Opportunity Information: Apply for 17 548
The National Science Foundation (NSF) grant opportunity titled "Ideas Lab: Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer Challenge (PFCQC)" (Funding Opportunity No. 17-548) is a multidisciplinary, high-intensity funding call built around an Ideas Lab model, where researchers convene to rapidly form teams and shape bold, cross-cutting research projects aimed at overcoming key barriers to practical quantum computing. The core purpose is not simply to support incremental advances, but to catalyze new, integrative concepts that combine hardware, software, and algorithm design into coherent approaches capable of delivering quantum computing performance that meaningfully surpasses what classical high-performance computing can do for certain problem classes.
The opportunity is motivated by the promise of quantum computing as a fundamentally different approach to computation that leverages coherent superposition and entanglement. NSF highlights that quantum computers could deliver advantages for tasks that are widely viewed as difficult for classical machines, including integer factoring, search and optimization, and especially simulation of quantum mechanical systems. The latter is emphasized because simulating quantum systems is a natural fit for quantum processors and remains extremely challenging for conventional computers, even at large scale, which limits progress across physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
At the same time, NSF frames the central challenge plainly: building a practical, scalable quantum computer remains a major grand challenge. Reaching practical scale requires coordinated progress across many layers of the technology stack. The solicitation calls out specific domains where breakthroughs or major engineering advances are needed, including quantum device fabrication and processor design, quantum control methods, new physical-level architectures, error correction and strategies that avoid or mitigate decoherence, compilation techniques for quantum programs, programming environments and models, operational software to run and manage quantum computers, and quantum algorithm design. A major theme is co-design: instead of developing hardware, software, and algorithms in isolation, the program pushes for tightly coupled development where each layer is tailored to the characteristics, constraints, and strengths of the chosen quantum platform.
The Ideas Lab format is central to how this program operates. Rather than relying solely on the traditional proposal process, NSF uses an intensive workshop environment to bring together researchers from diverse backgrounds (for example, physics, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, and domain science communities) and drive them toward new partnerships and integrated project concepts. Participants typically arrive with strong expertise in their own area, but the lab is designed to deliberately mix perspectives so that teams can identify overlooked connections and generate novel, cross-disciplinary research directions. The intended output of this process is the formation of teams of domain scientists and engineers who will refine multidisciplinary ideas and ultimately submit full proposals shaped by the Ideas Lab outcomes.
In terms of administration and sponsorship, the solicitation is jointly organized across NSF directorates and divisions that reflect the convergence the program is seeking: the Division of Physics (PHY) within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), and the Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG). This structure signals that NSF is looking for proposals that genuinely bridge these areas, not projects that sit purely within one discipline.
The funding details in the source information characterize the opportunity as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category, with CFDA numbers 47.041, 47.049, and 47.070. Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation text. The opportunity data shows an award ceiling of $15,000,000, with an expectation of 2 awards. The original closing date listed is November 30, 2017, and the creation date is April 4, 2017. The solicitation also notes that U.S. researchers must submit preliminary proposals for participation in the Ideas Lab via NSF FastLane, indicating a two-step pathway where initial submissions are used to select participants for the lab, and the lab then supports team formation and development of full proposals.
Strategically, NSF positions this Ideas Lab as advancing two of its "10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments": "The Quantum Leap: Leading the Next Quantum Revolution" and "Growing Convergent Research at NSF." It is also linked to the National Strategic Computing Initiative (NSCI), specifically its third objective, which focuses on developing new computing capabilities beyond the trajectory of Moore's Law. In other words, NSF is framing practical quantum computing not only as a scientific goal, but as a national-level computing and innovation priority that could redefine future computational capabilities.
Overall, the PFCQC Ideas Lab opportunity is best understood as a convergence-driven program meant to accelerate the emergence of practical, scalable quantum computers by forcing integration across the full stack: materials and devices, control and architecture, error correction and reliability, programming models and compilers, systems software and operations, and algorithms aligned to real scientific and engineering use cases. The program is explicitly designed to reward teams that can demonstrate this kind of end-to-end thinking and produce credible paths toward operating quantum systems capable of tackling problems that classical computing cannot handle efficiently.Apply for 17 548
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Ideas Lab: Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer Challenge (PFCQC)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.070.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 04, 2017.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Nov 30, 2017. (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.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 2 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.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): NSF Ideas Lab - Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer Challenge (PFCQC)
1) What is the name of this NSF funding opportunity?
The opportunity is titled "Ideas Lab: Practical Fully-Connected Quantum Computer Challenge (PFCQC)."
2) What is the funding opportunity number?
The Funding Opportunity Number is 17-548.
3) What is the main purpose of the PFCQC Ideas Lab?
The purpose is to catalyze bold, integrative research concepts that accelerate progress toward practical, scalable quantum computing. The focus is on approaches that combine hardware, software, and algorithm design into coherent, end-to-end strategies intended to deliver quantum computing performance that meaningfully surpasses classical high-performance computing for certain problem classes.
4) Is this program intended to fund incremental improvements in quantum computing?
No. The program is described as aiming beyond incremental advances, emphasizing new, cross-cutting concepts and multidisciplinary integration across the quantum computing stack.
5) What makes this opportunity an "Ideas Lab" rather than a traditional call for proposals?
