{"id":448065,"date":"2026-02-27T07:03:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-27T07:03:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/448065\/"},"modified":"2026-02-27T07:03:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-27T07:03:07","slug":"u-s-u-k-collaboration-could-expand-quantum-research-with-chemicals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/448065\/","title":{"rendered":"U.S.-U.K. Collaboration Could Expand Quantum Research With Chemicals"},"content":{"rendered":"

The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation (UKRI) are joining forces on eight projects<\/a> to explore quantum information effects on chemical reactions and molecular systems. The partnership could potentially create new types of molecular-based qubits and other fundamental components of quantum computing, quantum sensing and quantum communications.<\/p>\n

Quantum information science (QIS) is a fast-evolving field, according to a report<\/a> in the Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters. One aim is to exploit quantum mechanical phenomena and information sciences to develop technologies with quantum-enhanced functionalities. A second prominent aim is to advance our fundamental understanding of nature at the molecular scale. Concomitantly, researchers across a breadth of fields are interested in seeking new physical, chemical and biological phenomena that are explained by quantum mechanics, and which have no classical counterpart.<\/p>\n

QIS is considered essential to national security. In 2018, President Donald Trump signed the National Quantum Initiative Act, which authorized the NSF, the National Institute of Science and Technology and the Department of Energy to strengthen QIS programs, centers and consortia. The act also calls for coordinated research and development efforts across the government, including industry, civilian, defense and intelligence sectors.<\/p>\n

Atoms, ions and photons have powered first\u2011generation quantum devices, but molecules offer richer energy levels and built\u2011in structure. That can make entanglement easier to engineer, sensing more precise and devices more compact. If the work pays off, near\u2011term wins will likely come from sensing. Quantum sensors can read tiny magnetic and electric fields, locate objects without GPS and monitor biological or chemical activity in real time. Those capabilities matter for disaster response, environmental monitoring and defense. Security planners also track the cryptography angle. As quantum computers mature, they could threaten today\u2019s encryption, so governments around the world are investing in post\u2011quantum cryptography and racing to gain an edge in the quantum domain.<\/p>\n

The NSF announced the UKRI partnership in September. In that announcement, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios said the partnership \u201cwill reshape our knowledge of quantum mechanics and open new frontiers in quantum computing, sensing, and communicating.\u201d<\/p>\n

Kratsios noted that the U.S.-UK partnership builds on the technology prosperity, which officials from the United States, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland signed in September. The memorandum of understanding is designed to enable collaboration on strategic science and technology disciplines, including artificial intelligence, civil nuclear, fusion and quantum technologies.<\/p>\n

Brian Stone, who is performing the duties of NSF director, added in the release that the partnership \u201clays the foundation for advances that can transform everyday life. \u201cThese projects demonstrate the power of shared investment in tackling real-world challenges, from more powerful computing to next-generation navigation and sensing tools.\u201d<\/p>\n

And Jane Nicholson, executive director for research with the UKRI\u2019s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, asserted that the investment \u201copens new pathways for transformative science and the quantum technologies of the generation yet to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

John Papanikolas, the NSF lead for the effort, told SIGNAL Media that the effort brings together chemists and quantum information researchers. \u201cThe chemistry community needs to bring the people that know how to make molecules together with the people that understand the quantum information,\u201d he said.

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