Insider Brief A DOE advisory panel proposed a 2026–2028 quantum grand-challenge program to demonstrate independently validated scientific uses of fault-tolerant quantum computing before considering a national user facility.
A second phase could create a DOE Quantum Computing User Facility if the early demonstrations show sufficient scientific utility, technical maturity and user demand.
The third phase would integrate quantum computing with DOE supercomputers, artificial intelligence systems, scientific instruments, networks and experiments.
The committee was charged with developing a roadmap toward scientifically useful, fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2028 and a longer-term vision for a DOE Quantum Computing User Facility.
The ultimate purpose of a DOE Quantum Computing User Facility is not simply to maximize quantum hardware performance, but to maximize scientific discovery,” the committee writes.
Sep 19, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
What Are the Quantum Genesis Q Competition Structures and Application Deadlines?
The DOE will outline the requirements for the Quantum Genesis Q Competition during a virtual informational webinar on Sept. 25 at 1:00 p.m.
How Does the Quantum Genesis Q Competition Support National Strategy and Scientific Progress?
The multimillion-dollar effort directly aligns with the administration’s executive order on Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation while drawing on recommendations from the Blueprint for DOE Quantum Supercomputing.
What Supporting Infrastructure Is DOE Establishing for Quantum Genesis?
Sep 18, 2026 · via executivegov.com
A new quantum computer is now up and running in Chattanooga, and EPB says businesses will soon be able to pay to use it.
EPB announced Friday that it has launched an IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer at its Quantum Center.
The utility says combining that machine with its existing quantum network makes the Chattanooga facility the first in the country to offer commercial quantum computing and quantum networking in the same place.
EPB plans to open the computer to commercial customers in early October, with UTC lined up as its first customer.
EPB says UTC will begin using the quantum computer when commercial access starts in early October.
Sep 18, 2026 · via newschannel9.com
A practical, commercial quantum computer is over a decade away, executives at Japanese IT services company NEC are reported as saying.
That’s why, according to Japanese news publication The Mainichi, company has pulled the plug on its plans to develop a quantum computer — although it will still continue research into quantum technology.
NEC sources told The Mainichi that it would take at least a decade to build a quantum computing that could be put to practical use, and it would be difficult to monetize the technology.
The company is certainly bucking the trend as quantum computing is seen as being very much at the cutting edge of research.
According to The Mainichi, Japan is set to commit just 10 trillion yen ($65.3 billion) to quantum computing by 2040, far lower than the sums invested by the US and China.
Sep 18, 2026 · via cio.com
The common thread AI and quantum computing create different risks, but both are increasing the importance of the cryptographic infrastructure underneath digital systems.
Quantum computing threatens the durability of the algorithms organizations depend on to protect that data and establish trust.
That helps explain why Thales is putting AI and post-quantum computing in the same conversation around Luna 8.
Competitors including Entrust, Utimaco and Crypto4A are also developing or shipping HSM technology with support for post-quantum cryptography.
“Luna 8 combines support for post-quantum cryptography with the flexibility organizations need to adapt as security requirements constantly evolve.”
Sep 18, 2026 · via biometricupdate.com
Superconducting quantum computing platform provider IQM Quantum Computers (Nasdaq: IQMX) has signed a purchase agreement with the Eldorado Research Institute to deploy its first quantum computer in South America.
Under the contract, IQM will deliver an on-premises IQM Spark system to Eldorado’s headquarters in Campinas, Brazil, in Q1 2027, marking the first quantum computer acquisition by a private research institution in the country.
The hybrid deployment model pairs the physical, on-premises IQM Spark system with cloud-based remote access to IQM’s 54-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) hosted in Europe.
Building on a reported €102 million order backlog as of August 2026, the company has sold 26 full-stack systems and delivered 17 globally, reinforcing its position as a leading exporter of on-premises superconducting quantum hardware.
Review the official news announcement via IQM Quantum Computers here.
Sep 18, 2026 · via quantumcomputingreport.com
Insider Brief The U.S. Department of Energy has launched the Quantum Genesis Q Competition with up to $215 million in planned funding to support development of fault-tolerant scientifically relevant quantum computers.
The competition will target systems with at least 100 logical qubits and hundreds of millions of fault-tolerant operations, with additional incentives for demonstrations reaching 150 and 200 logical qubits.
PRESS RELEASE — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, an initiative with up to $215 million in planned funding to demonstrate the world’s first fault-tolerant scientifically relevant quantum computers (SRQCs).
“Through the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, we are building a new era of computational power for the nation through innovative public-private partnerships,” said Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil.
DOE will hold a virtual informational webinar for potential Quantum Genesis Q Competition applicants on September 25, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.
