UMD Establishes Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications to Advance Defense and Intelligence Technologies

Insider Brief:

• The University of Maryland has launched the Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications under ARLIS to develop quantum computing, networking, and sensing tools for national defense and intelligence operations.

• MIQA builds on ARLIS’s applied research capabilities and nearly $25 million in recent quantum-related funding, aligning with Maryland’s broader “Capital of Quantum” initiative to attract $1 billion in investment.

• The institute intends to strengthen the national security workforce through programs like the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges internship, which connects students to real-world government problems.

• Located in UMD’s Discovery District, MIQA will collaborate with nearby research entities and continue ARLIS’s role in evaluating commercial quantum technologies for government integration.

• Image Credit: University of Maryland

The University of Maryland has launched a new center focused on applying quantum technologies to national security challenges over the next several decades. According to a news release from UMD, the Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications will operate under UMD’s Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS), one of 15 University Affiliated Research Centers designated by the U.S. Department of Defense.

The new institute will focus on practical implementations of quantum computing, quantum networking, and quantum sensing to develop strategic tools and systems relevant to U.S. defense and intelligence operations. MIQA’s formation reflects growing momentum around state and federal initiatives that seek to integrate quantum technologies into national security infrastructures.

Strategic Alignment with Federal and State Initiatives

ARLIS, established in 2018, is the only UARC dedicated exclusively to intelligence and security. It conducts applied research and development in areas such as artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, and human systems integration. Its work involves direct collaboration with government agencies to address real-world problems across the intelligence community and the Department of Defense.

The launch of MIQA builds on ARLIS’s recent acquisition of nearly $25 million in quantum-focused funding, according to the university. It also aligns with Maryland Governor Wes Moore’s “Capital of Quantum” initiative—announced in January—which intends to attract $1 billion in public and private investment to position the state as a hub for quantum information science and technology.

As noted by UMD President Darryll J. Pines, “The launch of this new center at ARLIS comes at the perfect time to accelerate our progress in establishing the worldwide ‘Capital of Quantum’ right here in Maryland.” He emphasized that the new institute will leverage both ARLIS’s mission-driven applied research and UMD’s multi-decade legacy in quantum science and engineering.

Applied Quantum Technologies for Defense

Quantum applications targeted by MIQA include quantum sensing. Quantum sensors could be used in navigation, surveillance, or detection systems where GPS-denied environments or subtle signal changes require precise and robust instrumentation. Quantum networking, another area of focus, involves the distribution of quantum information between nodes using entangled photons and other mechanisms. Secure communications, distributed quantum computing, and sensor fusion are among the possible applications relevant to defense.

Workforce Development and Institutional Capacity

The institute will also contribute to quantum workforce development. As highlighted in the university’s announcement, it will draw on ARLIS’s existing Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges internship program. RISC connects students with mentors from academia and the defense community to work on agency-posed problems, exposing them to classified and open research environments alike. Expanding these efforts is seen as a way to build a pipeline of talent with quantum fluency specifically designed for national service.

John Beieler, Executive Director of ARLIS, stated that MIQA is an essential step toward scaling and coordinating ARLIS’s quantum portfolio. He emphasized the center’s role in supporting government partners over the long term, saying that MIQA will help “consolidate our existing quantum efforts, broaden the scale and scope of our work… and expand our recruiting effort as we grow our workforce to benefit the lab, our government partners, the university and state of Maryland.”

The Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications will be housed in UMD’s Discovery District, a research park designed to encourage partnerships between academia, industry, and government. Its proximity to other relevant entities, including the Joint Quantum Institute, the Quantum Technology Center, and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, gives the institute access to one of the more concentrated quantum research ecosystems in the country.

ARLIS has also been active in evaluating commercial quantum solutions for government use, focusing on how those offerings measure up to security and operational standards required by national agencies. According to the release, this track record will inform MIQA’s approach in supporting DoD and intelligence stakeholders in understanding, assessing, and integrating quantum technologies.

By formalizing and expanding these efforts under MIQA, UMD is seeking to provide a more structured and application-driven pathway for advancing quantum technologies with national security relevance—all backed by a long-term funding trajectory and workforce pipeline.