A consortium led by the University of California, Los Angeles has secured a $4 million grant from the National Science Foundation to develop a 60 logical qubit trapped-ion architecture1. This project aims to integrate an advanced surface ion trap into an experimental vacuum system, leveraging the National Quantum Virtual Laboratory initiative. The funding will support the development of a cutting-edge quantum computing system, with a focus on trapped-ion technology. The grant is a significant investment in the development of quantum computing capabilities, and the UCLA-led team will work to advance the field of quantum computing. The project's success could lead to significant breakthroughs in fields such as cryptography and optimization. This matters to practitioners because the development of a 60 logical qubit trapped-ion architecture could pave the way for the creation of more powerful and scalable quantum computing systems.