UMD and IonQ built a National Quantum Lab in College Park

After two years of work, IonQ and the University of Maryland (UMD) just launched the $20 million National Quantum Lab in College Park.

The National Quantum Lab, also known as the QLab, is a collaborative space for researchers, students, industry leaders, entrepreneurs and more in UMD’s Discovery District. According to John Sawyer, the director of strategic research initiatives for the University of Maryland, lab users can research, develop and design quantum tech with the help of IonQ’s quantum computers.

But the actual of the QLab, Sawyer said, is the benefit of working alongside experts to solve some of the top challenges in the industry today.

“The real value of the QLab is that users have the benefit of working alongside leading experts in the field in an effort to address the most complex challenges of our time,” Sawyer told Technical.ly. “Quantum computing is still in its infancy, so there is a huge amount of art and practice required to make the systems produce the kinds of results researchers want. QLab provides that base of knowledge and expertise to help our users produce practical applications.”

Sawyer, who is also the interim executive director of the Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance, said that UMD and IonQ first announced plans for the lab in 2021 but faced delays in opening a physical space. While the partnership did yield some virtual collaboration in the time since he said the ability to have face-to-face collaboration is a game changer.

Already, 300 people have used the QLab to get into quantum computing, with workshops, bootcamps and pop-up events that have largely been virtual. UMD and IonQ plan to host more in-person events going forward. But on the day-to-day, Sawyer said the lab can support projects that explore quantum’s impact on machine learning and AI, material discovery, supply chains, climate modeling, cybersecurity and more.

“It’s all about bringing in people to explore applications that are going to deliver major impacts,” Sawyer said.

Sawyer said that the Mid-Atlantic Quantum Alliance, which is based on UMD’s flagship campus in College Park, worked closely with the QLab to bring researchers from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County; George Mason University; Morgan State University and Johns Hopkins University together in the quantum space.

Just what will be created and what projects will come together at the lab remains to be seen. But UMD President Darryll Pines will be making a public call for collaboration at the QLab at the Quantum World Congress, taking place next week in Virginia.

With the quantum lab, College Park and Maryland continue to build out what Sawyer said is the “Capital of Quantum” that can only be developed through collaboration between academia, government and industry.

“At IonQ, we firmly believe that the future of quantum relies on a strong partnership between industry and academia,” said Peter Chapman, IonQ president and CEO, in a statement. “QLab is a testament of our commitment to nurturing this collaboration, paving the way for students to be at the forefront of quantum research and development.”