Quantum FAST Challenge

California policymakers have identified quantum technologies—technologies that use the principles of quantum mechanics for computing, communication, and sensing—as a state economic priority.

The Quantum FAST Challenge seeks to support the development of the quantum industry and to maintain California’s leadership in the sector by funding projects in two priority areas:

(1) Education and workforce development projects that build the talent pipeline (especially at the certificate, undergraduate, and master’s level) California’s quantum technologies require, including technician-level specialists who can build and operate quantum systems; and workers who can develop real-world applications of quantum technologies; and

(2) Applied use-case demonstrations that pair faculty researchers and students in California’s public higher education segments with industry partners to produce documented, publishable results and/or intellectual property in areas including quantum science discovery, engineering, materials discovery, energy systems, logistics, and life sciences.

To advance these priorities, GO-Biz and Learning Lab invite proposals that fall into one or more of the following tracks:

Track 1: Expand access to quantum-relevant hands-on experiences.
Quantum employers identify experimental skills and hands-on experience with quantum technologies as key criteria for hiring. This track will prioritize projects that help build the quantum workforce (especially, but not exclusively, for quantum technicians, quantum engineers, and other quantum hardware roles) by expanding access to pedagogically-rich, hands-on experiences with quantum-relevant technologies.

Track 2: Build entry points to the quantum workforce for learners in adjacent fields.
The growth of the quantum industry is creating demand for workers at all skill levels, including those with transferable technical skills, experience with classical systems operating alongside quantum technologies, and the ability to apply quantum technologies to real use cases. This track will support projects that strengthen the quantum workforce by creating entry points into quantum careers for learners in adjacent fields and pathways. It will support projects that enable learners in adjacent pathways (e.g., semiconductor and engineering technicians, software programmers) to understand how their skills and abilities can apply to roles in the quantum industry and acquire the additional knowledge they need to access those roles. It will also support projects that provide learners in fields that are likely to be impacted by quantum applications with knowledge to collaborate with quantum experts in the creation and deployment of quantum applications for their field.

Track 3: Advance quantum innovation, applications, and use-case demonstrations.
Use-case demonstrations are showing the potential for quantum technologies to offer solutions to challenges across a range of industries. This track aims to advance research and innovation leading to the development and deployment of quantum technology applications to solve real-world challenges. Funding under this track may be used to support faculty collaboration with industry in the development and testing of applied use-case demonstrations for quantum and quantum-enabled technology resulting in publishable results or intellectual property. To assist with developing the quantum workforce pipeline, projects should contain a pedagogical component and give undergraduate or master’s students hands-on experience working with quantum-relevant processes or technologies. Projects may leverage or advance current faculty research.

Track 4: Wildcard.
This track will support projects that strengthen and broaden the talent pipeline for California’s quantum industry through approaches that fall outside Tracks 1–3, including student engagement and community-building activities and entrepreneurship and innovation activities.

For more details and examples, see the full RFP. 

The proposed budget should match the size and scope of the project. GO-Biz and Learning Lab will provide grants:

• Up to $100,000 for projects that prototype curricula, modules, courses, learning materials, and pedagogical approaches at a single institution or at a limited level across multiple institutions.
• Up to $250,000 for projects that implement and scale their approach across multiple institutions, or that lead to applied use-case demonstrations.
• Up to $500,000 for projects that include multiple tracks and strong intersegmental collaboration.

Grants over $100,000 ($250,000 for projects applying under Track 3) must involve intersegmental collaboration with principal investigators or co-principal investigators (PIs/Co-PIs) from at least two of California’s public higher education segments (University of California/California State University/California Community Colleges).

To apply for a Quantum FAST Challenge Grant, projects must:

1. Be led by a faculty member or administrator of a UC, CSU, or California Community College. Faculty from private, nonprofit institutions of higher education may participate in project teams, but projects must be led by faculty or administrators from one of the three segments of California public higher education.
2. Include at least two letters of recommendation. One of these letters must be from the employer the applicant reports to. The second letter may, but is not required to be, from an industry partner or regional economic development organization.
3. Align with the program’s funding tracks and priorities.
4. Include all required material outlined in this RFP in accordance with relevant submission dates.
5. For projects applying under tracks 1, 2, and 4, strengthen California’s quantum talent pipeline at the certificate, undergraduate, or master’s level.

