What You Need to Know: QuICS at 10 Years 

The Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) at the University of Maryland celebrated its 10th anniversary on Thursday, January 23, 2025, at the Brendan Iribe Center for Computer Science and Engineering. The event, organized by QuICS and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), brought together over 100 researchers in quantum science and featured informative talks, a poster session and a panel discussion on the future of quantum information over the next five years.

Established in collaboration with NIST, QuICS has spent the last decade advancing quantum computer science and information theory. This milestone also signals a broader vision for the future, including UMD's new partnership with IonQ to make Maryland a quantum innovation hub. 

What is QuICS?
Led by Co-Directors Daniel Gottesman, Brin Family Endowed Professor in Theoretical Computer Science, and Yi-Kai Liu, a scientist at NIST, QuICS is a collaborative research center focusing on advancing quantum information science. The center has six partners and explores how quantum mechanics can transform computation and communication. With over 20 fellows and 71 graduate students, it focuses on areas such as computational complexity, quantum algorithms and secure cryptographic systems. The center also investigates how classical computer science can support the development of scalable and robust quantum systems.

Why Does Quantum Computing Matter?
Quantum computing allows for tasks that are impossible for classical computers. For instance, it can simulate intricate chemical systems, which supports advances in drug discovery and materials science. It also impacts cybersecurity, potentially compromising existing cryptographic systems and creating a demand for quantum-secure solutions. 

What’s Next for Quantum at UMD?  

Coinciding with QuICS' 10th anniversary, UMD is expanding its focus to include practical quantum technologies and partnerships. This includes the 'Capital of Quantum' initiative, introduced by Maryland Governor Wes Moore, which aims to attract more than $1 billion in investments over the next five years. A key component of this initiative is UMD's collaboration with IonQ, a leading quantum computing company headquartered in Maryland, to establish the region as a global quantum hub.

What Are IonQ and UMD's Plans for Quantum Innovation?

IonQ is set to expand its corporate headquarters into a 100,000-square-foot facility within the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. This expansion aligns with IonQ’s plans to double its workforce in the Maryland region to at least 250 employees over the next five years.

UMD, in partnership with IonQ, has outlined ambitious goals to bolster its quantum research and development initiatives. UMD plans to recruit leading quantum scientists and engineers to join its existing team of over 200 quantum faculty members. The university also aims to expand access to the National Quantum Laboratory (QLab) and hire additional experts to support quantum-focused projects.

Future developments include constructing a new building for the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security and creating additional facilities to support the Quantum Startup Foundry. UMD also plans to launch educational and training programs, ranging from high school curricula to workforce retraining opportunities, to cultivate a pipeline of talent in quantum science and technology.

Why Maryland?  

Maryland’s proximity to Washington, D.C., and its concentration of research institutions, including UMD, NIST and private companies like IonQ, make it a natural hub for quantum science. The region’s resources and partnerships are designed to accelerate advancements in artificial intelligence, quantum simulation and secure communications.

—Story by Samuel Malede Zewdu, CS Communications