The telephone or laptop on which this text is displayed was made doable because of the primary revolution in quantum science, developments within the early twentieth century that led to applied sciences just like the transistor, lasers, MRI machines, and GPS.
Now, with the second quantum revolution on the horizon, the University of Miami is becoming a member of the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology, a collaborative effort that brings collectively universities, authorities companies, and the non-public sector to make Florida a nationwide chief on this subject.
The College of Arts and Sciences—residence to more than a dozen faculty members whose analysis includes quantum applied sciences—is main the University’s participation within the alliance.
“Joining the alliance places the college at the forefront of this exciting research discipline,” stated Leonidas Bachas, the school’s dean. “We look forward to building connections with industry partners, government entities, and other universities in the alliance to strengthen our research and academic programs in this area.”
The pleasure round quantum applied sciences is pushed partially by the promise of quantum computing, a know-how nonetheless within the early phases of growth that makes use of quantum bits or “qubits” to carry out complicated calculations that might take a normal laptop far longer than a human lifespan to finish. The 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics was awarded to a trio of physicists for his or her analysis demonstrating {that a} macroscopic superconducting circuit displays the identical quantum mechanical properties as a single atomic particle. This work laid the inspiration for at present’s superconducting qubits, one of many principal platforms within the international effort to construct sensible quantum computer systems.
Quantum sensing and quantum communication, the opposite two branches of quantum applied sciences, are additionally producing enthusiasm amongst researchers and buyers. Quantum sensing, which leverages the improved sensitivity of quantum methods to make extra acute measurements, has doubtlessly transformative purposes in medical imaging and nationwide protection. Quantum communication, which is essentially the most developed of the three branches, allows the creation of ultra-secure communication networks that higher shield information.
The objectives of the Florida Alliance for Quantum Technology embody supporting analysis and entrepreneurship, in addition to the event of a “quantum-ready workforce,” in line with a memorandum of understanding that alliance members signed on Oct. 8, 2025, on the Quantum Beach 2025 convention in West Palm Beach, Florida.
“Having a network of research groups providing broad-based expertise will be a leverage point for larger federal grant applications,” stated Joshua Cohn, the school’s senior affiliate dean for analysis and graduate training, who can also be a professor of physics.
Cohn added that he sees many alternatives for universities to collaborate with the non-public sector as they put together college students to work on this subject.
“There’s a workforce of intellectual capital that’s going to come out of universities that can flow into industry,” he stated. “We anticipate outreach from industry and from universities in order to define workforce needs and translate those into curricular and training activities within academia.”
In addition to providing programs and analysis alternatives in quantum applied sciences by way of undergraduate and graduate diploma packages, Cohn stated future prospects embody creating quantum certificates which can be acknowledged by corporations within the subject.
Developing strong quantum applied sciences packages at universities in Florida may also assist entice new quantum corporations to the state, stated Hebin Li, a physics professor on the faculty who conducts analysis in quantum computing and quantum sensing.
“The biggest goal of this alliance is to build up the quantum ecosystem, including universities, investment firms, and industry start-up companies,” he stated. “One important thing is that you need to be able to supply human resources. That’s one of the roles that universities are going to play, because we’re going to supply the talent in the ‘quantum-ready workforce.'”
The faculty has already begun to invest in quantum technologies. During the 2023–2024 educational yr, the school launched a hiring initiative, recruiting three new school members who specialize on this space: Li within the Department of Physics; Stephen Lee, an assistant professor within the Department of Chemistry; and Danila Barskiy, an affiliate professor within the Department of Chemistry. A fourth school member specializing in quantum info/computing will begin working on the faculty within the Fall of 2026.
These new school members be part of school within the departments of physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science who conduct analysis in quantum science and know-how, together with school members within the College of Engineering.