NSF $4M backs UCLA-led collaborative to build next-gen quantum computer

The University of California Los Angeles has announced a $4 million award from the U.S. National Science Foundation to support a multi-institution collaboration to develop a more reliable next-generation quantum computer. The project led by UCLA’s Division of Physical Sciences and the Samueli School of Engineering includes university partners UC Berkeley, Cornell University, and University of Maryland, as well as the nonprofit SRI International, quantum computing company Quantinuum and Nvidia–among others. The collaborative aims to design a machine that can perform complex calculations without the errors that currently limit quantum computing. Researchers will combine advances in hardware and software to create a system capable of tackling problems beyond the reach of existing technologies, with potential applications in materials science, chemistry, drug discovery, and fundamental physics.