Opportunity Information: Apply for 23 551

The National Science Foundation (NSF) opportunity titled "Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering" (ExpandQISE, Funding Opportunity Number 23-551) is a discretionary grant program designed to grow the national footprint of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE). Its central goal is to increase research capacity and broaden participation in QISE and closely related fields by building a more diverse and distributed portfolio of research and education investments. NSF is using this program to help drive scientific and engineering advances in quantum technologies while also addressing a well-known workforce gap, where industry, government, and academia demand more quantum-trained talent than the current pipeline can supply.

A key feature of ExpandQISE is that it is not meant to operate in isolation from existing quantum hubs. Instead, the program explicitly encourages new or expanding QISE efforts to connect with and leverage the expertise, infrastructure, and prior investments already established at major QISE centers and institutions. Examples named in the solicitation include NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI Institutes), Department of Energy (DOE) National Research Centers, NSF Quantum Foundries, and other leading QISE research institutions. The intent is twofold: to ensure that new projects build on proven, high-impact work in research, research training, education, outreach, and broadening participation, and to help create a sustainable critical mass of QISE activity at institutions that have not historically been deeply engaged in the quantum ecosystem.

The program places strong emphasis on broadening participation, aligning with NSF-wide priorities to increase involvement across all parts of society in the scientific enterprise. Institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged to apply, as are institutions where more than 50 percent of enrolled students come from groups currently underrepresented in science, including minority-serving institutions (MSIs). In practical terms, this means NSF is actively trying to expand where quantum research and training happen geographically and institutionally, rather than concentrating opportunity and resources in only a small set of established quantum powerhouses.

Another defining aspect of ExpandQISE is formal coordination between NSF and DOE, reflecting interagency collaboration under the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018. NSF notes that the program is coordinated with DOE to support information sharing related to submissions, review processes, and funding coordination, with the stated purpose of avoiding duplicative funding and increasing the breadth and impact of federal quantum investments. For applicants, an important implication is that DOE program managers may have access to proposal-related materials submitted to NSF, including letters of intent, white papers, proposals, and review outcomes such as unattributed reviews and panel summaries. DOE program managers may also recommend reviewers and attend review panels as observers, reinforcing the integrated, cross-agency approach to shaping the national quantum portfolio.

From the published opportunity metadata, ExpandQISE is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development and uses the grant funding instrument. The opportunity lists multiple CFDA numbers spanning NSF directorates and program areas, underscoring that QISE is inherently interdisciplinary and can touch computing, physics, engineering, materials, information science, and education and workforce development efforts. The NSF anticipated making about 30 awards. The listing shows an award ceiling of 0, which typically signals that applicants must rely on the solicitation details for allowable budgets and should not interpret the public synopsis field as a cap. The original closing date for this specific posting was April 24, 2023, and eligibility is described broadly as "Others" with clarification expected in the full eligibility text, meaning prospective applicants would need to consult the solicitation for specifics on which organizations may apply and under what conditions.

Overall, ExpandQISE is structured as a capacity-building and inclusion-driven quantum program: it aims to seed and grow meaningful QISE research and training at institutions that are not yet fully engaged in the field, while linking those efforts to established centers to accelerate impact, improve sustainability, and strengthen the national quantum workforce pipeline. The NSF-DOE coordination component adds a layer of strategic alignment intended to make federal investments more complementary and less redundant as the United States scales up its quantum research and engineering enterprise.

  • The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering" 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, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084, 81.049.
  • This funding opportunity was created on Jan 24, 2023.
  • Applicants must submit their applications by Apr 24, 2023. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
  • The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 30 candidate(s).
  • Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
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FAQs: NSF "Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering" (ExpandQISE, 23-551)

What is the ExpandQISE opportunity?

ExpandQISE is a National Science Foundation (NSF) discretionary grant program titled "Expanding Capacity in Quantum Information Science and Engineering" (Funding Opportunity Number 23-551). It is intended to grow the national footprint of Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE) by building research and education capacity and broadening participation in QISE and closely related fields.

What is the main goal of the program?

The central goal is to increase research capacity and broaden participation in QISE by creating a more diverse and geographically/institutionally distributed portfolio of research and education investments. The program also aims to help address the quantum workforce gap by increasing the pipeline of quantum-trained talent for industry, government, and academia.

Is this program focused only on research, or also on education and workforce development?

Based on the description provided, ExpandQISE supports research and education investments and is framed as capacity-building that can include research training, education, outreach, and broadening participation activities, alongside advancing quantum science and engineering.

Is ExpandQISE intended to replace or compete with existing quantum hubs?

