Insider Brief
- DARPA is expanding its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) after determining that more companies than expected have viable plans for practical quantum computing, according to Breaking Defense.
- The program does not fund quantum technology development directly but provides independent evaluations from an interagency team of experts to assess the feasibility of companies’ approaches.
- While initial contracts went to Microsoft and PsiQuantum, DARPA is now inviting more companies to participate, with new awards expected by late March.
DARPA is preparing to expand its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) after finding more companies than expected have feasible plans for building practical quantum computers, according to program manager Joe Altepeter.
The agency is weeks away from awarding new contracts, he told Breaking Defense.
The QBI program is designed to rigorously evaluate quantum computing companies, but unlike traditional government funding programs, it does not provide direct development grants. Instead, companies that make it through QBI’s selection process gain access to an interagency team of experts who independently assess the viability of their approaches. This allows DARPA to determine which companies are on track to developing real-world quantum systems.
The initiative’s first phase, a pilot program known as Underexplored Systems for Utility-Scale Quantum Computing (US2QC), awarded contracts to Microsoft and PsiQuantum. Two other firms, Atom Computing and QC82, received preliminary grants but were eliminated after failing to meet DARPA’s stringent evaluation criteria, Breaking Defense reports. That left Microsoft and PsiQuantum as the only companies to secure long-term “Stage C” contracts announced on Feb. 6.
Altepeter told Breaking Defense that the 50% success rate was higher than he anticipated.
“That was definitely surprising,” he said. “I didn’t think anybody was going to make it to Stage C. But that’s why we do this, to get surprised.”
Encouraged by these results, DARPA is now moving to bring more companies into the program. Altepeter calls it “a major expansion.”
“We’ve gotten finished with source selection [and] sent out letters inviting all the companies who’ve made it into stage A to negotiate a contract,” he said. “My best guess is late March, we’re going to have the vast majority of those contracts signed.”
Evaluating Quantum Ambitions
The new competition round has again exceeded expectations, with many companies demonstrating more advanced technology than DARPA had assumed. This means more firms will be evaluated, giving DARPA an even broader view — a chance to “kick the tires” — of whether the industry is making real progress toward useful quantum computing.
“A year from now, we’ll know a lot more about if this industry is for real or not,” Altepeter told Breaking Defense.
The selection process follows a multi-stage approach:
- Stage A: Companies submit written proposals and participate in four-hour oral presentations before a panel of experts. Those selected receive a six-month contract to articulate their vision for a future quantum computer and explain how it would perform meaningful tasks.
- Stage B: Companies that advance undergo a year-long evaluation, during which DARPA scrutinizes their full quantum R&D plans. This includes technical aspects such as error correction and the economics of scaling up their technology.
- Stage C: The few firms that clear Stage B receive long-term contracts. DARPA continues independent testing and closely monitors progress, including direct evaluations in company labs and government facilities.
Altepeter noted that companies that fail at one stage can try again. Atom Computing and QC82, for instance, were eliminated after Stage A but could reapply, Breaking Defense reports. The process is flexible and tailored to each company’s development timeline.
The Challenge of Measuring Progress
A key issue in evaluating quantum technology is determining the right metrics for success. Altepeter warned that misleading benchmarks can give an inflated sense of progress.
Altepeter cautioned that relying on misleading benchmarks can create a false sense of advancement. He suggested that it’s akin to judging a space program solely by how high a rocket reaches, a metric that could favor superficial achievements over meaningful technical progress.
DARPA has assembled what Altepeter calls the world’s most comprehensive quantum test team, composed of roughly 200 experts from government institutions including Los Alamos National Laboratory, the Air Force Research Laboratory, and research centers like Johns Hopkins. These specialists spend most of their time on DARPA’s quantum evaluation efforts, providing assessments that are free from commercial influence.
DARPA expects QBI to be a billion-dollar program, according to Altepeter. However, he acknowledged that if too many companies prove viable, the agency may not have enough funding to support all of them.
“It’s a double-edged sword,” he said. “I’m pleasantly surprised that these companies were doing so well. I also worry that we couldn’t eliminate as many companies, because we’re definitely trying to eliminate companies.”
Future Funding Uncertainty
With its expansion plans underway, QBI’s future funding remains an open question. Altepeter avoided commenting on broader budget issues but acknowledged the risk of shifting federal priorities. “It’s always a danger that there are other priorities that take precedence,” he told Breaking Defense.
For now, however, DARPA’s program manager tells Breaking Defense that the agency’s directive is clear.
“My marching orders are the same as they have been since we started this,” Altepeter said. “Sprint as fast as possible and get ready for a world-changing program.”
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