Insider Brief
- Microsoft has announced a call for research proposals under its 2026 Quantum Research Pioneers Program, focused on measurement-based approaches to topological quantum computing.
- The program targets foundational research areas including measurement-based quantum logic, error correction, simulation, and early fault-tolerant experiments.
- Selected academic proposals may receive up to $200,000 in funding, with applications opening in November 2025 and the program starting in August 2026.
Microsoft has announced the launch of its 2026 Quantum Research Pioneers Program (QuPP), a research initiative aimed at advancing measurement-based approaches for topological quantum computing, according to a statement released by the company.
The company’s quantum computing efforts are centered on building a scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computer capable of solving problems that classical systems cannot address. Microsoft stated that achieving this goal requires breakthroughs across physics, engineering, and computer science, and that its work is based on a topological quantum computing approach.
Microsoft reports that topological quantum computing encodes information in global properties of matter rather than local states, a characteristic the company says offers inherent error resilience. The company also noted that realizing scalability within this paradigm requires innovation across multiple layers of the quantum computing stack.
As reported by Microsoft, one area of focus is measurement-based quantum computing, which relies on adaptive measurements applied to entangled resource states to perform quantum logic. This approach has the potential to simplify control, enhance robustness, and accelerate progress toward fault-tolerant quantum systems.
Research Focus Areas
Microsoft stated that the Quantum Pioneers Program will invite academic researchers to submit proposals addressing challenges related to measurement-based techniques for topological quantum computing. The areas of interest include simulation methods for topological qubit dynamics, readout and control techniques for measurement-based systems, quantum error correction and circuit compilation tailored to measurement-based approaches, early fault-tolerant and NISQ experiments, and measurement-based methods for quantum characterization, verification, and validation.
In a statement cited by Microsoft, the company said these research areas represent steps toward building a quantum computer with scientific and industrial relevance. Microsoft also indicated that proposals may include collaboration with the Microsoft Quantum team where appropriate.
Program Structure and Timeline
According to Microsoft, selected proposals may receive awards of up to $200,000 USD. The application window for the program will open on November 15, 2025, and close on January 31, 2026, with funding decisions expected to be announced on March 15, 2026. The program is scheduled to begin on August 1, 2026, and will run for a duration of 12 months.
Microsoft stated that proposals must include an executive summary, a five-page project description, and a short curriculum vitae for each principal investigator. The company noted that full submission guidelines can be requested via email.
Eligibility Criteria
As reported by Microsoft, the program is open to professors at universities or degree-granting research institutions worldwide. Each applicant may serve as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator on one proposal per year, with a maximum of two principal investigators per proposal and the submitted proposals must be directly related to measurement-based quantum computing.
Microsoft also stated that the future development of quantum computing will involve collaboration across organizations and institutions. According to the company, the Quantum Pioneers Program is intended to support collective research efforts toward fault-tolerant quantum systems.
Source: Microsoft