No. A key feature is that ExpandQISE is not meant to operate in isolation from existing quantum hubs. The program explicitly encourages new or expanding QISE efforts to connect with and leverage expertise, infrastructure, and prior investments at major QISE centers and institutions.

What kinds of established quantum centers does NSF expect applicants to connect with?

The solicitation examples referenced include NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI Institutes), Department of Energy (DOE) National Research Centers, NSF Quantum Foundries, and other leading QISE research institutions.

Why does the program emphasize linking new projects to established QISE centers?

The stated intent is twofold: (1) to ensure new projects build on proven, high-impact work in areas like research, research training, education, outreach, and broadening participation; and (2) to help create a sustainable critical mass of QISE activity at institutions that have not historically been deeply engaged in the quantum ecosystem.

How does ExpandQISE define "capacity building" in practice?

From the information provided, capacity building includes seeding and growing meaningful QISE research and training at institutions that are not yet fully engaged in the field, while linking those efforts to established centers to accelerate impact and improve long-term sustainability.

What does "broadening participation" mean in the context of this program?

Broadening participation is a major program emphasis aligned with NSF-wide priorities to increase involvement across all parts of society in the scientific enterprise. Practically, NSF is trying to expand where quantum research and training happen, rather than concentrating opportunities at only a small set of established institutions.

Are certain institutions especially encouraged to apply?

Yes. Institutions in EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged to apply. Institutions where more than 50 percent of enrolled students come from groups currently underrepresented in science are also especially encouraged, including minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

Does the opportunity specify why NSF is prioritizing broader participation and a wider geographic footprint?

Yes. The program description highlights the goal of distributing quantum research and training more widely across institutions and regions while simultaneously addressing a workforce gap in quantum-trained talent.

Is ExpandQISE coordinated with other federal agencies?

Yes. ExpandQISE includes formal coordination between NSF and the Department of Energy (DOE). This reflects interagency collaboration under the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018.

What is the purpose of NSF-DOE coordination for this opportunity?

The stated purpose is to support information sharing related to submissions, review processes, and funding coordination in order to avoid duplicative funding and increase the breadth and impact of federal quantum investments.

What proposal materials may be shared with DOE program managers?

According to the description provided, DOE program managers may have access to proposal-related materials submitted to NSF, including letters of intent, white papers, proposals, and review outcomes such as unattributed reviews and panel summaries.

Can DOE participate in NSF's review process for ExpandQISE proposals?

Yes. The description indicates DOE program managers may recommend reviewers and may attend review panels as observers.

Does DOE involvement mean DOE will fund the award?

The information provided describes coordination, information sharing, and funding coordination to avoid duplication, but it does not state that DOE will directly fund awards made under this NSF opportunity.

What type of funding instrument is used?

The opportunity uses the grant funding instrument.

How is the opportunity categorized in government listings?

ExpandQISE is categorized under Science and Technology and other Research and Development.

Is QISE treated as an interdisciplinary area under this program?

Yes. The opportunity lists multiple CFDA numbers spanning NSF directorates and program areas, which is presented as evidence that QISE is inherently interdisciplinary and can touch computing, physics, engineering, materials, information science, and education/workforce development.

How many awards did NSF anticipate making?

NSF anticipated making about 30 awards.

Is there an award maximum (ceiling) listed?

The listing shows an award ceiling of 0. The description notes that this typically means applicants should rely on the solicitation details for allowable budgets and should not interpret the public synopsis field as a budget cap.

What was the closing date for this specific posting?

The original closing date for this specific posting was April 24, 2023.

Who is eligible to apply?

The eligibility field is described broadly as "Others," with clarification expected in the full eligibility text. Based on the information provided, prospective applicants would need to consult the full solicitation for specifics on which organizations may apply and under what conditions.

Does ExpandQISE focus on institutions that already have strong QISE programs?

The program is described as seeding and growing QISE research and training at institutions that are not yet fully engaged in the field, while encouraging those institutions to connect with established centers. The overall structure emphasizes expanding capacity beyond the existing concentration of quantum activity.

What problem in the national landscape is this program trying to address?

The program is positioned to help drive advances in quantum technologies while addressing a workforce gap: demand for quantum-trained talent across industry, government, and academia exceeds the current supply.

What is the overall "big picture" intent of ExpandQISE?

ExpandQISE is described as a capacity-building and inclusion-driven quantum program that aims to expand where quantum research and training occur, connect new efforts to established hubs for greater impact and sustainability, and strengthen the national quantum workforce pipeline, with NSF-DOE coordination helping ensure federal investments are complementary rather than duplicative.

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