Sep 18, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
Announced Sept. 17, the Quantum Genesis Q Competition is part of DOE’s push toward scientifically relevant quantum computing by 2028.
A companion validation and verification testbed has $45 million in planned funding, including $14 million in fiscal 2026 dollars.
It envisions quantum computing working alongside HPC, AI and experimental facilities, with future investments guided by demonstrated scientific value and technical readiness.
The panel calls for coordinated work on applications, algorithms, software and enabling technologies, as well as quantum hardware.
DARPA’s program evaluates whether quantum computing approaches can achieve industrially useful operation by 2033, with computational value exceeding cost.
Sep 18, 2026 · via hpcwire.com
EPB launched a $22-million quantum computer Friday morning, making Chattanooga's municipal utility the first company in the world to combine commercial quantum computing and quantum networking in one center.
The computer, the IonQ Forte Enterprise, sits behind glass at the EPB Quantum Center in what officials said may be the cleanest air in the city.
The utility and IonQ partnered with leading chip maker Nvidia to integrate classical computing hardware into the EPB Quantum Center.
The company contributed $15 million to the EPB quantum computer project and opened an office at the Edney Innovation Center in Chattanooga earlier this year.
The quantum center is the latest evolution of that decision, and it has given Kelly a national and international platform in the quantum sector.
Sep 18, 2026 · via timesfreepress.com
The Department of Energy (DOE) on Sept. 17 announced the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, a $215 million initiative to fund private-sector teams racing to build the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computer.
Two of them sit squarely in the power sector’s own long-term problem set: fusion energy materials, and next-generation batteries and superconductors.
Fusion’s Materials Bottleneck The SCAC roadmap treats fusion as one of its seven grand challenges, with milestones running from now through the 2030s.
Batteries and Superconductors, Designed Before They’re Built A second grand challenge targets “next-generation materials and superconductors.”
The fusion and materials payoffs the SCAC report describes sit explicitly on its 2030-and-beyond horizon, a full phase past the Q Competition’s own milestones.
Sep 17, 2026 · via powermag.com
The Energy Department announced the launch of an initiative on Thursday that looks to turbocharge U.S. deployment of the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computer by offering private sector firms monetary incentives for reaching key development milestones.
Energy launched the Quantum Genesis initiative in June, which looks to develop and deploy the first U.S. fault-tolerant quantum computer for scientific research by 2028.
That program debuted the day after President Donald Trump issued two executive orders looking to secure U.S. technologies from future quantum computing threats and to accelerate development of a scientifically-relevant quantum computer.
In a press call ahead of the initiative’s launch, Energy’s Undersecretary for Science Darío Gil said previous engagement with quantum-focused partners provided “very, very ample feedback” that development of a first-generation scientifically relevant quantum computer is possible.
In addition to launching the competition, Energy also announced on Thursday the rollout of a Quantum High-Performance Computing Validation and Verification Testbed Lab Call.
Sep 17, 2026 · via nextgov.com
The companies believe the process could eventually lead to smaller, cheaper and less energy-intensive rare-earth processing facilities.
Riven to run thousands of automated experiments and generate data on molecules that can separate individual rare earth elements from mixed materials.
Partnership Looks To Reduce Cost Of Rare Earth Processing Riven will use its automated laboratory to run “thousands” of experiments and generate data on molecules capable of separating individual rare earth elements from mixed materials.
If successful, the companies believe the process could eventually lead to smaller, cheaper and less energy-intensive rare-earth processing facilities.
Retail Remains Bearish On USAR Retail sentiment surrounding USAR and PSQL on Stocktwits remained ‘bearish’ over the past 24 hours.
Sep 17, 2026 · via stocktwits.com
It suggests quantum computers can transition from being very advanced number crunchers to systems capable of executing logical mathematical reasoning: starting with an initial set of rules, and taking verifiable steps to an outcome.
"Here we report the experimental realization of automated geometry theorem proving on a fully programmable superconducting quantum processor," write the researchers in their paper.
"As illustrative examples, we prove two theorems on a superconducting quantum processor: the perpendicularity of the diagonals of a square and a 1978 International Mathematical Olympiad geometry problem."
The researchers got their quantum system to do this using a hybrid implementation of a well-known approach called Wu's method.
"These results show that structured mathematical reasoning can be formulated as an executable quantum process rather than merely verified through classical post-processing," write the researchers.
Sep 17, 2026 · via sciencealert.com
Insider Brief IQM Quantum Computers has signed an agreement with Brazil’s Eldorado Research Institute to deploy its first quantum computer in South America.
The deployment will give Brazilian researchers, universities and industry partners access to quantum hardware for algorithm development, hardware and software research, and hybrid HPC-quantum-AI applications.
