Microsoft is opening a new quantum research center near the University of Maryland, part of a push to make the state a hub for quantum science.

Maryland Gov. Wes Moore said Wednesday the center will be built in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District in College Park.

The project is a partnership between Microsoft, the state of Maryland and the University of Maryland Enterprise Corporation.

Officials said the facility will give researchers early access to Microsoft’s quantum technology and support collaborations with government agencies, universities and private companies.

Moore said the move is part of a larger strategy to position Maryland at the forefront of quantum information science.

In April, the state signed a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to create the “Capital Quantum Benchmarking Hub” at UMD.

The partnership set aside $1 billion in federal funding for testing and evaluating quantum technology.

That package included $52.5 million from Moore’s fiscal year 2026 budget and $70 million from UMD partners, according to the governor’s office.

The University of Maryland is one of the top quantum computer research institutions, according to the state of Maryland.

The university has branded itself “the capital of quantum,” pointing to its location near federal science agencies, government labs and major tech firms.

What is quantum?

Microsoft describes quantum computing as the use of quantum mechanics, such as superposition and entanglement, to run calculations.

The U.S. Department of Energy says the technology can quickly find solutions to difficult problems. “Quantum computing may revolutionize our ability to solve problems that are hard to address with even the largest supercomputers,” according to the department.

WJZ is a media partner of The Baltimore Banner. See the original report.