Enabling Quantum Leap: Quantum Idea Incubator for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems | 19 532

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the NSF QII-TAQS grant opportunity?

QII-TAQS stands for "Enabling Quantum Leap: Quantum Idea Incubator for Transformational Advances in Quantum Systems." It is a National Science Foundation (NSF) funding opportunity designed as an idea incubator to support highly original, potentially transformative research in quantum systems and quantum technologies.

How does QII-TAQS relate to NSF's "Big Ideas" initiative?

QII-TAQS is part of NSF's broader "Big Ideas" initiative launched in 2016. That initiative identifies ten long-range priority areas where NSF aims to push the frontiers of science and engineering, particularly through convergence research that integrates multiple disciplines.

What is the main purpose of QII-TAQS?

The program aims to accelerate high-risk, high-reward interdisciplinary research that could reshape what is possible in quantum technologies. The goal is to help move ambitious quantum concepts from early theory and ideas toward credible, testable demonstrations of quantum functionality.

What kinds of outcomes is NSF looking for under QII-TAQS?

NSF emphasizes innovation and quantum functionality. Projects are expected to culminate in experimental demonstrations and/or proof-of-concept validations, or otherwise produce transformative advances toward real quantum systems rather than stopping at purely abstract or incremental work.

Which quantum technology areas does the solicitation anticipate impacting?

The solicitation anticipates breakthrough outcomes across major quantum technology areas, including quantum sensing, quantum communications, quantum simulation, and quantum computing systems.

Is QII-TAQS intended for incremental improvements or transformative ideas?

QII-TAQS is explicitly aimed at going beyond incremental progress. NSF is looking for new concepts, new experimental platforms, and/or fundamentally new approaches that could accelerate advances in quantum science, quantum computing, and quantum engineering.

Where are proposals submitted within NSF?

Proposals for this program are submitted through the Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (MPS/OMA).

How are QII-TAQS projects reviewed and managed?

NSF indicates that projects are intended to be reviewed and managed across disciplines by a team of program directors, rather than being handled within a single traditional disciplinary silo.

What does NSF mean by calling QII-TAQS an "idea incubator"?

In this context, "idea incubator" means the program is meant to seed and accelerate bold, interdisciplinary quantum ideas and help translate them into testable, demonstrable research directions with credible paths toward quantum system advances.

Is interdisciplinary research required?

Yes. A core requirement is that the proposed research must be interdisciplinary, with collaboration that is essential to the breakthroughs being pursued (not just multiple disciplines listed side-by-side).

What are the three thrust areas that proposals must include?

Proposed research must include elements from three broad thrust areas: (1) fundamental science, (2) communication, computation, and modeling, and (3) devices and engineered systems.

What is included under the "fundamental science" thrust area?

Fundamental science can include physics, chemistry, materials science, mathematics, biology, geoscience, and foundational ideas and techniques in quantum information science and engineering.

What is included under the "communication, computation, and modeling" thrust area?

This thrust area covers the algorithmic, computational, and theoretical frameworks needed to design and evaluate quantum systems and assess their performance.

What is included under the "devices and engineered systems" thrust area?

This thrust area focuses on the physical realization of quantum effects in hardware and in integrated systems, emphasizing engineered implementations of quantum functionality.

How should proposals demonstrate integration across thrust areas?

Proposals are expected to clearly explain how the project leverages and advances knowledge across the chosen thrust areas in an integrated way. NSF is looking for genuine synergy where the collaboration is central to enabling the proposed breakthroughs.

What team size and structure does NSF expect for competitive proposals?

Competitive proposals are expected to be led by an interdisciplinary team of at least three investigators, structured so the group collectively contributes synergistic expertise spanning engineering, computation/mathematics, and fundamental science domains relevant to the proposed quantum system advance.

What expertise areas must the team collectively cover?

The team should collectively span: (1) one or more engineering domains, (2) mathematics and/or computational/computer and information science, and (3) at least one physical, chemical, biological, or materials science domain.

Does the solicitation require experimental demonstrations?

The solicitation emphasizes that projects should not remain purely conceptual. It expects experimental demonstrations and/or proof-of-concept validations, or other transformative advances that move meaningfully toward real quantum systems.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number for this solicitation?

The Funding Opportunity Number listed for this NSF opportunity is 19-532.

What type of funding opportunity is QII-TAQS?

It is described as a discretionary NSF grant opportunity in the science and technology research and development category.

What is the maximum award amount (award ceiling)?

The award ceiling is $2,000,000 per award.

How many awards does NSF expect to make?

NSF expects to make about 20 awards under the solicitation.

When was this opportunity created and what was the original closing date?

The opportunity was created on November 20, 2018, with an original closing date of May 24, 2019.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is listed broadly as "Others," with additional details referenced in the solicitation's eligibility section. Applicants are expected to verify institutional and organizational eligibility requirements in the full announcement.

What is the central evaluation focus described for QII-TAQS?

Based on the program description, the central focus is the likelihood that an integrated, cross-cutting effort can produce genuinely transformative advances in quantum systems, combining fundamental discovery, modeling/computation, and engineered demonstrations.

Why is NSF emphasizing cross-disciplinary management for this program?

The program is intended to push convergence research, which blends perspectives and methods from multiple disciplines. Cross-disciplinary review and management is meant to align the evaluation and oversight with that integrated approach rather than confining it to a single field.