The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is soliciting abstracts for a program that seeks exploratory research concepts in the field of quantum computing.

The Advanced Research Concept opportunity for the Imagining Practical Applications for a Quantum Tomorrow program, or IMPAQT, is interested in novel applications and algorithms that can use practical quantum platforms that could be demonstrated in the next few years, according to a notice published Monday.

IMPAQT seeks to link quantum computing researchers to application domain experts working on classical platforms to address their target problems.

Potential performers should validate their algorithms using existing cloud-based quantum processor resources. 

The agency will award a research other transaction agreement to selected proposers and expects performers to perform work over a period of 12 months.

DARPA will accept abstracts through June 5.

The Quantum Technology Center at the University of Maryland has entered into an agreement with the State Department to share information on the latest developments in quantum technology.

Under the memorandum of understanding, QTC will help the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance expand its knowledge of quantum technology and other emerging technologies and anticipate the global impact of the advancements and innovations in the field, the State Department said Monday.

Through the partnership, the center will also facilitate discussions and networking efforts focused on quantum technology with other U.S. government agencies and commercial partners.

AVC oversees the implementation of certain international arms control agreements and other measures against weapons of mass destruction and their delivery systems.

The bureau also helps advance missile defense and space policy in support of national security objectives.

Argonne National Laboratory said it is prioritizing energy-efficient computing and nature-friendly manufacturing processes in its microelectronics research.

The laboratory is doing is part as an inaugural partner in the Energy Efficiency Scaling for 2 Decades initiative, which was launched for the semiconductor industry by the Department of Energy.

As of the end of November, 30 microelectronics companies and organizations have pledged to join the public-private alliance and work toward a thousandfold increase in energy efficiency in the next 20 years. Argonne is one of six national labs to participate in EES2, while Intel and Microsoft are some of the private sector entities to express their support.

Argonne will pursue semiconductor computing technologies that require less power and materials that could impede the supply chain. Its other study will focus on novel approaches to minimize the environmental impact of chip manufacturing.

To achieve its research objectives, Argonne will utilize DOE’s Advanced Photon Source in addition to its Center for Nanoscale Materials, Leadership Computing Facility and Materials Engineering Research Facility. It also plans to employ autonomous discovery, which uses artificial intelligence to speed up lab work.

The U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council conducted its third ministerial meeting Monday and launched a number of initiatives to advance transatlantic cooperation in various areas, such as supporting digital connectivity in third countries, cooperating on new and emerging technologies and establishing resilient semiconductor supply chains.

The U.S. and the European Union are releasing a joint AI roadmap to inform the approaches to trustworthy AI and AI risk management, publishing a joint study on AI’s impact on the workforce and collaborating on a pilot project on synthetic data in medicine and health and privacy-enhancing technologies as part of efforts to advance cooperation on emerging technologies, the White House said Monday.

The EU and the U.S. plan to create an expert task force aimed at addressing barriers to collaboration on research related to quantum information science and technology and come up with joint recommendations for implementing electro-mobility charging infrastructure to advance the adoption of electric vehicles.

The council announced the launch of the Strategic Standards Information mechanism to facilitate data sharing on international standardization activities.

The U.S. and EU will implement an early warning system to mitigate disruptions to semiconductor supply chains.

The council also cited a number of measures to promote values online; strengthen trade, security and economic prosperity; and pursue efforts to support trade-related environment, health and labor initiatives.

State Secretary and previous Wash100 awardee Antony Blinken, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai co-chaired the meeting with European Commission Executive Vice Presidents Valdis Dombrovskis and Margrethe Vestager.