Governor Wes Moore, alongside representatives from the University of Maryland and Microsoft, recently announced a new quantum research center in Maryland’s Discovery District as a continuation of the state’s “Capital of Quantum” initiative.
In partnership with the University of Maryland Enterprise Corporation (UMEC), the new center will support collaboration between Microsoft, government agencies, academia, and other key industries, as well as host one of the first prototypes of Microsoft’s topological quantum computer.
The state plans to invest approximately $20 million in the lab over the next several years. Funding will also be matched by the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA; this agreement draws upon a previously established joint commitment to strengthening Maryland’s quantum science and technology ecosystem. The new lab will provide dedicated spaces for Microsoft’s proprietary work and joint projects, further reinforcing the state’s leadership in quantum innovation.
Renovations for the research center will begin in October. As a central hub for quantum technology, the collaborative environment will promote research, rigorous testing and accelerated prototyping, helping to drive innovative breakthroughs in years instead of decades. The center will also feature space for Microsoft engineers to engage with Maryland’s quantum community, including students and researchers from the University of Maryland.
Maryland has been laser focused on quantum initiatives this year. In April, on World Quantum Day, the state held key celebrations worldwide to help solidify its position as the Quantum Capital—including joining IonQ, the first quantum computing company to be publicly traded in 2021, on Wall Street. In June, the state joined the University of Maryland to host a quantum roundtable at Oxford University during an overseas trade mission in the U.K. Much of the governor’s budget for FY2026 also supported the state’s efforts to be front and center for the quantum revolution.
