Quantum Institute for Cyber Resilience

QUANTUM INSTITUTE FOR CYBER RESILIENCE (Q ulCR )

To counter growing cyber threats, industries are integrating quantum-secure analytical platforms to safeguard operations and data in the digital age.

Overview

The Quantum Institute for Cyber Resiliance (QuICR) is a quantum research and workforce development ecosystem made up of 18 universities from the states of Texas and Tennessee, 3 national labs, 3 quantum commercial companies and 1 research institute working together to solve grand challenges in applying fundamental quantum information, science, and engineering research to secure and strengthen the critical manufacturing and healthcare industries.

The Need

» Connecting historically isolated systems to the internet for improved outcomes has led to a rise in cyberattacks on manufacturing and healthcare industries.

» Enhanced sensing and quantum-secure analytical platforms are becoming mandatory for manufacturers and healthcare organizations due to increasing complexity and scale.

» Cyberattacks, such as Stuxnet and ransomware, have demonstrated the destructive nature of cyber threats, impacting operations, data security, and even patient safety.

» Without decisive action, US manufacturing and healthcare risk falling behind in security and capability in the quantum era.

Organizational Highlights

» The Quantum Institute for Cyber Resilience (QuICR) is an institute proposed to the NSF under the Quantum Leap Challenge Institutes (QLCI) program.

» Link to NSF-QLCI info: https://www.nsf.gov/funding/opportunities/ qlci-quantum-leapchallenge-institutes

» Proposal is for a six year period, with 4 additional years of sustainability designed into the proposed submission for a funded total of 10 years. Total requested is ~$40M

» PI: Dr. John J. Prevost - UTSA; Co-PIs: Dr. Scott Aaronson - UT Austin, Dr. Michael Vasilyev - UT Arlington, Dr. George Siopsis - U Tenn Knoxville

» Advisory Committee: Wayne Austad (INL), Mark Raizen (UT Austin), Curt Allen (QoLab), Tyer Sutherland (Oxford Ionics), Adam Hamilton (SwRI), Edward Sankary (UTHSCSA), Daniel Pack (Baylor), Howard Grimes (CyManII), Ruyan Guo (UTSA)

Partner Map

Academic Partner Listing

Baylor, Rice, Saint Mary’s, SMU, TAMU, TAMU-SA, Texas State, Trinity, Houston, UIW, U Tenn Chattanooga, U Tenn Knoxville, UT Arlington, UT Austin, UT Dallas, UT Health San Antonio, UTRGV, UTSA

For More Information

Jason Hassay

UTSA Government Relations

o: 210.458.5102 | m: 512.413.9598

jason.hassay@utsa.edu

Updated March 18, 2025

QUANTUM INSTITUTE FOR CYBER RESILIENCE

Research Thrusts

Quantum Math for Cybersecurity Resiliency

Mathematical theory in areas of quantum cryptography, post-quantum cryptography and open quantum systems.

Materials Testing and Validation for Secure Quantum Systems

Resilient and scalable quantum technologies through materials and device innovations. Improve stability, minimize decoherence, and enhance fault tolerance in quantum systems.

Secure Quantum Informatics and Algorithms

Quantum and hybrid-quantum classical algorithms for optimization, machine learning, and simulation.

Cross-Cutting Themes

Applied Cybersecurity for Quantum Resilience

Identify transformational research outcomes from research thrusts and securely apply them to QuICR testbeds for manufacturing and healthcare. Identify quantum-attack surface and side-channel vulnerabilities. Describe implementation challenges and mitigation plans. Validate PQC approaches.

Quantum Workforce Education and Development

Provide pathways for training students at all levels in fundamental quantum and quantum-adjacent fields. Prepare workforce of cybersecurity and engineering professionals for relevancy in world of quantum.

Ethics and Policy in Quantum

Address ethical and policy concerns arising from quantum technologies, including potential risks in cryptography, materials synthesis, and quantum computing.

Organizational Chart