This solicitation is built around an Ideas Lab model, where researchers convene in an intensive, high-interaction workshop environment to rapidly form teams and shape multidisciplinary project concepts. The process is designed to intentionally mix disciplines and perspectives to generate novel, integrated research directions, which then inform full proposals.
6) What kinds of researchers is NSF trying to bring together in the Ideas Lab?
The opportunity explicitly highlights bringing together researchers from diverse backgrounds, including physics, electrical and computer engineering, computer science, and domain science communities, with the intent of forming teams that bridge these areas.
7) What major scientific and engineering motivation does NSF emphasize for quantum computing?
NSF emphasizes that quantum computing leverages coherent superposition and entanglement and could provide advantages for tasks widely considered difficult for classical computers. Examples mentioned include integer factoring, search and optimization, and especially simulation of quantum mechanical systems.
8) Why does the solicitation emphasize simulation of quantum mechanical systems?
Simulation of quantum systems is highlighted as a natural fit for quantum processors and extremely challenging for conventional computers even at large scale. NSF links this limitation to slowing progress across physics, chemistry, materials science, and engineering.
9) What is the central challenge NSF is trying to address through this program?
The solicitation frames the central challenge as building a practical, scalable quantum computer, which NSF describes as a major grand challenge requiring coordinated progress across many layers of the technology stack.
10) What research and development domains does the solicitation call out as needing breakthroughs or major advances?
The opportunity calls out multiple domains, including quantum device fabrication and processor design; quantum control methods; new physical-level architectures; error correction and strategies that avoid or mitigate decoherence; compilation techniques for quantum programs; programming environments and models; operational software to run and manage quantum computers; and quantum algorithm design.
11) What does "co-design" mean in the context of this solicitation?
Co-design refers to tightly coupled development across hardware, software, and algorithms rather than treating them as separate, isolated efforts. The program pushes for each layer to be tailored to the characteristics, constraints, and strengths of the chosen quantum platform.
12) Does NSF want projects that are purely within one discipline?
The structure and stated intent indicate NSF is looking for proposals that genuinely bridge multiple areas. The solicitation signals an emphasis on convergence rather than projects that sit purely within one discipline.
13) Which NSF organizations jointly sponsor or organize this Ideas Lab?
The solicitation is jointly organized across:
- Division of Physics (PHY) within the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)
- Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) within the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)
- Division of Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems (ECCS) within the Directorate for Engineering (ENG)
14) What type of grant program is this described as?
It is described as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
15) What CFDA numbers are associated with this opportunity?
The CFDA numbers listed are 47.041, 47.049, and 47.070.
16) Who is eligible to apply?
Eligibility is listed as unrestricted (open to any type of entity), subject to any additional eligibility clarifications in the full solicitation text.
17) What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling) shown for this opportunity?
The award ceiling shown is $15,000,000.
18) How many awards does NSF expect to make?
The opportunity information indicates an expectation of 2 awards.
19) What are the key dates provided for this opportunity?
The creation date is April 4, 2017, and the original closing date listed is November 30, 2017.
20) Is there a preliminary proposal step for participating in the Ideas Lab?
Yes. The solicitation notes that U.S. researchers must submit preliminary proposals for participation in the Ideas Lab via NSF FastLane. This indicates a two-step pathway where preliminary submissions are used to select participants for the lab, and the lab then supports team formation and development of full proposals.
21) What submission system is mentioned for preliminary proposals?
NSF FastLane is specifically mentioned as the submission system for preliminary proposals for Ideas Lab participation.
22) What is the intended outcome of the Ideas Lab process?
The intended outcome is formation of multidisciplinary teams of domain scientists and engineers who refine integrated ideas and submit full proposals shaped by the Ideas Lab outcomes.
23) What kinds of problem areas does NSF suggest quantum computing could outperform classical machines on?
The solicitation mentions tasks such as integer factoring, search and optimization, and simulation of quantum mechanical systems as examples where quantum computing could offer advantages over classical approaches.
24) What "full stack" components does NSF emphasize integrating?
NSF emphasizes integration spanning materials and devices, control and architecture, error correction and reliability, programming models and compilers, systems software and operations, and algorithms aligned to scientific and engineering use cases.
25) How does NSF position this opportunity strategically within its broader priorities?
NSF positions the Ideas Lab as advancing two of its "10 Big Ideas for Future NSF Investments": "The Quantum Leap: Leading the Next Quantum Revolution" and "Growing Convergent Research at NSF."
26) Is this opportunity connected to the National Strategic Computing Initiative (NSCI)?
Yes. The solicitation is linked to NSCI, specifically its third objective focused on developing new computing capabilities beyond the trajectory of Moore's Law.
27) What kind of projects appear to be most competitive based on the description provided?
Based on the description, the strongest alignment is with teams proposing credible, integrated, end-to-end approaches toward practical quantum computing, including co-designed hardware, control, error mitigation/correction and reliability strategies, software toolchains (programming models, compilers, and operational software), and algorithms connected to meaningful scientific and engineering use cases.
28) What does NSF mean by "practical" quantum computing in this context?
The description frames "practical" in terms of scalability and the ability to operate quantum systems that can tackle certain problem classes more effectively than classical high-performance computing, rather than simply demonstrating isolated components or small, incremental improvements.
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