To enhance, catalyze, and support “Quantum 2.0” research and education at the University of Michigan’s colleges and departments.
MISSION
The Quantum Research Institute also aims to strengthen interdisciplinary research among U-M faculty and with other collaborators including universities, research centers, industry, and government agencies.
Based on the National Quantum Initiative, Quantum 2.0 is defined as “developing and using quantum superposition and quantum entanglement as resources for future technologies.”
History
In 2022, the University of Michigan announced a $55 million investment to launch a quantum initiative to address global quantum challenges and prepare a new generation of researchers to drive groundbreaking discoveries. A key component of this initiative was establishing the Quantum Research Institute (QRI) as is a joint venture among the Office of the Vice President for Research, the College of Engineering, and the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts. With support from the Office of the Provost, the institute aims to strengthen research collaborations among U-M faculty, industry partners and government agencies.
To accomplish this goal, up to eight new faculty members with expertise in quantum will be recruited to work closely with 20 U-M faculty fellows to identify and implement a strategic plan for bolstering quantum research across disciplines. The institute will also operate a research incubator, designed to provide faculty with resources and services, including seed funding to enable them to compete for large-scale external grants that advance bold research ideas.
Beyond its research mission, the institute plans to help academic departments expand their curricula to incorporate new courses that help prepare students for the future quantum workforce. Through QRI Presidential Graduate Student Fellowships, U-M aims to recruit talented and diverse graduate students. In addition, postdoctoral research fellows will be supported to work with faculty on multidisciplinary research projects.
With advances in quantum science, engineering, and technology revolutionizing many fields, QRI seeks new foundational platforms for quantum computers that can solve problems that are impossible to solve using classical computers and provide a new paradigm for implementing artificial intelligence, a new approach to sensing with unprecedented sensitivity, the realization of a quantum internet to distribute information more securely, and quantum engineering approaches that yield sustainability innovations such as carbon capture and energy harvesting.
By strengthening research collaborations and preparing a new generation of quantum researchers, QRI aims to help enhance national security, drive economic growth, and reinforce the United States’ position as a global leader in quantum engineering, science, and technology.