August 26, 2026 -- Quantum computers are extremely powerful, but also really sensitive. Tiny disturbances such as heat or electromagnetic noise can introduce errors into their calculations. 

Researchers with Virginia Tech’s Center for Quantum Information Science and Engineering (VTQ) have been awarded more than $5.5 million of a $37.5 million National Science Foundation (NSF) grant to create a center aimed at detecting and correcting these errors faster than they occur. Twenty-seven researchers from 14 universities and national laboratories with expertise in physics, chemistry, computing, and engineering will participate, with Yale University leading the effort.

The grant is one of eight that the NSF awarded for large-scale interdisciplinary research projects known as Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes that address major challenges at the frontiers of quantum information science and technology.

Many researchers believe that quantum computers could one day solve problems beyond the reach of today’s computers, leading to breakthroughs in new medicines, advanced materials, energy technologies, and manufacturing. While classical computers rely on traditional bits like 0s and 1s to process information, quantum computers use units of information called qubits that can be 0s, 1s, or both simultaneously, enabling them to solve certain problems faster than present-day computers.

According to Yale University, the Physics and Engineering of Practical Quantum Error Correction (PRACTIQAL) center will be focused on making advances at every level of the quantum computer, from the physical qubits and control electronics to the way algorithms are run. Sophia Economou, director of VTQ, will serve as the center's deputy director, which is designed to foster a community of scientists and engineers from a wide range of disciplines who can contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the hardware and software needed to realize large-scale, error-corrected quantum computing. 

The ultimate goal is to design practical and error-correcting computers from top to bottom, pointing the way forward for industry to build reliable machines. The project also focuses on education and workforce development to ensure the United States has the talent needed to lead the emerging quantum economy and translate scientific advances into real-world benefits.

“The future of quantum computing depends not on building perfect qubits, but on finding smart ways to correct their inevitable errors,” Economou said, who is also the T. Marshall Hahn Chair and professor of physics in the College of Science. “This center brings together multiple areas of expertise across campuses to optimize the entire quantum computing system rather than improving individual components in isolation. We are excited to work with all the center partners to  design and engineer solutions more quickly and effectively.”