PNNL

The Institute for Quantum Science (IQS) is focused on studying and advancing the science, mathematics, engineering, and technologies critical to realizing and demonstrating a national quantum information science capability that will transform fundamental scientific understanding across multiple disciplines and drive novel discoveries of national and global importance. 

IQS brings together expertise from across the nation and from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) to connect mission science with the emerging quantum systems that promise to change the nature of scientific discovery. The Institute studies and develops the physics, mathematics, material science, quantum engineering, quantum information science, computer science, and computer engineering needed to design, deploy, operate, and assess quantum systems as sophisticated scientific instruments that can illuminate and address the nation’s most pressing scientific challenges.

Building on PNNL's strengths in physical and computational chemistry, material synthesis, metrology, nuclear physics, quantum theory, and artificial intelligence, the Institute advances an integrated approach that spans scientific discovery, system design, verification and validation, and user operations. Combining this foundation with complementary expertise from IQS partner organizations within PNNL and from across the nation enables IQS to robustly help shape future Department of Energy quantum capabilities in support of scientific discovery and national security.

Strategic Priorities

• Ecosystems for Scientific Discovery: Integrate quantum systems with AI, high-performance computing, and scientific workflows to build a computing continuum that supports Department of Energy mission science.
• Codesign: Drive the integration of mission-relevant scientific problems and emerging commercial quantum systems through tailored algorithms, architectures, quantum error correction techniques, scalable software, modeling, and simulation to advance system requirements and adapt to system constraints through a combined science-to-system and system-to-science approach, working in close collaboration with quantum technology providers.
• Verification and Validation: Demonstrate methodologies, techniques, and tools to assess quantum computing systems and subsystems; design accurate, architecture-aware resource estimation tools; and develop scalable, extensible predictive modeling and simulation capabilities.
• Engineering and Testing: Develop experimental facilities, diagnostics, controls, benchmarking capabilities, software, and operational processes needed to operate and assess quantum systems as precision instruments enabling scientific discovery.
• Foundations: Advance the physical science, mathematics, algorithms, engineering, and scientific computing needed to understand and expand where quantum resources can accelerate scientific outcomes and support mission-driven discovery.