Off the Wire Press Releases As practical quantum computing edges closer, global leaders begin making plans to demonstrate its advantages June 15, 2026 — With the first practical quantum computers expected to arrive in about two years’ time, global quantum computing leaders are thinking about how these systems should first be deployed for the largest scientific impact. This spring, the Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) brought together quantum computing leaders for the second annual Quantum Computing for Chemistry workshop, organized by the PNNL Quantum Algorithms and Architecture for Domain Science (QuAADS) initiative. Karol Kowalski, director of QuAADs and an expert in advanced computational chemistry, opened the event with a challenge to the assembled group: identify scalable and adaptive algorithms capable of operating across varying system sizes and qubit counts to solve practical problems. Participants explored how near-term quantum computing and hybrid quantum-classical computing can deliver early demonstrations of utility for solving complex chemistry and materials science problems. Bindu Nair, Associate Director of DOE’s Office of Science Basic Energy Sciences program, addressed the role of DOE in supporting quantum computing and driving its advancement globally. Quoting DOE Undersecretary for Science Dario Gil, she said that “we are at an inflection point in computing and because of that we are going to be able to do science in ways that have never been done before.” “The charge to you,” she added, “is to come up with what the parameters need to be to make a quantum computer useful to this community so that you can demonstrate something useful in quantum chemistry.” DOE has made a large investment in quantum computing through the National Quantum Initiative and its Quantum Centers, she added. Now that it is coming close to paying off, the hard part begins. Up Next for Quantum Chemistry