Joint Quantum Institute

What Joint Quantum Institute does

The Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) is an academic research institute established in 2006 and co-operated by the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), with affiliated centers including the Joint Center for Quantum Information in Computer Science (QuICS), the Condensed Matter Theory Center (CMTC), and the Physics Frontier Center. It conducts curiosity-driven research into fundamental quantum phenomena, organized across three principal areas: Many-Body Physics, Quantum Information and Computing, and Quantum Measurement and Control. Active research threads include superconducting circuits, multi-ion atomic clocks, distributed quantum networking, topological and curved-spacetime physics, and quantum sensing techniques that use entanglement to suppress noise. Researchers are physically distributed between UMD's College Park campus (headquarters at Room 2207, Atlantic Building) and the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD.

JQI does not sell commercial products or services; its primary "outputs" are peer-reviewed publications (in PRX Quantum, Physical Review B, Astronomy & Astrophysics, and similar venues) and trained scientists. The institute operates structured research training pipelines — annual postdoctoral fellowships (theoretical and experimental), a Theoretical Quantum Optics Fellowship, two-year JQI Graduate Fellowships with a $36,000 annual stipend plus benefits, and undergraduate research slots — funneling talent through UMD's Physics Department and partner institutions. Outreach and education programs (Summer Girls Program, Women in Physics, public seminars, and social channels including Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube) extend its footprint to the broader science-interested public.

The business model is therefore non-commercial: JQI is sustained by federal research funding, NIST co-operation, UMD institutional support, and named private gifts (including a $64.7 million figure referenced in connection with quantum research projects and graduate fellows, though that figure's additional context references the Roy Eddleman trust at Southern California institutions). Customer "segments" in the conventional sense are internal — academic researchers, graduate and postdoctoral trainees, and undergraduate researchers — with no commercial logo concentration, ARR, or pricing schedule. Strategic visibility comes from research awards (UMD Quantum Technology Invention of the Year, May 2026) and individual honors such as JQI Fellow Sankar Das Sarma's election to the National Academy of Sciences (May 2026).

Name

Joint Quantum Institute

Legal name

Joint Quantum Institute

Website

https://jqi.umd.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Joint Quantum Institute is a UMD-NIST joint academic research center founded in 2006 that conducts curiosity-driven quantum science research in many-body physics, quantum information and computing, and quantum measurement and control, while training graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Quantum Science Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Physical, Engineering, and Life Sciences (except Nanotechnology and Biotechnology) (541715), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Quantum Education, Workforce Development & Academic Centers (HDAGAMAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Quantum Communications, Networking & Quantum Internet Research (HDAGAMAH), Quantum Standards, Testbeds & Open Research Infrastructure (HDAGAMAL), Quantum Education & Certification Programs (HDAGALAA)

Keywords

• Quantum research
• Quantum information science
• Many-body physics
• Quantum computing research
• Atomic physics

Headquarters

HQ city

College Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) is a collaborative research institute jointly operated by the University of Maryland and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) that conducts curiosity-driven fundamental research in quantum science across three main areas: Many-Body Physics, Quantum Information and Computing, and Quantum Measurement and Control. The institute also offers structured research training programs including postdoctoral fellowships, graduate fellowships with stipends, undergraduate research opportunities, and science outreach programs.

Product overview

The Joint Quantum Institute (JQI) is a research institute that conducts curiosity-driven research exploring fundamental building blocks of nature with applications in quantum information science and technology. JQI is a collaborative partnership between the University of Maryland, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and the Physics Frontier Center. The institute offers structured research programs including postdoctoral fellowships (theoretical, experimental, and theoretical quantum optics), graduate fellowships with a $36,000 annual stipend, and undergraduate research opportunities. Research is organized across three main areas: Many-Body Physics, Quantum Information and Computing, and Quantum Measurement and Control. JQI also operates outreach programs including the Summer Girls Program and Women in Physics initiative. Associated centers include QuICS (Joint Center for Quantum Information in Computer Science) and CMTC (Condensed Matter Theory Center).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quantum Research Programs
• Postdoctoral Fellowships Annual theoretical and experimental postdoctoral fellowships where fellows work in close collaboration with one or more JQI Fellows, with freedom to choose from various research areas including quantum information science utilizing different physical systems.
• JQI Graduate Fellowships Two-year renewable fellowships awarded to exceptional graduate applicants who work with one of the JQI Fellows, with an annual stipend of $36,000 plus benefits and no tuition charge.
• Theoretical Quantum Optics Fellowship Fellowship program covering atomic, molecular, and optical physics, quantum information theory, condensed matter physics, and quantum thermodynamics, encouraging collaboration across JQI, QuICS, and CMTC.
• Research Groups Organized research areas including Many-Body Physics, Quantum Information and Computing, and Quantum Measurement and Control, with associated research groups such as the Kollár Research Group and RQS.
• Summer Girls Program Summer outreach program for girls interested in physics, part of JQI's broader community engagement and public science education initiatives.
• Women in Physics Program Program supporting women underrepresented in physics, as part of JQI's outreach and education initiatives.