The grant application process includes three major components:

1. Statement of Intent (includes eligibility acknowledgement, applicant information, proposed project track, and a brief project description, team member information, and institutional information);
2. Proposal and Letters of Recommendation; and
3. A written response to reviewer questions, if any. During the review period, proposal reviewers may pose written clarifying questions about a proposal. If they do, applicants will be notified and given an opportunity to respond in writing. (No action is needed from applicants who do not receive questions).

Applications will be accepted through Submittable via Learning Lab’s Grant Application Portal. All applicants must submit a Statement of Intent by 5:00PM PT on October 1, 2026. Learning Lab will contact applicants if there are eligibility or RFP alignment concerns at this stage. If there are no eligibility issues, applicants may proceed to proposal submission. The full proposal and letters of recommendation must be submitted by 5:00PM PT on October 20, 2026.

Please sign up for the mailing list here to receive updates regarding this RFP, key dates, and information about the virtual webinars.

• Release of Request for Proposals July 20, 2026
• Technical Assistance Webinar #1 July 28, 2026, 11:00AM PT
• Technical Assistance Webinar #2 September 11, 2026, Noon PT
• Statement of Intent DUE October 1, 2026, 5:00PM PT
• Full Proposal DUE October 20, 2026, 5:00PM PT
• Review Period Mid to late November, 2026
• Award Decisions November 18-20, 2026
• Notification of Awards TBD/Late November 2026
• Grant Agreement Negotiation and Finalization January 29, 2027
• Quantum FAST Projects Commence February 1, 2027

Quantum FAST proposals will be scored by GO-Biz and Learning Lab according to a published rubric. GO-Biz and Government Operations Agency (GovOps) leadership will make final award decisions based on these evaluations. GO-Biz and GovOps leadership may also take into account the distribution of awards across institutions, academic disciplines, and geographic regions, with the goal of funding a portfolio of projects that reflects the objectives of this RFP and the California Jobs First Initiative.

Awards and final award amounts are contingent on successful negotiation of a grant agreement between GO-Biz and Learning Lab and selected applicants.

​​✔​ Be ambitious but realistic. 

​​✔​ Use plain language.  

​​✔​ Use asset-based language to describe your student/faculty populations. 

​​✔​ Be specific about your goals and the outcomes and impact you are hoping to achieve with the project. Explain how your approach may lead to fulfilling those goals and outcomes. 

​​✔ Be​ specific about how you will assess whether you achieved your intended outcomes and how you will evaluate your project’s impact, including what metrics you will use. 

​​✔​ Be specific about how the project will work in practice. 

​​✔​ Highlight the research base that supports your proposed work. Do not take for granted the same knowledge level for all proposal evaluators. 

​​✔​ If applying under Tracks 1, 2, or 4, demonstrate knowledge about quantum industry workforce needs and talent pipeline challenges, and include any relevant data and evidence that will help us understand your project’s potential to strengthen the quantum talent pipeline. 

​​✔​ If applying under Track 3, provide a clear explanation for how your proposed use of quantum technologies to address a real-world problem improves on existing solutions to that issue, and for how your proposed use case will help foster continued innovation and iteration in the development of quantum technology applications. 

​​✔​ If applicable to your project, demonstrate authentic, well-balanced collaboration among partner institutions and/or departments. 

​​✔​ Demonstrate meaningful partnership with industry and explain how industry will contribute to your project, including through providing feedback and input as applicable. 

​​✔​ Think about how sustainability might work. What does the roadmap look like for your project beyond the performance period and what resources will you need for ongoing sustainability? 

​​✔​ Double-check your timeline. If your project involves data collection from students or faculty, have you consulted with your IRB and Institutional Research departments to ensure your timeline is realistic? Will additional steps for data sharing agreements among your partners be required, and if so, have you taken that into account? Have you accounted for the time it will take to make new course materials or laboratory activities accessible? 

​​✔​ Double-check your budget. Is your budget realistic? For larger or more complex projects, have you accounted for the administrative work required to support the project? 

​​✔​ For innovative efforts, not all things may go according to plan. Do you have the structures in place to learn, iterate/pivot, resolve conflict and disagreement, and find a path forward? 

The documents within this section are intended to be helpful resources as your project team develops a proposal. There is no requirement for their use (with the exception of the Budget Template).