PRESS RELEASE — IQM Quantum Computers (Nasdaq: IQMX), a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, today announced a purchase agreement with the Eldorado Research Institute to deploy its first quantum computer in South America, marking IQM‘s entry into the region.
“Quantum computing has the potential to transform how we address some of the most complex technological and industrial challenges.
The quantum computer will enable Eldorado and its partners to explore quantum algorithms, build expertise in quantum hardware and software, and investigate hybrid architectures combining high-performance computing, quantum computing and artificial intelligence.
Sep 17, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
Another rule in the strategy places quantum key distribution, the physics-based encryption approach China has pursued since 2016, on the strategy’s list of prohibited technologies.
Post-quantum cryptography is software designed to resist quantum computing factorization involved in new forms of cryptanalysis.
One such approach is quantum key distribution, known as Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), a physics-based method distinct from software-based post-quantum cryptography.
The DoW will likely deploy a form of hybrid encryption that combines classical and post-quantum encryption in parallel.
The National Quantum Initiative Reauthorization Act, advancing through Congress in 2026, directs federal agencies to study quantum communication corridors linking national laboratories and universities.
Sep 17, 2026 · via smallwarsjournal.com
Insider Brief Mitsubishi Electric will launch two R&D projects selected for support by Japan’s NEDO to develop technologies for scaling quantum computers.
The projects will target multi-qubit-control laser systems for neutral-atom and trapped-ion systems and compact, low-noise amplifier modules for superconducting quantum computers.
Following this selection, Mitsubishi Electric will launch its two projects aimed at scaling up quantum computers: 1) Research and Development of Multi-Qubit-Control Laser Systems and 2) Development of Ultra-Compact, Multi-Channel, Low-Noise Amplifier Modules for Large-Scale Superconducting Quantum Computers.
R&D targeting practical applications is already underway, but full-scale industrial applications will require significantly improved processing capacity and computational accuracy to realize quantum computers with clear advantages over conventional computers.
The aim is to scale up various types of quantum computers by enabling the control of larger numbers of neutral atoms, ions and superconducting qubits.
Sep 17, 2026 · via thequantuminsider.com
Quantum computing is rapidly transitioning from a phase of fundamental laboratory research into a scientifically revolutionary capability.
Today, I am proud to share their newly released report, "SCAC Quantum Committee Report: Path to an Integrated Quantum Future."
While these metrics are vital, the SCAC report proposes a crucial shift in thinking: success must be measured by scientific utility.
Phase III: An Integrated Quantum Future (2030+): Ultimately, quantum computing will not exist in isolation.
Together, we are not just building quantum computers; we are establishing a new national capability for scientific discovery.
Sep 17, 2026 · via newswise.com
DoE’s illustrative benchmark for the prototype calls for at least 10 logical qubits (quantum bits) capable of performing 10³ hard operations.
For the first-generation SRQC, DoE’s illustrative benchmark rises to at least 100 logical qubits capable of performing 10⁵ hard operations with fault tolerance.
Logical qubits are a solution to the tendency for quantum computers to be quite error prone because qubits are incredibly fragile.
Logical qubits are supposed to solve those problems by grouping a bunch of physical qubits into a single system that can correct for errors.
QuEra also plans to introduce its Libra system by 2028 with more than 256 logical qubits and a logical error rate of 10⁻⁶.
Sep 17, 2026 · via theregister.com
Quantum error mitigation and quantum error correction are often framed as tools for different eras of quantum computing: mitigation for near-term devices and correction for scalable fault tolerance.
In practice, however, we see a continuous path from error mitigation to error correction.
Explore the continuum from error mitigation to error correction yourself with the tutorials and learning resources on IBM Quantum Platform.
Released as a beta service late last year, the directed execution model made error mitigation configurable on the client side to enable experimentation with advanced error mitigation capabilities.
Even in the era of fault-tolerant quantum computing, we expect error mitigation and post-selection to work together with qLDPC error correction to provide better logical performance with the same hardware.
Sep 16, 2026 · via ibm.com
By José Tadeu Arantes | Agência FAPESP – Quantum computers are already being built and tested on an experimental scale.
We’ve managed to build them, test them, develop algorithms, and conduct small-scale experiments, but we still don’t have viable quantum computers for productive commercial use.
“Our main goal is to discover which problems quantum computing will make a difference in, so that we can invest quickly and effectively,” she said.
One particularly interesting outcome of the strategy was the discovery that researching quantum computing can yield benefits even when the optimal solution is classical rather than quantum.
The 6th FAPESP 2026 Conference, “From Research to Strategic Advantage: Quantum Computing Applied to Business,” is available in its entirety at youtu.be/enfPYfDDxyk.
Sep 16, 2026 · via agencia.fapesp.br