Quantifiable outcome

• JQI Fellow Sankar Das Sarma elected to the National Academy of Sciences
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 October 2020LPS, one of JQI's founding partners, announced the formation of the LPS Qubit Collaboratory (LQC) in October 2020. LQC is currently seeking postdoctoral and research scientist positions and represents a core collaborative initiative in quantum research.
• University of MarylandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJQI is a joint institute between the University of Maryland, NIST, and other partners. Graduate students work within the UMD Physics Department, and researchers operate across the campus facilities.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJQI is co-operated by NIST, with researchers able to work at both the University of Maryland campus and the NIST campus in Gaithersburg, MD.
• Joint Center for Quantum Information in Computer Science (QuICS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerQuICS is an affiliated center under JQI's About section. JQI Fellows and Theoretical Quantum Optics Fellows are encouraged to collaborate broadly across QuICS and CMTC.
• Condensed Matter Theory Center (CMTC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCMTC is an affiliated center under JQI's About section. Collaboration across JQI, QuICS, and CMTC is encouraged for research fellows.
• Physics Frontier CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJQI is affiliated with the Physics Frontier Center, which supports parametric downconversion demonstrations and outreach activities.
• University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRelated institution through the Eddleman Quantum Institute at UCSB, which shares similar quantum research objectives and collaborative ecosystem models in Southern California.
• CaltechminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCaltech is mentioned alongside UCSB and UC Irvine as recipient of Roy Eddleman trust funding ($64.7 million combined) for collaborative quantum ecosystem development.
• UC IrvineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUC Irvine is mentioned alongside UCSB and Caltech as recipient of Roy Eddleman trust funding for collaborative quantum ecosystem development.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Caltech Institute for Quantum Information and Matter (IQIM): Caltech IQIM is a multi-fellow quantum research center investigating quantum information science, condensed matter, and quantum optics, with a parallel training and outreach mission. It is the closest peer to JQI in terms of scope, faculty-driven research model, and academic-center structure.
• MIT Center for Quantum Engineering (CQE): MIT CQE coordinates MIT's quantum research across physics, electrical engineering, and materials science, training graduate students and postdocs in quantum information and computing. Like JQI, it is a multi-investigator academic center working on multiple quantum hardware platforms.
• Chicago Quantum Exchange: Chicago Quantum Exchange is a multi-institutional hub connecting UChicago, Argonne, Fermilab, and Northwestern on quantum information, networking, and sensing. It mirrors JQI's role as a consortium-based academic center with federal lab ties.
• Harvard Quantum Initiative: Harvard Quantum Initiative coordinates cross-disciplinary quantum research spanning physics, chemistry, computer science, and engineering, supporting graduate and postdoctoral training. Comparable to JQI in academic governance and broad quantum research scope.
• Yale Quantum Institute: Yale Quantum Institute is a university-wide effort advancing quantum science across materials, devices, and information with active student training programs. Directly comparable to JQI in mission and academic structure.
• UC Berkeley Quantum Information and Computation Center: Berkeley's QICC is a multi-faculty academic center spanning quantum computing, networking, sensing, and post-quantum cryptography, closely tracking JQI's research breadth and educational mission.
• Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics: Perimeter Institute is an independent theoretical physics research center with strong programs in quantum information, foundations, and condensed matter, plus a renowned postdoctoral training pipeline. Comparable to JQI as a standalone, fellowship-driven research hub.
• Eddie T. and Florence M. Eddleman Quantum Institute (UCSB): The Eddleman Quantum Institute at UCSB is a multi-investigator quantum research center, with affiliated faculty at UCSB, Caltech, and UC Irvine funded through the same Roy Eddleman trust grant. Directly comparable to JQI in faculty structure and quantum research scope.
• Joint Center for Quantum Information in Computer Science (QuICS): QuICS is a sister center to JQI at UMD jointly run with NIST, focused on quantum computer science, algorithms, and theory. It is listed as an affiliated center of JQI and is among the closest peer relationships.

Broad incumbents

• Brookhaven National Laboratory (Quantum Information Science): Brookhaven National Laboratory performs fundamental and applied quantum research across materials, computing, and sensing as part of its mission as a U.S. DOE national lab. Comparable to JQI's NIST research arm in scope, though it is government-operated rather than university-affiliated.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/jqinews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/JQInews
• Facebookfacebook.com/JQInews

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Joint Quantum Institute