Q-NEXT Quantum Center Renewed for Five Years

Estimated reading time: 1 minute

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that it has renewed funding for Q-NEXT for another five years. Q-NEXT is a National Quantum Information Science Research Center (NQISRC) led by Argonne National Laboratory in partnership with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, both DOE national labs.

Highlights:

• The U.S. Department of Energy has renewed funding for the DOE's Q-NEXT quantum research center, led by Argonne National Laboratory in partnership with SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory.
• Q-NEXT’s renewed efforts will focus on three scientific goals: Quantum communication networks, quantum sensing applications, and quantum materials.
• SLAC is partnering with Stanford to develop the first high-bandwidth quantum network that connects systems regardless of their qubit type.

The renewal ensures that Q-NEXT will continue to lead the charge in advancing quantum information science and technology, helping solidify the United States’ position as a global leader in this transformative field.

Q-NEXT will be funded by DOE at $125 million over the next five years, with $25 million in fiscal year 2026.

“Partnerships like Q-NEXT integrate expertise across the country and leverage the world-class facilities of the national labs. Together, we’re expediting the coming quantum technology revolution and bolstering the nation’s position as the international quantum leader,” said SLAC Director John Sarrao. 

Q-NEXT’s mission is to unlock the future of quantum information by seamlessly integrating quantum and traditional information systems across optical networks. Building on its achievements over the past five years, the center will focus on demonstrating the potential of distributed quantum entanglement – a phenomenon where qubits, the fundamental unit of quantum information, remain connected even when separated by large distances.