The Quantum Insider Announces the 2026 Global Quantum + AI Challenge to Accelerate Practical Quantum Use Cases. Year-long, two-stage program convenes enterprises, researchers, and quantum technology providers to solve real-world industry problems
The Quantum Insider (TQI), powered by Resonance, today announced the 2026 Global Quantum + AI Challenge – a curated international program designed to accelerate practical, enterprise-relevant quantum use cases in sectors where computational performance drives competitive advantage.
The 2026 program builds directly on the global challenge series pioneered by TQI with Airbus, BMW, and AWS in 2024, expanding the scope and depth of enterprise participation, technical enablement, and Proof-of-Concept (PoC) pathways.
In 2026, the Challenge convenes a broader set of industry problem owners and solution teams to move from concept proposals to PoC-grade demonstrators tied to real operational needs.
The 2026 Challenge will run as a year-long program launching today. It is structured as a two-stage challenge:
- Phase I (Ideation): Teams submit concept proposals responding to enterprise problem statements, including the technical approach, expected impact, and a validation plan.
- Phase II (PoC Sprint): A finalist cohort is selected to build PoC-grade demonstrators with access to enabling tooling, expert office hours, and compute resources.
The Challenge is designed to bridge theory and deployment by focusing on practical quantum use cases and credible pathways to validation, including benchmarking, workflow definition, and PoC demonstration.
The 2026 Global Quantum + AI Challenge will award $200,000 in total prize money across five enterprise challenges, with $40,000 allocated per challenge.
Prizes will be awarded to the top-performing team in each challenge track, as determined by the final jury review. Full prize allocation, eligibility conditions, and award criteria are available on the portal.
“Building on the global challenge series we pioneered with Airbus, BMW, and AWS in 2024, the 2026 Global Quantum + AI Challenge is designed to move the conversation from curiosity to credible validation,” said Alex Challans, CEO, Resonance. “We are convening enterprises with real, high-value problem statements and pairing them with the teams and tooling needed to test practical quantum use cases in a disciplined, outcome-driven way.”
Enterprise Challenges
Five global enterprises will challenge teams to demonstrate how quantum computing can address high-value operational problems through structured proof-of-concept development.
- Airbus — Quantum Solvers: Enhancing Predictive Aerodynamic Modeling Capabilities
- Cleveland Clinic — Unlocking Undruggable Targets: Quantum Simulation of Allosteric Signal Propagation
- E.ON — Quantum-Enabled Grid Expansion Planning for Distribution System Energy Networks
- HSBC — Quantum-Enhanced Credit Card Fraud Detection for Digital Payment Ecosystems
- Volkswagen Group Innovation — Quantum-Enhanced Vision-Language-Action Models in Autonomous Driving and Robotics Applications
Apply now
Applications are now open. Teams can review full problem statements, eligibility criteria, and submission guidelines and submit proposals at https://quantumaiportal.thequantuminsider.com/.
Eligible applicants include startups, researchers, universities, and industry teams working on quantum and quantum-enabled approaches.
Program partners
- Enterprises: Airbus, Cleveland Clinic, E.ON, HSBC and Volkswagen Group Innovation.
- Regional ecosystem partner: Quantum in South Carolina (regional host and ecosystem activation).
- Technology enablement: Amazon Braket (cloud access and orchestration) and Classiq (software layer).
Quantum device access for the Challenge will be provided through AWS Amazon Braket. Compute vendors and broader technology providers interested in supporting finalists, enabling PoCs, or exploring sponsorship packages beyond quantum device access are invited to reach out to discuss partnership and activation options.
Independent technical expertise will be provided by MITRE, whose quantum science team will support the rigorous evaluation of submissions and help ensure PoC-grade demonstrators meet credible technical benchmarks.
