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NSF announces special opportunity - I-Corps™ for Quantum+X - to accelerate adoption and commercialization of quantum-related discoveries and innovations

The U.S. National Science Foundation is announcing the NSF Innovation Corps (NSF I-Corps™) for Quantum+X, a specialized NSF I-Corps cohort that builds on NSF's decades-long investments in foundational and use-inspired quantum information science and engineering (QISE) research and development. Specifically, the I-Corps for Quantum+X will enable accelerating NSF-funded discoveries in QISE to impact, including solving complex problems in and across various scientific areas or commercial sectors (e.g., biotechnology, energy, finance). The I-Corps for Quantum+X will ultimately accelerate QISE adoption and commercialization.  

This special I-Corps cohort aims to engage with early adopters of quantum technology to advance the most promising solutions from across the U.S. research and innovation ecosystem. I-Corps for Quantum+X will kick off in September 2026 and include travel to the Quantum World Congress to be held at the University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland, Sept. 23-25, 2026, where participants will conduct customer discovery interviews with industry experts.  

Program highlights:

  • Aimed at researchers developing quantum technologies.
  • Teams will receive a $50,000 grant to support participation in the program.
  • 5-week program from kickoff to closing.
  • Open to all working in the Quantum area, with a particular focus on the use cases across a range of scientific domains and/or commercial sectors (i.e., Quantum+X, where "X" corresponds to any one of these domains/sectors).
  • Application deadline is June 23, 2026.
  • Visit the application portal.

Program dates and schedule: All times are Eastern Time

  • Onboarding session: Sept. 9 (1-4 p.m.)
  • Kickoff: Sept. 15-17 (Sept. 15 — 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.; Sept. 16, 17 — 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
  • Attend conference: Sept. 23-25 (Quantum World Congress 2026 — In-person event at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD)
  • Weekly sessions: Oct. 1, 8 (1-4 p.m.)
  • Closing: Oct. 15-16 (Oct. 15 — 11:45 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; Oct. 16 — 10 a.m.-3 p.m.) 

More information about the I-Corps for Quantum+X cohort can be found in the presentation slides and video recording from the June 8 webinar on the I-Corps website. 

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