Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 INnovations in Qubit Science for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing (INQS) Program | NOFOAFRLAFOSR20250004

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The Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 INnovations in Qubit Science for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing (INQS) Program is a discretionary grant opportunity (NOFOAFRLAFOSR20250004) run by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) in collaboration with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS). Its central aim is to push past incremental improvements and instead support basic research that could lead to genuinely transformative solid-state qubit technologies capable of enabling scalable fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC). The program is explicitly looking for approaches that could move the field beyond today s leading platforms by offering credible pathways to qubits that can ultimately meet the demanding requirements of fault tolerance at scale.

A key point of the solicitation is that proposed qubits do not have to be limited to the usual role of a generic compute qubit. Instead, INQS is open to qubit concepts that contribute to one or more functions needed in a full FTQC architecture. The notice highlights several examples of such functions, including data processing, memory storage, communication, spectator roles (for example, qubits that help stabilize, mediate, or assist operations without being the primary data carriers), and measurement. In practical terms, the program is signaling that a successful FTQC system will be an ecosystem of specialized components, and a strong proposal can target a specific bottleneck function rather than claiming to solve everything at once.

Proposals are expected to be very explicit and systems-minded. The announcement calls out three things applicants should clearly address: first, the function or functions the qubit is intended to serve in an FTQC system; second, how the qubit could realistically be integrated into a plausible FTQC architecture (so not just a standalone physics demonstration, but a credible path to being part of a larger machine); and third, why and how the approach could advance toward qubits that are truly suitable for FTQC. That last point is important because the program is framed as basic research, but it still wants applicants to articulate how the research could progress toward fault-tolerant readiness over time, including what advantages the approach might have over current state of the art methods.

INQS is organized around two technical themes. Theme 1, New Qubits, is aimed at completely novel or underdeveloped qubit modalities. The emphasis is on ideas that are not yet mainstream but come with a believable research plan showing how they could become useful in a fault-tolerant system, along with clear potential advantages compared to leading approaches. Theme 2, Renew Qubits, focuses on advancing qubits that are closer to the state of the art, but doing so through unconventional methods. Examples mentioned include new qubit operation techniques, fabrication methods, or design concepts that could significantly improve specific qubit functions in state of the art quantum processors, again with an eye toward usefulness in a plausible FTQC system rather than isolated performance metrics.

From a funding and logistics standpoint, this is a grant opportunity under CFDA 12.800 in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. The award ceiling is listed as $3,750,000, and the program anticipates making about 8 awards. The opportunity was created on 2025-02-10, and the original closing date for submissions is 2025-05-12. Eligibility is summarized in the source data as "Others," with the announcement indicating that applicants should consult the full posting for the exact eligibility rules and any additional requirements.

For questions or access issues related to the full announcement, the notice directs applicants to contact Aleah L. Parker (the grantor contact listed), and it notes that additional eligibility and administrative details are provided in the full announcement text.

• The Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 INnovations in Qubit Science for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing (INQS) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2025-02-10.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-05-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $3,750,000.00 in funding.
• The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 8 candidate(s).
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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