University of Rochester News
The Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and the University of Rochester (UR) have received $2 million in federal funding to grow the Rochester Quantum Network (RoQNET), a historic step for the future of digital security and national innovation. Through the development of secure communication capabilities and the expansion of the network’s reach, this initiative from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) seeks to make the Greater Rochester area a leader in the worldwide quantum revolution.
U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, as well as U.S. Representative Joseph Morelle, backed the Fiscal Year 2026 Appropriations Bill, which produced the funding. The development of new quantum technologies is expected to be accelerated by this funding boost, which will also expand regional students’ educational opportunities.
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A Foundation of Innovation
RoQNET is a thriving success story rather than a recent venture. When the network first went live in 2024, it garnered media attention by proving that single photons could be safely sent over an 11-mile fiber-optic telecommunications line that connected the RIT and UR campuses.
The distinctive dependence of RoQNET on quantum photonic chips distinguishes it from other worldwide quantum projects. The Bausch and Lomb Professor Stefan Preble of the Department of Electrical and Microelectronic Engineering headed a research team at RIT that invented this technique. Quantum communication uses individual photons, which are particles of light, to transmit data, in contrast to standard electrical communications, which can be intercepted or replicated. The fundamental rules of physics make these communications impenetrable since any attempt to clone or intercept the data would be instantly detected, preventing malicious actors from gaining access to private information.
Pushing the Boundaries of Physics
Heterogeneous entanglement is the next phase of quantum networking, and academics are focusing on it with the new NIST funding. Throughout the network, several kinds of qubits (quantum bits) are inexorably linked, regardless of their distance from one another.
“We have concentrated on achieving heterogeneous entanglement between various qubit types with RoQNET,” said Professor Stefan Preble, RIT’s principal investigator on the project. One photon will be hosted at RIT, and the other at the University of Rochester, in order to do experiments where entangled photon pairs are shared over the network. Complex communication systems and safe quantum computer scaling depend on this connection.
This research has great potential, according to University of Rochester Professor of Optical Physics Nickolas Vamivakas. “Using quantum entanglement could eventually result in advanced new techniques to increase the resolution of space telescopes or complex networks of quantum computers,” Vamivakas stated.
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Creating a Statewide Quantum Backbone
Beyond the 11-mile bridge that connects the two colleges in Rochester, RoQNET has a much bigger aim. One of the main objectives of the research team is to connect current hubs throughout New York in order to establish a statewide quantum network. At the moment, there are networks between Brookhaven National Laboratory and Stony Brook University, as well as new initiatives at New York University and the Air Force Research Laboratory.
It will take major hardware breakthroughs, particularly in quantum repeater technology, to bridge these enormous distances. Quantum repeaters enable quantum information to go considerably farther without losing its sensitive state, much like an internet line’s signal boosters do. The development of these repeaters is essential to a properly integrated quantum infrastructure, and the NIST grant provides the vital resources required.
How to Develop a Quantum Workforce
The two million dollars will have a significant impact on schooling outside of the lab. Quantum optics and network hardware will be made accessible to high school, college, and graduate students through the financing.
Highlighting the significance of this workforce development, Senator Schumer pointed out that RoQNET will provide educational opportunities for students enrolled in the Optical Technology program at Monroe Community College (MCC). The project intends to establish New York as a world leader in the quantum realm while promoting local economic growth by getting college-age and K–12 kids involved in cutting-edge research.
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Coordination and Leadership
The effectiveness of regional cooperation is often regarded as demonstrated by RoQNET’s success. The collaboration unites “complementary expertise” that establishes the area as a “hub for quantum innovation,” according to RIT President Bill Sanders. He thanked congressional leaders for obtaining the financing and pointed out that it might have a nationwide effect.
In support of this view, Sarah Mangelsdorf, president of the University of Rochester, cited the institution’s recent investment in the transdisciplinary Center for Coherence and Quantum Science as proof of its dedication to the “quantum revolution.” By combining their skills, the Rochester area becomes a more advanced technology hub, she said, praising the partnership with RIT.
It can “fundamentally change how we engage in secure communications,” Senator Kirsten Gillibrand continued, reinforcing Rochester’s position as a leading leader in high-impact research. Regarding quantum technology, Congressman Morelle called it the “next frontier of innovation” and expressed excitement about the findings that RoQNET will yield.
Rochester’s RoQNET project is a prime example of how federal funding and university collaboration may enhance national security and propel the next wave of technological advancement while pushing the boundaries of physics.
