Connecticut researchers, together with global industry collaborators, translate quantum breakthroughs into critical applications across national security, aerospace, and life sciences
(New Haven, Connecticut) – QuantumCT today announced four Phase 2 Pilot Projects developed in collaboration with the University of Connecticut (UConn) and Yale University. The projects are funded by UConn, Yale, and industry collaborators.
These projects have been selected based on their ability to advance applied quantum research in areas of strategic importance to Connecticut, supporting key sectors of the state’s economy, including aerospace and defense, advanced manufacturing, financial services, insurance, and
life sciences.
With a year of financial backing and in-kind support from QuantumCT, UConn, Yale, and industry collaborators, the project teams will have the opportunity to advance their research while pursuing multi-year external funding and building longer-term industry collaborations.
The awards build on the success of the Phase I Pilot Program, which supported early-stage, proof-of-concept research across quantum algorithms, hardware integration, sensing, and applied computation.
“The pilot projects reflect a disciplined strategy to align research investment with the needs of Connecticut’s core industries,” said Vivek Ramakrishnan, Senior Director of Technology and Interim CEO of QuantumCT. “When leading research institutions work alongside industry collaborators on real-world challenges, we accelerate the pace at which new technologies move from the lab into practical applications.”
The Phase 2 pilot projects deepen collaboration between UConn and Yale, strengthening a coordinated statewide approach to quantum research and innovation. Several of the selected projects bring together faculty and research teams from both institutions, leveraging complementary strengths in computing, engineering, chemistry, and applied mathematics. By aligning expertise across the two universities and engaging industry collaborators, the program reinforces a durable partnership that continues to expand Connecticut’s capacity for interdisciplinary quantum research.
The projects are:
1) Strengthening Quantum-Secure Communications
Walter Krawec and Bing Wang (UConn)
Industry Collaborator: Microsoft
This project aims to support secure data transmission across financial systems, defense infrastructure, healthcare networks, and global communications platforms.
2) Quantum Optimization for Logistics
Shan Zuo (UConn) and Leandros Tassiulas (Yale)
Industry Collaborators: RTX Technology Research Center, Quantum Circuits, LLC, a subsidiary of D-Wave Quantum Inc.
This project will use the D-Wave Advantage2™ annealing quantum computer to solve problems related to supply chain and logistics operations for industry partners.
3) Quantum Machine Learning for Drug Safety Prediction
Victor Batista (Yale) and Bodhi Chaudhuri (UConn)
Industry Collaborators: Pfizer, Quantinuum
This project explores the development of novel quantum machine learning algorithms for optimization of drug safety prediction.
4) Quantum Algorithms for Constrained Optimization
Victor Batista (Yale) and Sanguthevar Rajasekaran (UConn)
Industry Collaborators: RTX Technology Research Center; Quantinuum; Quantum Circuits, LLC, a subsidiary of D-Wave Quantum Inc.
This project is focused on the development of novel quantum algorithms using a mixture of hybrid computations and the D-Wave Advantage2™ annealing quantum computer and Stride™
hybrid solver for solving large-scale combinatorial optimization problems that arise in aerospace
and defense applications.
This project centers on creating new quantum algorithms that leverage D-Wave’s Advantage2™ annealing quantum computer along with the Stride™ hybrid solver. These D-Wave technologies are specifically built to tackle large-scale combinatorial challenges, where the sheer volume of possible configurations grows so rapidly that conventional classical computing methods struggle to solve them efficiently.
“Yale is proud to partner with QuantumCT in advancing research that will improve lives here in Connecticut and across the nation,” said Mike Crair, Vice Provost for Research at Yale. “By working together with QuantumCT and our industry collaborators, we are accelerating technologies that will strengthen our workforce, advance solutions across industries from drug development to national security and deliver benefits to communities across Connecticut.”
For Connecticut, applying university research to industry-defined challenges helps ensure that companies remain competitive as quantum technologies mature. It also strengthens the state’s ability to attract federal research funding, support high-growth startups, retain technical talent, and prepare a workforce for next-generation roles.
“UConn is delighted to deepen its collaboration with Yale investigators on these pilot projects to help Connecticut industry reap the benefits of quantum science and technologies,” said Pamir Alpay, Interim Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs at University of Connecticut. “As the state’s leading public university, UConn is dedicated to advancing Connecticut’s economy through collaboration with the state’s world-leading national security, pharmaceuticals, and financial services sectors. The quantum advantage coming out of QuantumCT’s pilot projects will help strengthen their global position and keep Connecticut a destination for innovators and technology leaders.”
QuantumCT was launched in response to the U.S. National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Regional Innovation Engines program, designed to develop place-based technology ecosystems that connect research institutions, industry, workforce organizations, and public-sector partners to
accelerate innovation and economic growth so that the U.S. remains globally competitive for decades to come.
QuantumCT is currently a finalist in this national competition – one of just 15 proposals selected to advance to the final stage – reflecting both Connecticut’s research prowess and the growing coalition of academic, industry, and public partners supporting the initiative. NSF is expected to
announce the final awards in 2026.
