DARPA has launched a multi-phase initiative to accelerate the transition of chip-scale quantum technologies from laboratory research to commercial and defense applications. The Optical-Atomic System Integration & Calibration (OASIC) program, run under DARPA’s Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) framework, aims to establish modular testbeds across three U.S. sites for rapid evaluation and benchmarking of quantum computing, sensing, and timing components.
The OASIC program addresses a longstanding bottleneck in quantum commercialization: the lack of standardized infrastructure to test miniaturized quantum components—such as nanophotonic lasers and optoelectronic modules—against lab-grade systems. To resolve this, DARPA has selected three consortia to lead domain-specific testbeds: QuEra and university partners in Boston for qubits, Rydberg Technologies in Michigan for sensors, and Vector Atomic in Colorado and California for atomic clocks. Each site is tasked with developing reconfigurable, modular facilities that can swap in new components with minimal setup time, enabling independent benchmarking across a range of chip-scale technologies.
OASIC also aims to create a certification process for quantum-enabling hardware, akin to NIST or UL standards for classical components. By providing performance validation and integration metrics, OASIC seeks to de-risk quantum hardware adoption for defense and commercial systems integrators. The program is designed to be self-sustaining, with a commercialization mandate for its university–small business partnerships to proactively attract customers and expand beyond government contracts.
In its current Phase II, OASIC is supporting full-scale testbed development, with future phases expected to establish streamlined contracting pathways for broader industry use. DARPA envisions the testbeds evolving into “quantum UARCs”—user facilities that provide validation, prototyping, and transition support for quantum hardware suppliers across sectors.
More details are available from DARPA here.
June 18, 2025
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