DOE Wants Quantum Computing Judged by Science, Not Qubit Counts
eWeek, Friday, October 2nd, 2026
DOE's three-phase quantum roadmap targets a scientifically useful error-corrected computer by 2028, backed by a $215M contest.
A DOE advisory subcommittee chaired by Fermilab CTO Anna Grassellino laid out Path to an Integrated Quantum Future, a technology-neutral plan targeting a scientifically relevant, error-corrected quantum computer by 2028, with target applications including catalyst chemistry, superconducting and fusion materials, and particle physics.
DOE paired it with the Quantum Genesis Q Competition, worth up to $215 million, with applications due Oct. 19.
The article notes a tension: DOE says success should be measured by scientific utility, but the competition's biggest rewards depend on logical-qubit counts, starting at a minimum of 100.