COLLEGE PARK, MD—Microsoft is set to open a new quantum research center at the University of Maryland’s Discovery District, a move that state officials say will help establish Maryland as a global leader in quantum technology.
Gov. Wes Moore announced the partnership Wednesday between the state, the University of Maryland and Microsoft. The new center will be a hub for developing next-generation quantum technologies and will provide early access to Microsoft’s quantum hardware for researchers and government agencies.
The facility’s location near key quantum institutions and the state’s “Capital of Quantum Initiative” were cited as key factors in Microsoft’s decision.
“We are honored to partner with Microsoft in this effort, as we work together to create jobs, spark discovery, and stimulate growth,” Moore said. “And together, we will continue to make Maryland the best place in the world to change the world.”
The new center will attract skilled experts to Maryland and serve as a collaborative space for Microsoft engineers and university researchers.
The announcement is a major step for the state’s quantum initiative, a public-private partnership launched by Gov. Moore in January that aims to catalyze more than $1 billion in investments in the state’s quantum industry. The initiative includes a $52.5 million investment from the governor’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget, matched by more than $70 million from the University of Maryland and its partners.
The state’s partnership with the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) also played a role in the new center. In April, Moore signed an agreement to establish the “Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub” at the university, which formalizes a state-federal partnership to test and evaluate quantum information science. The agreement could unlock up to $100 million in federal funds, some of which will be used to invest in Microsoft’s new center.
Microsoft is one of two companies in the most advanced phase of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, a program designed to determine if it is possible to build a useful quantum computer much faster than conventional predictions. The new center will give researchers access to advanced hardware prototypes, including a topological qubit, a type of quantum bit that is more resistant to errors than conventional qubits.
“The launch of Microsoft’s advanced quantum lab in our Discovery District is a testament to the incredible momentum we’ve built in quantum science and innovation,” said University of Maryland President Darryll J. Pines. “It reflects years of world-class research, visionary investment, and bold collaboration that together have made Maryland and the greater DC region the true Capital of Quantum.”
Photo via the Maryland Governor’s Office
