Fermilab and Microsoft partner to provide new quantum tools and expand quantum research

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is joining Microsoft Quantum as an initial partner in the company’s new quantum hardware makerspace in its newest quantum research center in the University of Maryland’s Discovery District. Here, researchers within the academia, industry, and government sectors will provide access to real quantum hardware and expertise for students and others in the emerging quantum community. Through its broader collaboration with Microsoft, Fermilab also aims to add new capabilities to the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, or QICK, an open-source hardware and software toolkit it developed to control and read out information from quantum bits.

The Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit — or QICK — an open-source quantum control and readout system developed at Fermilab. Photo: Ryan Postel, Fermilab “We are thrilled that Microsoft has chosen QICK to be part of the quantum hardware makerspace and look forward to working with them on other projects as well. Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and build applications on top of QICK,” said Anna Grassellino, chief technology officer and associate laboratory director for the Technology Directorate at Fermilab. Originally designed for superconducting qubits, the Fermilab QICK development team worked with partners to adapt QICK to use with trapped ions, cold-atoms, silicon-spin qubits, quantum-dot and biological qubits. Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and build applications on top of QICK. Anna Grassellino, chief technology officer and associate laboratory director for the Technology Directorate at Fermilab Fermilab is committed to keeping QICK open source to allow users from academia, the national labs and industry to train the quantum workforce and build applications on top of QICK, “Our work with Fermilab extends beyond training,” said Charles Tahan, Partner, Microsoft Quantum. “We are collaborating to broaden the applicability of quantum-control technologies across hardware platforms while working with the University of Maryland to explore how tools such as [QICK] can be incorporated into education. As quantum computing matures, it’s important that learners have opportunities to work with real systems, real tools, and the people who build them.” By sharing their results with the open-source user community, Fermilab and Microsoft will provide new tools to the growing quantum ecosystem and help advance quantum information science.

Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research.

Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science. Visit Fermilab’s website at www.fnal.gov and follow us on social media.The development of QICK at Fermilab was originally supported primarily through the lab’s key partnership in the Quantum Science Center, a DOE National Quantum Initiative Science Research Center headquartered at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Recommended reading View all news Fermilab and Harmoniqs integrate open-source tools to advance qubit control optimization June 3, 2026 partnershipQICKquantumFermilab feature Fermilab developed the Quantum Instrumentation Control Kit, or QICK, as a compact, customizable and cost-effective quantum readout and control option for scientists. Harmoniqs, a quantum computing software company, developed Piccolo.jl, a quantum control and calibration software package. Together, their developers are integrating the two to achieve precise, repeatable qubit control, providing better results in less time. Anna Grassellino appointed to DOE Office of Science Advisory Committee May 1, 2026 DOEOffice of SciencequantumSQMSFermilab feature Anna Grassellino of Fermilab will serve on SCAC and chair the quantum subcommittee, tasked with advancing national quantum goals. Fermilab’s new director clarifies mission and achieves progress in first 100 days April 24, 2026 AIDUNEGenesis MissonHL-LHC Accelerator Upgrade ProjectLBNFMAGIS-100QICKquantumSQMSFermilab feature With a sharp focus on Fermilab’s core scientific mission, Norbert Holtkamp is establishing clear priorities and a disciplined strategy that align the laboratory with the nation’s most ambitious research goals. His leadership is positioning Fermilab for long‑term success.