[Researchnews] Funding Opportunity: Quantum FAST Challenge

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*July 21, 2026*
Funding Opportunity: Quantum FAST Challenge

The *California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development
(GO-Biz)* <https://business.ca.gov/> and the *California Education Learning
Lab* <https://calearninglab.org/> have launched the *Quantum FAST
Challenge, *a *$2.7 million* grant program designed to strengthen
California’s quantum ecosystem by supporting high-impact projects across
the state’s higher education and research institutions. Individual awards
will range from *$50,000 to $500,000* over an *18-to-24 month* project
implementation cycle. Proposal submissions open *July 20, 2026*, and the
final application deadline is *October 20, 2026*.

*Application Stage Key Dates:*

*Release of Request for Proposals: *July 20, 2026

*Technical Assistance Webinar #1: *July 28, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. PT

*Technical Assistance Webinar #2: *September 11, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. PT

*Statement of Intent: *October 1, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. PT

*Full Proposal Due: *October 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. PT


*About the Program*

The Quantum FAST Challenge seeks to support the development of the quantum
industry and to maintain California’s leadership in the sector by funding
projects in two priority areas:

   -

   *Education and workforce development *that builds the talent pipeline
   that California's quantum technologies require.
   -

   *Applied use case demonstrations* that pair researchers and students
   with industry partners to demonstrate applications in quantum-adjacent
   disciplines.

*Eligibility*

Lead applicants must be faculty members or administrators from a *University
of California (UC),* *California State University (CSU),* or *California
Community Colleges (CCC)* campus. Cross-institutional collaborations and
partnerships with industry are strongly encouraged. Private nonprofit
institutions of higher education and industry stakeholders may participate
as project partners.


*Proposal Tracks*

Projects must align with at least one of the following tracks:

   -

   *Expanding access to quantum-relevant hands-on experiences *through
   laboratory and technical learning opportunities.
   -

   *Building entry points to the quantum workforce* for learners in
   adjacent fields to prepare them for careers in the quantum industry.
   -

   *Advancing quantum innovation, applications, and use case
   demonstrations *that lead to publishable research or intellectual
   property.
   -

   *Wildcard*, for innovative approaches that strengthen California’s
   quantum talent pipeline beyond the categories above.


*Funding Levels*

Individual awards will range from $50,000 to $500,000, and will be made
based on the size and scope of proposed projects according to the
conditions below:

   -

   *Up to $100,000* for pedagogical-focused, prototypical projects at a
   single institution or limited collaboration across institutions.
   -

   *Up to $250,000* for applied use projects that implement and scale
   approaches across multiple institutions.
   -

   *Up to $500,000* for projects that combine multiple tracks and
   demonstrate strong intersegmental collaboration.


*Additional Information*


Project proposals submitted for the Quantum FAST Challenge will help inform
development of California Jobs First’s strategy for the quantum industry,
which is expected to be released this fall.



In addition to building on *GO-Biz’s ongoing quantum efforts*
<https://mailchi.mp/gobiz/newsletter-14057715?e=67ad78e320>, the Quantum
FAST Challenge complements an additional $3 million in workforce funding as
part of the *Accelerator 14 Grant Program*
<https://cwdb.ca.gov/cwdb-home/grant-information/accelerator-14/> recently
announced by the *California Workforce Development Board* to support
partnerships developing scalable career pathway programs focused on the
quantum and fusion sectors.


Interested in learning more about the Quantum FAST Challenge? Click the
button below to visit the Quantum FAST Challenge website for more
information.
Visit the Quantum FAST Challenge Website
<https://calearninglab.org/grant/quantum-fast/>
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