Montana State University’s Quantum Collaborative Research and Education (QCORE) facility has been awarded a $31.5 million contract from the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) in Rome, New York, to advance research in quantum applications and support the development of quantum materials, sensors, devices, and network systems.
This contract will strengthen QCORE’s university-wide research ecosystem, supporting collaboration across disciplines and expanding the facility’s specialized infrastructure. According to QCORE CEO Jayne Morrow, more than 50 MSU faculty and staff are currently affiliated with QCORE, mentoring students across fields including engineering, physics, business, philosophy, and art.
QCORE’s Chief Technology Officer and director of MSU’s Spectrum Lab, Krishna Rupavatharam, emphasized the impact this funding will have on students by providing hands-on experience in cutting-edge quantum research environments.
“It opens doors for them to establish career paths with diverse emerging and established industry sectors, including the photonics, vacuum technology, cryogenics and materials industries located in Montana,” Rupavatharam said.
Expanding Quantum Test Beds and Infrastructure
QCORE was originally established through an initial $26.7 million AFRL grant, enabling the acquisition of highly specialized equipment to test prototype quantum components. Today, the facility supports advanced test beds in:
- Quantum computing
- Quantum sensing
- Quantum networks
- Materials synthesis and characterization
- Cryogenic testing environments
Morrow noted that the new AFRL contract will help expand QCORE’s networking test beds, further strengthening MSU’s ability to support next-generation quantum communication and networking research.
Strengthening Partnerships and Commercialization Pathways
Building partnerships with industry and government remains central to QCORE’s mission. This contract will help expand access to quantum infrastructure, supporting researchers across locations and experience levels.
“The quantum infrastructure being developed under this contract will provide researchers at all levels and locations access to cutting-edge resources, thereby transforming the research landscape in the region,” Rupavatharam said.
A Major Step Toward Long-Term Growth
MSU Vice President for Research and Economic Development Alison Harmon highlighted that sponsored research funding is key to sustaining programs like QCORE and building long-term innovation pipelines.
“The QCORE has become a hive of research activity for high school-aged to advanced researchers,” Harmon said. “It is impressive to see the engagement across other MSU research centers and multiple academic departments, including the School of Art.”
Harmon also shared that QCORE is currently pursuing status as a Montana Board of Regents-approved center, which would formalize organizational structure and ensure enduring leadership.
Supporting Montana’s Innovation Future
With AFRL support, MSU has developed nationally unique capabilities that will help shorten the time from research to commercialization—especially in quantum networking and communication.
“I see this as a key outcome of our land-grant mission – supporting Montana entrepreneurs and industry and building a pipeline of future quantum talent and leadership,” Harmon said.
For more information about QCORE, contact CEO Jayne Morrow at jayne.morrow@montana.edu.
Related links:
