In May 2023, the U.S. National Science Foundation awarded QuantumCT a $1 million award to develop plans for a “Regional Innovations Engine,” which aims build an innovation ecosystem in Connecticut focused on quantum technologies.
Launched by NSF's new Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships and authorized by the CHIPS and Science Act of 2022, the NSF Engines Program uniquely harnesses the nation's science and technology research and development enterprise and regional-level resources.
It is anticipated to be transformational for the nation, ensuring the U.S. remains in the vanguard of competitiveness for decades to come.
QuantumCT is award number 2302908.
The NSF award is helping QuantumCT create connections and develop Connecticut’s innovation ecosystem to prepare a strong proposal for becoming a future NSF Engine, where we will have the opportunity to receive up to $160 million, which would secure Connecticut’s national and global leadership in the quantum economy.
“These NSF Engines Development Awards lay the foundation for emerging hubs of innovation and potential future NSF Engines."
—NSF Director, Sethuraman Panchanathan, who visited UConn in 2022 and announced the Engines program. He continued:
“These awardees are part of the fabric of NSF’s vision to create opportunities everywhere and enable innovation anywhere. They will build robust regional partnerships rooted in scientific and technological innovation in every part of our nation. Through these planning awards, NSF is seeding the future for in-place innovation in communities and to grow their regional economies through research and partnerships. This will unleash ideas, talent, pathways and resources to create vibrant innovation ecosystems all across our nation.”