XPRIZE Quantum Applications Finalist At Q2B Silicon Valley
The XPRIZE Quantum Applications competition, a three-year, $5 million global challenge, named seven Finalist teams today whose quantum algorithm techniques show promise for real-world effect. This decision, announced during Q2B Silicon Valley, shifts the field from conceptual promise to specific use cases with considerable societal benefits. In March 2024, the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA) presented the challenge, and Google Quantum AI sponsored it.
Addressing Quantum Barrier
Based on Deep Tech + Exploration, Energy + Climate + Nature, Health, Food + Water + Waste, and Learning + Society, XPRIZE Quantum Applications is known for building communities that convert “crazy ideas” into breakthroughs and accelerate quantitative progress. The XPRIZE Quantum Applications challenge is in Deep Tech + Exploration.
The rivalry is driven by a fundamental problem in quantum computing: current technology is not powerful enough to solve global problems. The multidisciplinary field of quantum computing leverages quantum mechanics' information processing power to address computational problems that regular computers cannot. However, translating quantum algorithms into tested, benchmarked, and implementable real-world applications for when powerful hardware becomes available has received little attention.
This $5 million, three-year competition challenges innovators to build and test quantum algorithms and solutions to solve important real-world problems. Competitors must develop deployable quantum algorithms to address global materials science, energy, health, and climate challenges. When larger hardware becomes available, successful contributions will propose and analyse quantum algorithms and applications that could unleash quantum computing's promise for everyone. A unique algorithm, a new application that shows how current algorithms solve previously unidentified problems, or improved performance that dramatically reduces the resources needed for quantum advantage for a known approach are all possible winning contributions.
The Strict Selection
Two phases begin in 2024, with winners announced in spring 2027. Phase I of the competition assessed quantum application proposals for novelty and world-changing potential.
The independent judges chose seven finalists from twenty semifinalists. XPRIZE Quantum Applications' global competition paradigm has generated 376 teams and 817 expressions of interest from 82 nations. Based on proposal quality and viability, the Semifinalists were chosen from 133 applications from 31 nationalities.
After a thorough, evidence-based evaluation, Finalists were chosen. Judges preferred submissions with algorithmic rigour, technological novelty, and plausible quantum advantages. The evaluation criteria required evidence beyond conceptual drawings, quantified assumptions, recognised limits, and benchmarked against standard approaches, not just theoretical asymptotic scaling arguments. The projected real-world impact, estimated quantum resources, proof strength, and uniqueness are the main criteria for evaluation.
Meet the Finalists
The seven Finalist teams go to Phase II with the best strategies from across the world.
Calbee Quantum: The Pasadena, USA-based Calbee Quantum team is developing a framework to accelerate electronic structure simulations across sectors, especially semiconductor applications like optoelectronic simulations.
Gibbs Samplers: They enable precise quantum simulations that minimise search spaces and speed up the discovery of next-generation materials including quantum chemical systems, exotic magnetic materials, and high-temperature superconductivity models.
Using revolutionary quantum algorithms to transmit sophisticated quantum-mechanical computations to quantum hardware, the London-based Phasecraft-Materials Team can do more exact electronic-structure calculations than standard methods. Carbon capture, efficient solar cells, and advanced batteries require faster and more reliable clean-energy material discovery.
Q4Proteins: This team is developing a first-principles simulation pipeline that operates across molecular classes for large-scale biochemical applications including quantum drug discovery and biomolecular condensate explanation. They use quantum-accurate, multilayer-embedded energy computations and machine learning.
QuantumForGraphproblem: This group is developing a quantum linear system technique with a significant quantum advantage for various applications.
The QuMIT improves protein-protein interaction analysis for polygenic disorder risk stratification, early diagnosis, and personalised therapy. They prioritise hypergraph community discovery speed.
Xanadu: This Canadian team is using a quantum algorithm to build more efficient organic solar cells, which has ramifications for corrosion resistance, photovoltaics, and photodynamic therapies.
Focus of Phase II
Phase II for Finalists emphasises data-driven performance evaluations rather than possible conceptions. In the next stage, teams must provide quantifiable information, including benchmarking against the most advanced classical methods, a clear quantum advantage at relevant scales, detailed resource estimates (including logical qubits, architectures, and error-correction assumptions), and subject-matter experts' expected real-world impact. The competition promotes responsible innovation to progress quantum computing towards XPRIZE Quantum Applications that benefit society in sustainability, energy, health, materials, and more.
Finalists demonstrate an emerging quantum ecosystem that uses data, comparison, and practical applicability to measure progress. With the backing of a broad community of quantum researchers, legislators, and corporate leaders, independent evaluation is closing the gap between theory and reality to enable quantum innovation to drive global solutions.
