The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced today it will provide up to $625 million over the next five years to renew support for its five National Quantum Information Science Research Centers. The move signals a continued investment in cutting-edge quantum technologies, from computing and sensing to communication and simulation.

The centers were originally launched in 2020 under the National Quantum Initiative Act, a bipartisan law signed in 2018 aimed at keeping the United States competitive in the rapidly advancing field of quantum information science.

“Breakthroughs in QIS have the potential to revolutionize the ways we sense, communicate, and compute,” said Darío Gil, DOE Under Secretary for Science. “The renewal of these centers will empower America to secure our advantage in pioneering the next generation of scientific and engineering advancements.”

What the Funding Supports

The five centers—spread across national labs—focus on different aspects of quantum information science (QIS), such as computing hardware, new materials, network technologies, and quantum sensors. Each plays a role in developing the tools, workforce, and applications needed to advance both scientific and national security goals.

According to DOE, these centers not only tackle technical challenges but also bring together universities, industry partners, and government agencies to build a stronger national ecosystem for quantum research.

Here's a look at what each center will focus on:

• Co-design Center for Quantum Advantage (C2QA) at Brookhaven National Lab will work on materials and device design for superconducting and diamond-based quantum devices.
  
  
• Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems (SQMS) at Fermilab will aim to scale superconducting quantum systems and develop new cooling technologies for future quantum data centers.
  
  
• Q-NEXT at Argonne National Lab will continue research into scalable algorithms and hardware, quantum networking, and entanglement distribution across distances.
  
  
• Quantum Systems Accelerator (QSA) at Lawrence Berkeley Lab will focus on error correction and scalable systems that combine different quantum platforms like neutral atoms, ions, and superconductors.
  
  
• Quantum Science Center (QSC) at Oak Ridge National Lab will explore high-performance computing that integrates classical and quantum systems and develop open-source software for broader use.

The renewed funding comes at a time when global competition in quantum technologies is intensifying. Countries like China, Canada, and members of the EU have made large investments in national quantum initiatives, with similar goals of developing scalable quantum systems and training the next generation of scientists.

While the U.S. is still considered a leader, researchers and policymakers have warned that progress in this field depends on sustained investment—not just in hardware, but in education, infrastructure, and public-private partnerships.

Critics of federal quantum spending often raise concerns about high costs and uncertain outcomes, especially given how early-stage some of the technologies still are. They argue that breakthroughs may be years or even decades away, and question whether federal funding should prioritize nearer-term technologies.

Others, however, emphasize the long game. Quantum information science is expected to have widespread applications in national defense, secure communication, advanced drug discovery, and materials science. The DOE maintains that the benefits of early investment far outweigh the risks.

The total award includes $125 million in Fiscal Year 2025 funds, with additional amounts contingent on future congressional appropriations. DOE noted that the selection of centers does not guarantee immediate funding - each center will enter a negotiation phase before funds are distributed.