Global Industry Challenge 2025 background cover

Global Industry Challenge 2025

The International Year of Quantum: Global Industry Challenge is hosted virtually with participants tackling a prioritized set of industry-defined use cases and collaborating and competing to develop corresponding solutions with quantum computers.

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Overview
Agenda
Rules
Discussions

Global Industry Challenge 2025

Overview

The Global Industry Challenge is a platform for innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to engage in collaborative action to solve practical use cases using quantum and quantum adjacencies such as AI. Working within the International Year of Quantum framework, the Challenge will help amplify quantum awareness and increase talent pipelines over the course of the program. The Challenge will help accelerate the practical implementation of quantum technologies. The Challenge targets developing solutions for key sectors that drive the quantum industry. It is more than just a competition. It’s a global movement to drive quantum breakthroughs in life sciences, financial services, infrastructure, and risk management & insurance. Innovators, researchers, and industry leaders will collaborate to tackle real‑world challenges with access to cutting‑edge quantum platforms. By bringing together diverse teams and resources, the Challenge aims to accelerate the practical implementation of quantum technologies across key sectors. Important: Before you join the Challenge Competitions, you must have completed the following Participant Registration Form. This is also a rule for each competition.
https://www.pqic.org/challenge-involvement

Organizers & Partners

The 2025 Global Industry Challenge is led by Connected DMV, qBraid, Aqora, and Quantum World Congress, in collaboration with the American Physical Society and International Year of Quantum Science and Technology.
The Challenge Providers include JPMC and Wells Fargo (Financial Services), The World Bank Group (Infrastructure, Risk Management & Insurance), and NeuroQuantum Nexus (Life Sciences). More Information at: https://www.pqic.org/challenge
Watch the Launch Webinar Recording Here

Challenge Timeline

Announcement

  • Quantum World Congress 2024, Tysons, VA (September 10, 2024)

Partners & Challenges Presentation

  • CES 2025, Las Vegas, NV (January 9, 2025)

Challenge Launch

  • World Quantum Day (April 14, 2025) — Watch Here

The Challenge

Online: Global Access (April 15, 2025 – June 27, 2025)
  • First Phase — April 15 – May 5 (extended to Thursday, May 8) [All Teams]
    This phase includes Forming Teams, Selecting Use‑Cases, Proposing Solutions, and Submitting a Write‑up.
  • Second Phase — May 9 – June 1 [Down‑Selected Teams]
    This phase includes Further Developing your Solution in the qBraid Platform, and Submitting Solutions.
  • Final Phase — June 9 – July 3 [Finalists]
    This phase includes Incorporating Challenge Provider Feedback, Iterating Through QC/Simulator Access, and Submitting Solutions.

Award Ceremony

  • Quantum World Congress 2025 (September 16‑18, 2025)

Global Industry Challenge 2025: FAQ's

General Information

What is the timeline for the challenge?
The timeline for the challenge can be found here. Key dates to be aware of:
  1. Challenge Launch: April 14, 2025
  2. Challenge Opens: April 15, 2025
  3. First Phase Submission: May 5, 2025 (extended to Thursday, May 8, 11:59 PM EST)
  4. Second Phase Submission: May 28, 2025
  5. Final Submission: June 29, 2025
  6. Awards: Quantum World Congress (September 16‑18, 2025)

Participation

How do I register for the Challenge?
Please sign up through the following form and follow the instructions to register on Aqora to access the Challenges and qBraid to access the work portal —
https://www.pqic.org/challenge-involvement Steps for Participation:
  1. Register through the link and complete the Participant Form.
  2. Create your Aqora Account and qBraid Account.
  3. Check out the Competitions on Aqora.
  4. Create a Team:
  • Open your profile in the top‑right corner of aqora.io.
  • Click on your profile.
  • Click Organizations.
  • Press the Create Organization button.
  1. Add Members to a Team — Once the Organization (Team) is Created:
  • Go to the Organization page, which can be found on your profile on the Organizations tab.
  • Click Users.
  • Add members using the @username — Add Member.
  • There is one owner and members. Who can participate in the Challenge?
    The Challenge is open to participants worldwide, including innovators, entrepreneurs, industry professionals, students, and researchers. However, individuals from countries under active export control restrictions may be excluded to comply with US international regulations. Do I need to have prior experience in quantum computing to participate?
    While prior experience in quantum computing may be beneficial, it is not explicitly a requirement. The Challenge encourages diverse participation, and teams may consist of members with varying expertise. Collaborative efforts between individuals with different skill sets can lead to innovative solutions.

