Martin Cremer
Jul 7, 2025
Roy T. Eddleman’s estate donates a combined $64,725,000 to UCSB, UC Irvine, and Caltech through the Eddleman Quantum Institute
In a landmark act of scientific philanthropy, the estate of Roy T. Eddleman has donated a combined $64,725,000 to the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB), the University of California, Irvine (UC Irvine), and the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). The gift, made through the Eddleman Quantum Institute (EQI), establishes a collaborative quantum science ecosystem designed to accelerate research, education, and operations across the field.
The donation, distributed over several years beginning in 2020, reflects Eddleman’s vision to unite leading research institutions in pursuit of quantum breakthroughs. Each university received initial seed funding to support postdoctoral and graduate fellowships, scientific conferences, and foundational research projects. The final distribution awarded $19 million to each institution, solidifying EQI’s role as a hub for interdisciplinary quantum science.
“Quantum science holds significant promise for humanity,” Eddleman said in 2021. “To realize its fullest potential, we need to provide adequate support to the young scientists who want to pursue careers in this field.”
Eddleman, a chemist and inventor best known for founding Spectrum Labs and developing bioprocess-filtration technologies, passed away in 2022. His legacy continues through EQI, which now serves as a nexus for quantum innovation, bringing together faculty, students, and researchers across the three campuses.
UC Irvine Chancellor Howard Gillman praised the gift, stating, “The Eddleman Quantum Institute is an example of what can be achieved through a combination of generosity, ambition and the determination to conquer the unknown.”
EQI Director William Evans added, “Roy Eddleman’s vision and generosity—and their continuation by the Eddleman Foundation—are to be thanked for the creation of the Eddleman Quantum Institute and our ability to move forward with our work.”
The donation not only strengthens institutional collaboration but also positions California as a global leader in quantum research and education.