NSF-AFRL REsearch in FLoquet Engineered QuanTum Systems | 25 520

Opportunity Information: Apply for 25 520

The NSF-AFRL REsearch in FLoquet Engineered QuanTum Systems (REFLEQTS) opportunity is a joint National Science Foundation (NSF) and Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) grant program focused on quantum systems driven by time-periodic forces, commonly described as Floquet engineering. The central idea is to use carefully designed periodic driving (for example, modulated electromagnetic fields, optical pulses, microwave drives, or periodic lattice shaking) to create and control nonequilibrium quantum states and effective Hamiltonians that do not naturally occur at equilibrium. The program is motivated by a practical bottleneck in quantum technology: many of the quantum states that enable sensing, computation, secure communication, and advanced materials behavior are fragile, hard to prepare on demand, and difficult to stabilize long enough to be useful. By advancing materials, devices, theoretical tools, and system-level approaches for Floquet-engineered platforms, the solicitation aims to move quantum science toward more controllable, deployable capabilities.

REFLEQTS is explicitly positioned within the National Quantum Initiative (NQI) and the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) strategy for Quantum Information Science and Engineering (QISE). A major theme is strengthening interagency collaboration and accelerating research outcomes that support U.S. competitiveness and, broadly, national security interests. The solicitation encourages proposals that are transformative rather than incremental, and it emphasizes mid-scale, multi-investigator teams that combine complementary strengths across institutions. Research may span fundamental science through early technology development, and it can target applications including quantum sensing, quantum devices, quantum materials, and full quantum systems. The call also highlights the value of teams that bridge classical and quantum materials, device physics, fabrication and test, photonics, and quantum optics, especially when these areas are combined to reach performance levels that are not achievable in equilibrium operation.

A distinguishing feature of the program is its emphasis on integration: theory, experiment, and data-intensive or data-driven methods are expected to be brought together in a coherent way. In practice, that means proposals are likely to be competitive when they show a tight feedback loop between modeling and design (including Floquet theory and nonequilibrium dynamics), experimental realization (such as fabrication, measurement, and control of driven quantum platforms), and modern data approaches (for example, automated experiment design, machine-learning-assisted control, or large-scale analysis of complex dynamical behavior). The program also expects that the requested funds will support not only research advances but also leadership and workforce development, training students and early-career researchers for quantum-relevant careers in academia and industry.

Eligibility is limited to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs), including accredited two-year and four-year colleges and universities (including community colleges) with a campus located in the United States, submitting proposals on behalf of their faculty. If a proposal includes funding for an international branch campus of a U.S. IHE, whether directly or through subawards or consulting arrangements, the submission must clearly explain why work at the branch campus benefits the project and why those activities cannot reasonably be performed at the U.S. campus. Principal Investigators and co-Principal Investigators must hold primary, full-time, paid appointments in research or teaching roles at U.S.-based campuses or offices of eligible IHEs, with limited exceptions for family or medical leave as determined by the submitting institution. Team structure is required: each proposal must include at least one PI and at least two co-PIs, and these investigators must come from at least two different institutions. The investigators are expected to contribute complementary expertise relevant to the project, such as pairing theory with experimentation, or fabrication with testing and system integration.

Key administrative details provided include that this is a discretionary grant opportunity (Funding Instrument: Grant) under science and technology research and development activities, with CFDA numbers 12.800 and 47.041. The opportunity is titled "NSF-AFRL REsearch in FLoquet Engineered QuanTum Systems," Funding Opportunity Number 25-520, with an original closing date of 2025-03-14 and a creation date of 2024-12-07. The public summary does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided fields, so applicants would need to consult the full solicitation for budget ranges, duration expectations, and any additional proposal preparation or compliance requirements.

• The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "NSF-AFRL REsearch in FLoquet Engineered QuanTum Systems" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800, 47.041.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2024-12-07.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-03-14. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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