Announcing the next phase of the Emergent Phenomena in Quantum Systems Initiative

Quantum materials are systems in which quantum mechanical effects — such as entanglement and topology — manifest at macroscopic scales, giving rise to exotic electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. Understanding and controlling quantum phenomena in materials not only advances our knowledge of the fundamental laws of nature but also lays the foundation for future quantum technologies. 

Over the past 12 years, the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation invested $188 million through the Emergent Phenomena in Quantum Systems Initiative to stimulate new discoveries and development of new approaches that increase understanding of how complex quantum matter in materials organizes and behaves. Today, we announce the next phase of the initiative, dedicating $230 million over the next 10 years to continue to advance the field. 

“We envision a future in which fundamental research in quantum materials is widely recognized – by scientists, federal funders, and industry alike – as essential to the future of quantum science and technology,” said Dušan Pejaković, Ph.D., program director for the initiative. “Our goal for the next decade is to give the research community unstoppable momentum toward this future by enabling it to overcome the main technical, conceptual, and cultural barriers to progress.”  

Strategic focus

Building on past successes, over the next decade the initiative will focus on four broad scientific challenges and opportunities expected to propel the field to the next transformative stage. Specifically, the foundation will look for scientists and teams with bold ideas aimed at:

1. Creating “quantum metamatter” – hybrid material systems created by integrating dissimilar materials and harnessing external stimuli – as novel platforms for quantum emergence.

2. Developing tools capable of providing direct insights into the correlated motion of electrons in materials. 

3. Designing tools and methods for direct probing of quantum entanglement in materials. 

4. Developing tools and methods to understand, predict and control emergent phenomena in materials driven far from equilibrium.  

Strategic grantmaking will focus on three core strategies – talent, tools and engineered matter, and ecosystem. We anticipate the development of disruptive tools, methods, and concepts by a collaborative and interdisciplinary community. 

Building on success 

A recent external evaluation of the initiative’s previous phase found that grantees’ work had led to significant scientific breakthroughs. They have introduced an exciting array of new materials, novel phenomena, and innovative concepts to the community, including pioneering contributions in twistronics, kagome materials, and nickelate superconductors.  

The evaluators concluded that the successes of the past 12 years of the initiative opened up new directions for future exploration in quantum materials. The new phase of the initiative was informed by the findings of the evaluation and counsel of an expert panel; and was designed to catalyze emerging opportunities in the field.  

The executive summary of the evaluation is now available on moore.org.