ARLIS Launches Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications

The University of Maryland on Friday announced the creation of a new center aimed at harnessing the potential of quantum technologies to advance national security during the next several decades.

The Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications, launched by UMD’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), will investigate how technologies such as quantum computing, networking and sensing can lead to new strategic tools and systems.

The new institute builds on UMD’s long-standing expertise in applying quantum science and engineering to address society’s grand challenges, as well as ARLIS’s ongoing work to apply quantum technologies to national intelligence and security problems.

The center’s establishment comes on the heels of ARLIS securing nearly $25 million in quantum-related funding in recent months, as well as Gov. Wes Moore’s announcement in January of the “Capital of Quantum” initiative—a landmark public-private partnership that will catalyze $1 billion in investments to position Maryland as a global leader in quantum information science and technology.

“The launch of this new center at ARLIS comes at the perfect time to accelerate our progress in establishing the worldwide 'Capital of Quantum' right here in Maryland, and it builds on the significant investments the university and state are making in quantum technologies,” said UMD President Darryll J. Pines. “Expanding the exceptional work already happening at ARLIS and leveraging the full breadth of UMD’s decades-long quantum expertise, we are uniquely positioned to bring quantum capabilities to the Department of Defense and beyond, ensuring that these transformative technologies meet the evolving needs of our national security.”

The institute will draw on ARLIS’s strengths in workforce development, such as the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges internship program, which pairs students with faculty mentors from various universities and the defense and intelligence communities to address real-world security and intelligence problems posed by government agencies. The Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications will also build on ARLIS’s demonstrated success supporting the U.S. government in assessing the efficacy of commercial quantum solutions to ensure these technologies meet national security standards.

Located in UMD’s Discovery District, ARLIS is one of 15 designated Department of Defense University Affiliated Research Centers around the nation and the only one dedicated to intelligence and security. ARLIS was established in 2018 to advise the government and conduct applied research and development for intelligence and security.

“The launch of the Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications marks a significant step forward as ARLIS works to advance quantum understanding for national defense and security,” said ARLIS Executive Director John Beieler. “As we and our nation look to the next 30 years of quantum applications, this institute will help consolidate our existing quantum efforts, broaden the scale and scope of our work to support our government partners, and expand our recruiting effort as we grow our workforce to benefit the lab, our government partners, the university and state of Maryland.”