400+
Quantum Researchers
20+
Quantum companies in the region
15+
Quantum centers & institutes
3
Major airports within 45 min
The Capital
of Quantum.
The Capital of Quantum region is one of the most defense-connected and research-rich quantum ecosystems in the world — anchored by UMD and a constellation of major research universities, surrounded by federal labs and agencies, and home to the companies building what comes next.
Research & Talent
The deepest quantum talent pool
Four major research universities anchoring the corridor — nationally ranked quantum programs, DOD-funded centers, and the graduate pipelines that feed the entire industry.
Public R1
University of Maryland
College Park, MD
Top-5 quantum PhD program nationally
Public R1
UMBC
Baltimore County, MD
Quantum Science Institute — QIS research & workforce development
UMD Quantum Centers & Institutes
JQI
Joint Quantum Institute — UMD & NIST partnership. Foundational quantum science research.
QuICS
Joint Center for Quantum Information & Computer Science — UMD & NIST partnership. Advances research and education in quantum computer science and quantum information theory.
CMTC
Condensed Matter Theory Center — theoretical foundations for quantum materials.
QMC
Maryland Quantum Materials Center — materials-focused quantum research across UMD.
National Security
The national security corridor
12 miles from the Pentagon. NSA, DARPA, ARL, NRL, JHU APL, and ARLIS — all within about 30 minutes of Discovery District Maryland. No other quantum ecosystem offers this proximity to federal and defense partners.
UARC · UMD · Quantum Programs via MIQA
Applied Laboratory for Intelligence & Security
DOD-designated UARC. $65M HQ breaking ground 2026. Quantum programs coordinated through MIQA, the Maryland Institute for Quantum Applications.
UARC · JHU
Applied Physics Laboratory
One of the nation’s largest UARCs. Major quantum sensing, communications, and computing programs for DOD and national security clients.
Army · Federal Lab
Army Research Laboratory
Applied quantum research across sensing, communications, and computing for the Army and DOD.
Fort Meade · NSA · Cyber Command
Intelligence Community Corridor
NSA headquarters, U.S. Cyber Command, and the broader IC community — less than 40 minutes from Discovery District Maryland. Unique proximity for companies with federal ambitions.
Navy · Federal Lab · Washington DC
Naval Research Laboratory
Quantum photonics, sensing, and communications programs for the Navy and broader DOD community. Located in DC — 30 min from the corridor.
DARPA · Collaboration
Capital of Quantum Benchmarking Hub
DARPA Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. MOA with state for matching fund quantum research and commercialization.
Maryland is home to 2 of the nation’s 15 UARCs — JHU Applied Physics Laboratory and ARLIS at UMD. University-Affiliated Research Centers are the primary bridge between academic quantum research and national security applications.
Hardware & Testbeds
Open systems. Real hardware. Available now.
Open-access quantum hardware, quantum networking testbeds, and the high-bandwidth research infrastructure that connects them.
QLab · Open Access Testbed
National Quantum Lab
Open-access to state-of-the-art quantum computers through QLab — IonQ Forte, and Forte-Enterprise systems, Quera Aquila and IBM Heron and Nighthawk, an in-house trapped-ion research computer, with other commercial systems coming. Apply at qlab.umd.edu.
Microsoft · Deep Tech Facility
Microsoft Quantum Research Center
Established through a landmark collaboration with the State of Maryland and the University of Maryland. Topological qubit hardware (Majorana 1) on-site, with partnership opportunities for industry, academia, and government. Hands-on hardware training coming.
MARQI · Quantum Network Testbed
Mid-Atlantic Region Quantum Internet
Quantum networking testbed spanning the Mid-Atlantic. Distributed quantum networking and entanglement distribution research.
DC-QNET · Federal Quantum Testbed
DC Quantum Network
Federal quantum testbed operated for USG agencies in the national capital region. Secured access for government quantum experimentation and networking research.
MAXGigaPop · Research Network
Mid-Atlantic Crossroads
High-bandwidth research network hub providing Internet2 access and connectivity across the corridor’s quantum infrastructure — the regional backbone connecting QLab, MARQI, and DC-QNET.
Deep Tech Facility
The physical home of the Capital of Quantum
A purpose-built deep tech facility in Discovery District Maryland — housing quantum labs, the CoQ headquarters, and an expanding roster of quantum tenants.
5700 Rivertech Court · Riverdale, MD · Discovery District Maryland
The Deep Tech Facility
A three-story building with spaces purpose-built for quantum labs, offices, loading dock capabilities, and abundant parking — within the 150+ acre Discovery District Maryland campus. Fiber backbone connectivity via Mid-Atlantic Crossroads, the high-bandwidth research network connecting UMD and the region’s quantum infrastructure.
Less than one mile from UMD campus. Adjacent to the College Park Metro, MARC train station, and the incoming Purple Line light rail. IonQ maintains its own nearby HQ; this facility serves the broader CoQ ecosystem.
Current & Incoming Tenants
Microsoft
Anchor tenant — Quantum Research Center. Majorana 1 topological qubit platform.
IQM Quantum Computers
First U.S. quantum technology center — superconducting quantum hardware systems.
Capital of Quantum HQ
CoQ program headquarters and coordination office.
Quantum Startup Foundry
Future home — dry labs, office space, Pre-TraQtion & TraQtion programs.
Additional Tenants
Quantum companies actively joining — space available.
3 stories
Lab + office space
150+ acres
Discovery District campus
<1 mile
From UMD campus
Metro · MARC · Purple Line
Adjacent transit (Purple Line 2027–28)
Why Discovery District Maryland
Come for the talent. Stay for the location.
Discovery District Maryland
Maryland’s innovation core — purpose-built for deep-tech companies that need talent, infrastructure, and proximity to federal partners in one place.
Transit & Access
Purple Line — 5 stations nearby
New light rail launching late 2027 / early 2028
MARC Train
College Park station — direct commuter rail to Union Station, Washington DC
Amtrak access
New Carrollton station — 10 minutes from campus, full Amtrak Northeast Corridor access
Metrorail — Green & Yellow Lines
Direct to DC, Silver Spring, and connections throughout the region
Bike trail network
Paint Branch Trail, Capital Crescent — car-optional campus life
Proximity & Scale
4 miles from the DC border. Inside the Beltway.
Federal agencies, policy community, and the DC quantum corridor
30 min to Fort Meade
NSA, Cyber Command, and the national security community
3 major airports
BWI (20 min), DCA (30 min), Dulles (45 min)
90+ organizations on campus
Researchers, companies, and federal partners — dense by design
Walkable amenities
Riverdale Park Station — Whole Foods, restaurants, Denizens Brewing, and more
Startups & Commercialization
The ecosystem is already producing companies
From foundry to public markets — the infrastructure, talent, and capital are here.
Quantum Startup Foundry · UMD
Quantum Startup Foundry
Dry labs, office space, Pre-TraQtion and TraQtion programs. Future home at the Deep Tech Facility. Portfolio spans hardware, software, sensing, and quantum networking. Current QSF portfolio includes startups such as Error Corp, NanoQT, QC82, NeoQuortex, Phaseshift, and Singularity Quantum.
IonQ · Global HQ · College Park
IonQ
World’s first publicly traded pure-play quantum computing company. Born in College Park. Maintains its own HQ in Discovery District Maryland.
Q-Cat · Quantum Catalyzer
Q-Cat
Maryland-based quantum innovation catalyzer — advancing quantum innovation from the Capital of Quantum ecosystem. Connecting companies, talent, and capital.
