DARPA Validates if Industrial Scale Fault Tolerant Quantum Computers Can Be Made by 2035

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DARPA is hosting a QBI (Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI)) proposers day on Sept. 3, 2024, for quantum computing companies that believe they are on track to develop an industrial-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in the near term. The goal of the hybrid in-person and virtual proposers day is to introduce the quantum computing research and development community to DARPA and the QBI vision and goals, explain the mechanics and milestones of the QBI solicitation, and solicit and reply to questions from attendees. DARPA will also offer individual, brief sidebar discussions (in person or virtually) with QBI Program Manager Joe Altepeter.

There are dozens of quantum computer companies and some have billions of dollars in funding. DARPA will put the companies and their proposals through rigorous testing. If they can show a viable path to an industrial industrially useful fault tolerant quantum computer, then this would open up major government support.

“Fault-tolerant quantum computers, if they can be developed, could be transformative for a variety of scientific and industrial applications,” Altepeter said. “We’re eager to hear from and work with an expanded pool of quantum computing firms, both small and large, in the United States and around the world, to determine which approaches show the most promise for success and then help advance those approaches. The proposers day and private sidebars will give us a chance to hear from you and have a brief discussion about your approach. We especially encourage teams who previously applied for our US2QC program to apply for QBI funding, as we anticipate making a larger number of awards under QBI.”

Performers chosen for QBI will focus on one or more of the following efforts, depending on the maturity of their approach and technology:

Developing and describing a utility-scale quantum computer concept — meaning its computational value exceeds its cost — that has a plausible path to realization in the near term.
Developing and describing a robust research and development plan that reduces key risks that a utility-scale quantum computer can be constructed.
Identifying and validating quantum computer applications and algorithms that provide demonstrated utility.
Working with the government to verify and validate that the utility-scale quantum computer concept can be constructed as designed and operated as intended.