by delivering well-justified, verifiable demonstrations of quantum utility for meaningful ASCR mission problems with strong resource and performance accounting (Topic 2).

• The Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Accelerated Research in Quantum Computing" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.049.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-02-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2024-05-08. (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 $15,000,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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