Materials and Chemical Sciences Research for Quantum Information Science | DE FOA 0002054

Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0002054

The Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science, through the Basic Energy Sciences (BES) program, issued this funding opportunity (DE-FOA-0002054) to support fundamental research at the intersection of materials science, chemistry, and quantum information science (QIS). The core aim is to push forward experimental and theoretical work that improves the scientific understanding of quantum phenomena in real chemical and material systems and translates that understanding into foundations for next-generation quantum technologies. This is framed as basic research for public benefit, meaning the emphasis is on advancing underlying knowledge rather than building near-term commercial products.

The opportunity is designed to fund two main types of efforts. First, it supports research on materials and chemical systems that could serve as building blocks for QIS, such as platforms where quantum states can be created, manipulated, and preserved with high fidelity. Second, it supports the use of quantum computing itself as a tool for chemical and materials research, for example using quantum algorithms or quantum simulators to study challenging electronic structure or dynamics problems that are difficult for classical computers. In both cases, BES is looking for work that is truly fundamental, with clear scientific questions and a credible plan to produce new insights into quantum behavior in molecules, solids, defects, interfaces, or other relevant systems.

BES makes a clear distinction between smaller projects and larger, more coordinated team projects. Single investigators or small groups can apply for awards at or below $500,000 per year. Larger team proposals request more than $500,000 per year and must include multiple investigators; they can also span multiple institutions. This structure is meant to accommodate both focused, investigator-driven ideas and bigger interdisciplinary efforts that require a broader range of expertise or facilities.

Applications must align with specific Priority Research Opportunities laid out in two BES Roundtable reports: "Opportunities for Quantum Computing in Chemical and Materials Sciences" and "Opportunities for Basic Research for Next-Generation Quantum Systems" (both published in 2018 and linked in the announcement). In practical terms, that means proposals are expected to be grounded in the research directions and needs identified by BES community planning, such as understanding and controlling decoherence mechanisms, discovering or designing new quantum materials and defects, developing improved methods to characterize quantum states and dynamics, or advancing theory and computation relevant to quantum systems and quantum-enabled modeling for chemistry and materials.

This FOA is described as the second solicitation in this topical area. BES notes that in fiscal year 2018 it funded 27 awards under a similar call, signaling that this is an established priority area with an existing portfolio and community. For the 2019 call described here, DOE anticipated making about 15 awards, with an award ceiling listed as $4,500,000 (the maximum size of an individual award under this opportunity).

From an administrative standpoint, this is a discretionary grant opportunity in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category (CFDA 81.049). Eligibility is listed as unrestricted, meaning the competition is broadly open to applicants, subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full announcement. The opportunity was created on January 16, 2019, with an original application deadline of May 3, 2019.

Overall, the program is aimed at building the scientific base needed for quantum information science by investing in the materials and chemical science questions that determine whether quantum systems can be made scalable, stable, and controllable, and by exploring how emerging quantum computing approaches can change the way researchers model and predict chemical and materials behavior.

• The Department of Energy - Office of Science, Office of Science in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Materials and Chemical Sciences Research for Quantum Information Science" 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 Jan 16, 2019.
• Applicants must submit their applications by May 03, 2019. (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 $4,500,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.

Apply for DE FOA 0002054

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