Energy Department Announces Initiative to Create and Deploy the World’s First Scientifically Relevant, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the establishment of the ambitious new Quantum Genesis initiative to develop and deploy the world's first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing capability for research and development by 2028.  The Quantum Genesis effort will serve as a foundational element of the broader Genesis Mission, designed to usher in a new era of computational power for the nation to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation.

The announcement of the Quantum Genesis initiative marks a significant step toward the Department’s goals outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), Ushering the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation. The EO reaffirms continued U.S. leadership in quantum information science, including the establishment of the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) Effort. 

To help shape this strategic effort, DOE recently sought community input through a Request for Information (RFI) on Scientifically Relevant Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Systems, underscoring the United States’ commitment to leadership in quantum information science.

“The Quantum Genesis initiative is the first step in delivering on President Trump’s charge for a national effort in developing a quantum computer powerful enough for scientific research,” said Michael Kratsios, Assistant to the President and Director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. “This effort will strengthen U.S. competitiveness, drive breakthroughs that classical systems cannot achieve, and ensure America remains at the forefront of one of the most consequential technologies of our time.”

“Scientific discovery is one of the most powerful drivers of human flourishing, and quantum computing has the potential to dramatically accelerate that discovery,” said Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “Through Quantum Genesis, we are bringing together America’s National Laboratories, universities, and private sector innovators to develop and deploy the world’s first scientifically relevant fault-tolerant quantum computing capability. America led the last computing revolution, and we intend to lead the quantum age as well.”

"Just as telescopes allowed us to explore the cosmos, advanced quantum computers will enable us to peer into the fundamental laws of nature with unparalleled precision," said DOE Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil. "This transformative opportunity for scientific discovery, deeply intertwined with advancements in AI enabled by the Genesis Mission, will be powered by DOE’s unique system of User Facilities, research centers, and partnerships that have laid the foundation for this next era of discovery."

The Quantum Genesis, a core component of the Genesis Mission, will have three major priorities: 

• The DOE Q Competition This bold competition aims to demonstrate fault-tolerant quantum systems in 2028 with logical qubits numbering in the low hundreds. These systems will target critical scientific applications relevant to DOE, including chemistry, materials science, plasma physics, and high-energy physics. Informed by the recent RFI, the competition is designed to accelerate development of fault-tolerant quantum systems, enabling their application for today’s most challenging problems in science, energy innovation, and national security. Participants will collaborate closely with experts from DOE's National Laboratories, National Quantum Information Science Research Centers (NQISRCs), and Office of Science User Facilities.
• The National Quantum Supercomputing User Facility This first-of-its-kind facility will provide U.S. scientists and engineers access to advanced quantum computing systems of multiple modalities capable of tackling previously intractable problems and opening new frontiers of discovery. It will complement DOE’s existing exascale and future post-exascale high-performance computing (HPC) systems and integrate with artificial intelligence, the high-performance Energy Sciences Network (a DOE Office of Science User Facility), and the Genesis Mission's American Science and Security Platform. Together, these capabilities will form a unified HPC-AI-quantum computing ecosystem, providing the United States with one of the most powerful discovery platforms ever conceived. 
• Focused R&D for Quantum Computing Applications Alongside the Q Competition, DOE will conduct targeted research and development to identify and implement breakthrough quantum scientific applications. These efforts will bring together universities, National Laboratories, and industry partners with deep domain expertise to define and advance high-impact use cases for quantum computers. DOE will identify keystone scientific applications to guide system development and evaluation of quantum computers, mirroring the role of the Genesis Mission’s National Science and Technology Challenges in shaping AI-driven innovation. 

The Quantum Genesis builds on longstanding DOE investments in quantum information science, including a strong foundational research program that crosses all science disciplines and the National Quantum Information Science Research Centers established under the National Quantum Initiative Act in 2018. It represents the latest expansion of the Genesis Mission to accelerate U.S. research and development in scientific discovery.