Microsoft, State of Maryland, and University of Maryland Launch New Quantum Research Center
This morning at Quantum World Congress 2025, Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced a landmark collaboration with Microsoft and the University of Maryland to accelerate scalable quantum computing.
As part of the Capital of Quantum initiative, Microsoft will open a new quantum research center in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. This state-of-the-art facility will unite Microsoft’s advanced quantum capabilities with the region’s unparalleled strengths in physics research, federal science agencies, and higher education.
The lab will:
Advance cutting-edge hardware and software development alongside partners in government, academia, and industry.
Feature one of the first prototypes of Microsoft’s topological quantum computer, providing access to DARPA and its world-class evaluation teams.
Serve as a shared environment for joint research, outreach, and ecosystem-building, supporting Maryland’s rise as a global hub for quantum innovation.
“Developing scalable quantum computers requires combining forces across missions, problem spaces, and organizations,” said Dr. Charles Tahan, Partner at Microsoft Quantum. “We are excited and grateful to collaborate with the State of Maryland on this groundbreaking research center. This partnership exemplifies what is possible when state and federal leaders, academia, and industry unite to accelerate U.S. leadership in science and innovation.” Read the full announcement from Microsoft here.
Maryland has long been at the forefront of quantum research—home to the Joint Quantum Institute, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the National Security Agency (NSA), and multiple leading university programs. This new partnership further cements the state’s role as a Capital of Quantum, while amplifying the global impact of the Greater Washington region’s quantum ecosystem.