An Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) program that includes Rome Lab will award up to 36 contracts and up to $5.4 million to small businesses during a two-day virtual quantum collider pitch event on Monday and Tuesday, the Air Force announced Friday.

Each small business, selected by a panel earlier this year, will engage in a private 20-minute pitch session with senior officials to present a novel approach for advancing a quantum-enabling technology and/or application, the Air Force said.

“Since each session concludes with a Phase I contract award decision, small businesses that partner with nonprofit research institutions could receive $150,000 from the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program,” the announcement explained. “Ultimately, the Air Force could award up to $5.4 million to small businesses that develop quantum technologies for the nation’s warfighters. The Small Business Innovation Research and STTR programs are funding this event to stimulate research and development, innovation and commercialization in quantum technology.”

Col. Timothy Lawrence, director of the ARFL Information Directorate which also is known as Rome Lab, said “we are taking on the challenge to accelerate the near-term discovery and application of novel quantum capabilities...With 36 companies participating in this collider event, the Air Force is enhancing the quantum ecosystem through the development of a robust supply chain, which is a key part of our Air Force quantum science and technology strategy.”

Quantum information science will “impact many future Air Force capabilities,” said Rome Lab Deputy Director Michael Hayduk, who is also responsible for coordinating quantum research across AFRL.”This includes GPS-like precision in locations where there is no GPS signal or it is severely degraded, ultra-secure global communication networks, high-precision sensors linked together with a quantum network, and new computing paradigms for optimization of asset and resource allocations, discovery of new materials, and novel applications of artificial intelligence.”

A virtual keynote session will be open to the public on Monday from 12-5:30 p.m. with featured speakers including Will Roper, assistant secretary of the Air Force for acquisition, technology and logistics; and Joseph Broz, director of the Quantum Economic Development Consortium.

Additional speakers will be Jack Blackhurst, AFRL’s executive director; and John Preskill from Cal Tech.

For more information including the full agenda and registration details, visit usafquantumcollider.com