Timeline Snapshot
- April 16, 2026: Public launch and application window opens; Phase I ideation submissions begin
- September 15, 2026: Phase I deadline
- September – November 2026: Phase I closes; proposals reviewed by enterprise sponsors and independent assessors; finalists selected
- November 2026 – February 2027: Phase II – PoC sprint begins; technical onboarding, office hours, and workshops
- March – April 2027: Final jury review; winners announced 30 April 2027
Dates subject to change. See latest updates on the challenge portal.
Sponsors and partners will receive coordinated amplification across press moments, interviews, thought-leadership content, webinars, and newsletters aligned to their engagement package.
Quotes
“With this year’s edition, we are inviting transformative innovations that don’t just meet our standards, but would redefine the ceiling of our technical benchmarks. In order to design for peak efficiency, our ability to accurately model aerodynamics is key. The question we are asking the challenge candidates is: ‘Can you develop alternative solutions that could radically boost our design capabilities?’”
— Isabell Gradert, VP Central Research & Technology Airbus
“At Cleveland Clinic we are using quantum computing to make scientific breakthroughs that were thought to be impossible. By participating in this challenge, we hope to inspire the next generation of students to learn how their skills can advance research that will save lives around the world.”
— Lara Jehi, MD, Chief Research and Information Officer, Cleveland Clinic
“At E.ON, we are tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges related to the energy transition and we believe quantum computing will be a key enabling technology. We see the TQI Global Quantum + AI Challenge program as a booster to help us investigate grid expansion quantumly and are looking forward to working with global talent around the world.”
— Dr. Corey O’Meara, Chief Quantum Scientist, E.ON
“By joining the Global Quantum Challenge with the Quantum Insider and wider ecosystem, we’re connecting real financial services challenges with a global community of researchers, startups, and practitioners to accelerate practical experimentation, develop talent, and deliver measurable impact.”
— Dr. Philip Intallura, Group Head of Quantum Technologies, HSBC
“As a deployment partner in the Global Quantum Challenge, South Carolina is aligning university-led research at the University of South Carolina and Clemson University with real-world validation. With the guidance of our Visiting Scholars, this work strengthens technical capacity while positioning the state as a serious participant in the global quantum ecosystem.”
— Dave Alsobrooks, Communications for quantum in South Carolina
“Electrification transformed how vehicles move. Quantum computing and AI will redefine how they think. We are inviting the world’s leading innovators to join us in exploring a hyper‑efficient, quantum‑powered cognitive engine – shaping the future of autonomous mobility.”
— Dr. Arne-Christian Voigt, Next Gen Computing, Volkswagen Group
“The quantum hardware race often gets most of the attention, but we need just as much innovation in algorithms and software to make quantum computing a reality. The Global Quantum + AI Challenge is designed to accelerate exactly that work, pairing enterprise problems with global technical talent and real quantum infrastructure. AWS is proud to sponsor this effort and provide access to a range of quantum technologies through Amazon Braket.”
— Eric Kessler, General Manager, Amazon Braket, Amazon Web Services (AWS)
“Industry needs more than strong quantum ideas. It needs the ability to model use cases clearly, develop them efficiently, and validate them in a disciplined way. This Challenge brings those elements together. With this partnership, Classiq is proud to be supporting that process, making it more practical and giving teams a clear path from ideation to execution.”
— Nir Minerbi, CEO, Classiq
“Working with industry and government to collaborate on continued advances in quantum technologies and growing the quantum workforce is a key part of our public interest mission. This public-private partnership is essential to translating emerging breakthroughs into real-world capability while ensuring the talent pipeline keeps pace with the technology.”
— Yaakov S. Weinstein, Chief Scientist for Quantum Technologies, MITRE
About The Quantum Insider
The Quantum Insider is a trusted source of quantum industry intelligence and analysis. Through research, media, and ecosystem programs, TQI supports the commercialization of quantum technologies and their adoption across enterprise and government.
About Resonance
Resonance is a deep-tech ecosystem partner supporting commercialization programs, partnerships, and strategic initiatives across emerging technologies.
