About
Our Mission
The Quantum Science Center (QSC) brings together world-leading expertise and unique capabilities from the national laboratories, academic institutions, and industry to realize its ambitious vision of a fault-tolerant quantum high-performance computing (QHPC) ecosystem, which will provide opportunity for unprecedented impacts on quantum computing.
Through the convergence of quantum computing with leadership-class exascale HPC systems, the QSC is working to develop a holistic software ecosystem that combines research in hybrid algorithms, scientific applications, QHPC architectures, and experimental validation that amplifies the impact of fault-tolerant quantum computing.
Headquartered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the QSC is one of five multidisciplinary National Quantum Information Science Research Centers supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science. Initially created in 2020 and renewed in 2025 in response to the National Quantum Initiative Act of 2018, the QSC is focused on the advancing quantum science and technology in the interests of national security and global scientific leadership.
Our Focus
Through experimental validation, the QSC is working to advance algorithms, applications, architecture, and software that will significantly impact how the adoption and readiness of quantum computing will accelerate a multitude of critical scientific applications. In cooperation with the other National Quantum Information Science Research Centers, the QSC leverages these advancements to bolster the national quantum science and technology ecosystem through deep industry engagement, expanding workforce development, and focused technology transition.
The QSC’s focus is to deliver the specialized tools, software, applications, and systems necessary to establish the United States as a leader in quantum-accelerated scientific computing, delivering a key advantage amid global competition.
The center’s five complementary research thrusts work together to accelerate the viability of QHPC to tackle science’s most daunting challenges.
Thrust 1: Software Ecosystem The software ecosystem effort is working to develop openQSE as an adaptive, end-to-end software ecosystem for QHPC systems and applications. | Lead: Vicente Leyton
Thrust 2: Hybrid Algorithms The hybrid algorithms team designs workflows for the QHPC ecosystem that target quantum simulation of model materials. | Lead: Yigit Subasi
Thrust 3: QHPC Architectures The QHPC architectures focus area co-designs and evaluates approaches for executing applications on hybrid computing systems. | Lead: Chris Zimmer
Thrust 4: Scientific Applications The scientific applications team works to develop and validate simulation codes for quantum materials by implementing hybrid workflows on QHPC systems. | Lead: Andrew Sornborger
Thrust 5: Experimental Validation The experimental validation effort focuses on the development of quantum spin systems to validate QHPC simulations. | Lead: Michael McGuire
Along with its partners, the QSC will utilize the tools, resources and personnel at its disposal to exponentially accelerate the advancement of robustness, scalability and accuracy of quantum computing over the next five years.
Our Partners
