Maryland Quantum Alliance forms to collaborate across sectors

We often note how Maryland’s mix of universities, research labs and big companies play a role in developing the technology that could later turn into companies. It makes the state a powerhouse in R&D and has attracted plenty of interest in fields like cybersecurity.

Now a group from across those institutions are teaming up to advance quantum science research, and create new products. The engineers and scientists studying this area are harnessing energy at the smallest measure, but they think it could have a big worldwide impact on many disciplines, including tech.

Quantum research leaders convened in Annapolis to launch the Maryland Quantum Alliance, led by #UMD and including other local universities, industry partners and government labs. https://t.co/RVknes6Ijh pic.twitter.com/8Co6fdSPCs

— Univ. of Maryland (@UofMaryland) January 30, 2020

On Thursday, the Maryland Quantum Alliance launched in Annapolis with an event at the Maryland House of Delegates. Arriving during the annual legislative session, it was undoubtedly designed to draw a few politicians into the mix.

Led by the University of Maryland College Park, the alliance brings together academia, the private sector and government with an aim of encouraging collaboration. UMCP is already moving toward that direction, with last summer’s announcement of a new Quantum Technology Center that has a goal of turning research into tech, and partnering with industry and government to do so. It has a total of five quantum research centers.

“With our great strength in quantum science, computing and innovation, we are well positioned to lead this initiative,” University of Maryland College Park President Wallace D. Loh said in a statement. “By combining the strength of neighboring universities, federal labs and businesses, this initiative can make the whole region into a quantum powerhouse.”

With the promise of more powerful performance, quantum research is increasingly being applied to computing, communications and sensing. The alliance is looking to galvanize researchers to work with companies to bring quantum technology to market. Another goal is to develop new educational programs that apply across disciplines.

Here’s the full list of members:

• University of Maryland, College Park
• University of Maryland, Baltimore County
• Morgan State University
• Johns Hopkins University
• George Mason University
• MITRE
• Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory
• CCDC Army Research Laboratory
• Northrop Grumman
• Lockheed Martin
• IonQ (the College Park-based startup that had the largest funding raise in Q4 2019)
• Qrypt
• Booz Allen Hamilton
• Amazon Web Services