Team Formation

How do I build a team?
If you already have a team, great! Look for instructions on our partner site Aqora to submit your team information for the use case you choose to pursue.
  1. Create a Team:
  • Open your profile in the top‑right corner of aqora.io.
  • Click on your profile.
  • Click Organizations.
  • Press the Create Organization button.
  1. Add Members to a Team — Once the Organization (Team) is Created:
  • Click Users.
  • Add members using the @username — Add Member.
  • There is one owner and members. See Demo Here How do I find a team or teammates?
    If you do not have a team yet, no worries! The first phase of the challenge gives you the space to connect with others and build a team. You can use the discussion board hosted on our partner site Aqora to reach out to others and connect with those you want to work with. Post on the corresponding discussion board if you are looking to join a team or recruit for an existing team. Subscribe to the topic for email updates. Who should be on the team?
    We recommend teams of 1‑5 participants to balance the workload. Although there is no minimum team size, you may not have over 5 people on a team. We recommend your team is diverse, with teammates filling the following roles: Coder; Data/Technical Lead; Content/Knowledge Expert; Business/Production; and Project Manager/Team Coordinator. Although the deadline for team formation is May 5 (the first phase submission deadline), it is advised that teams are formed and registered no later than April 28. How do I communicate with my team?
    You can utilize the Aqora discussion board to communicate with your team once you have identified teammates, or you can set up alternate forms of communication once you have connected. How does my team decide what use case to pursue?
    The use cases can be found here. We recommend that you read the use cases and decide which best suits your technical expertise and experience. How many use cases can my team work on?
    A team can submit solutions for multiple use cases, but a team cannot submit multiple solutions for the same use case. How many teams can I join?
    Participants are able and encouraged to join multiple teams if the respective teams are not submitting solutions for the same use cases.

Challenge Format

What are the focus areas of the Challenge?
The Challenge targets developing solutions for key sectors that drive the quantum industry. Industry leaders have established a set of prioritized use cases for the Challenge. Focus areas include: Financial Services, Infrastructure, Risk Management & Insurance, and Life Sciences. Watch the Challenge Provider Presentations Here Where can I find the use cases?
The use cases are outlined on the Global Industry Challenge website. Once you are registered for the Challenge, the detailed use cases are hosted on our partner site, Aqora. Please see the live demo below explaining how to access the Challenge. Watch Live Demo Here Who is qBraid, the Platform Provider?
qBraid is a cloud‑based platform that provides an environment for users to write, test, and execute quantum programs on multiple hardware providers. qBraid was the winner of the inaugural Quantum World Congress Startup Pitch Competition and is the official platform partner of the Global Industry Challenge. How do I launch my selected Challenge on the qBraid platform?
See the live demo here for launching the Challenge and accessing the platform. Watch Live Demo Here How will the Challenge be conducted and over what timeline?
The Challenge will be conducted virtually. The key milestones are above. What do I submit for Phase 1?
Create a 1‑page maximum PDF, using 11‑point Times New Roman font and single spacing, and submit it through the qBraid platform. Include the following details:
  1. Team Name
  2. Team Participants and Role within the team (Include Names, Emails, Job Title and Organization)
  3. Team Qualifications for Tackling the Challenge
  4. Brief Description of the Steps You Will Use to Solve this Challenge
  • High‑level overview of your proposed solution
  • Technical approach, including how you will utilize quantum computing feasibility and advantage over classical methods
  • Projected industry impact
    How do I submit?
    Once you have created an account, an organization (Team), and joined a Competition(s):
  1. Open the Aqora competition page that you want to submit for, and click the Submission tab:
    Overview 1.png
  2. Drag and drop or upload the PDF for Phase 1:
    Overview 2.png
  3. You can view your submission through your Aqora profile:
    Overview 3.png
    Re‑upload to replace with the newest version. Important: First Phase Submission: May 5, 2025 (Deadline Extended to Thursday, May 8, 11:59 PM EST) What are the prizes?
  4. Winning teams will be invited to Quantum World Congress 2025 and have the opportunity to present their solutions at the Quantum World Congress 2025 (Sept 16‑18, 2025, in Greater Washington).
  5. Each winning team will receive a Challenge Award, a Digital Certificate, and global recognition on stage at Quantum World Congress 2025.
  6. Depending on solutions and use case, there could be follow‑up opportunities for winning teams to participate in further development with the industry providers and quantum platforms.
  7. Dependent on solutions, team structure, and use case, winning teams can receive a priority invitation for the 2025 Quantum Start‑up Pitch Competition. What are the general conditions of engagement?
  8. Organizers reserve the right to disqualify teams violating the parameters outlined in the above Q&A or engaging in unfair practices.
  9. Decisions by judges and organizers are final and will not be contested by the participants.
  10. Participants agree to the rules and disclosures set forth when they registered and joined the challenge. Do challenge participants retain the IP rights to their work?
    Participants will submit original solutions, prototypes, or other materials (a “Submission”). Participants retain ownership of all intellectual property rights in and to Submissions but grant the Challenge Organizer and Use Case Providers a perpetual, irrevocable, and non‑exclusive license to use, adapt, or create a larger/derivative work from the submission. Participant(s) agree not to or authorize any action, or lawsuit against the Organizer, Use Case Providers, or any other person, on the grounds that any use of a Participant's Submission infringes any of Participant's rights as creator of the Submission. Important: Before you join the Challenge Competitions, you must have completed the following Participant Registration Form. This is also a rule for each competition.
    https://www.pqic.org/challenge-involvement Who can I contact with questions?
    Ask questions through the Discussion Board and Subscribe for Updates or
    Email quantum@connecteddmv.org with any questions.