Connected DMV Announces 2025 Global Industry Challenge to Accelerate Quantum Innovation
The Challenge, presented by Connected DMV, qBraid, Aqora and Quantum World Congress, is an official program of the United Nations’ International Year of Quantum Science and Technology
Today, Connected DMV announced the launch of the 2025 Global Industry Challenge, a competition for innovators, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders to collaborate and solve practical use cases using quantum, AI, and quantum-adjacent technologies.
The Global Industry Challenge is a groundbreaking opportunity for industry leaders, investment partners, and quantum ecosystems worldwide to collaborate on high-value, real-world use cases that showcase the transformative potential of quantum computing. By integrating quantum with adjacent technologies like AI, the Challenge will amplify quantum awareness, expand global talent pipelines, and accelerate practical applications in key industries, including consumer products, financial services, and life sciences.
“The Challenge is more than a competition—it’s a global movement to unlock the potential of quantum computing,” said George Thomas, President and CEO at Connected DMV. “By bringing together world-class researchers, entrepreneurs, and organizations, we are creating a platform where quantum solutions are developed, tested, and applied to real-world problems.”
A Global Platform for Quantum Innovation
As an official program of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, the Global Industry Challenge brings together some of the most innovative minds in quantum science and technology. Participants will have exclusive access through the qBraid and Aqora platforms to leading quantum computers and simulators from companies such as D-Wave, NVIDIA, Q-CTRL, IQM, Amazon Braket, and QuEra, enabling them to explore cutting-edge quantum capabilities. These platforms offer a range of capabilities, from cloud-based quantum simulators to powerful quantum computers, enabling participants to experiment with different approaches and technologies. The Global Industry Challenge platforms will be accessible virtually and provide a unified interface and tools for managing quantum resources and workflows. The availability of these computing capabilities will allow participants to explore new algorithms, optimize complex processes, and unlock insights that were previously unattainable. The Global Industry Challenge is also committed to providing resources and support, such as access to expert networks and collaborative workshops, creating a unique opportunity for participants to make significant contributions to the field of quantum computing. To ensure worldwide participation and access to resources, the Challenge will have regional competition nodes in major quantum hubs, including Washington, D.C., Amsterdam, Brisbane, and Waterloo.
Challenge Focus Areas
Participants will receive a prioritized set of industry-defined use cases, collaborate in teams, and compete to develop impactful quantum solutions. Industry Challenge Providers will present high-value, real-world challenges tied to their core missions, serving as the foundation of the competition. Industries include Life Sciences, Financial Services, Resources, Energy and others.
Winning teams will receive global recognition and present their solutions at Quantum World Congress 2025, a premier gathering of international quantum leaders.
How to Participate
Participants will receive a prioritized set of industry-defined use cases and will collaborate and compete to develop viable solutions. This is an opportunity to work alongside top experts, gain access to advanced quantum platforms, and contribute to groundbreaking technological advancements.
Participants can register at: https://www.pqic.org/challenge.
Challenge Structure & Timeline
Participant Registration Opens: February 14, 2025
Challenge Launch: World Quantum Day (April 14, 2025)
Winner Showcase: Quantum World Congress 2025 (September 16-18, 2025)
To support, sponsor, modify registrations, provide industry challenges, or partner, contact quantum@connecteddmv.org.
ABOUT QUANTUM WORLD CONGRESS
Quantum World Congress (QWC), powered by Connected DMV, is the premier global event for quantum innovation, bringing together visionaries, policymakers, researchers, business leaders, and students to explore advancements in quantum technologies and their intersections with AI, cybersecurity, and more. Since 2022, QWC has positioned Greater Washington as a global quantum hub, attracting participants from 29 countries and featuring transformative programming, strategic partnerships, and groundbreaking industry announcements. Learn more at quantumworldcongress.com.
ABOUT CONNECTED DMV
Connected DMV is an initiatives-based, charitable 501(c)(3) organization that works with regional organizations across Greater Washington to help drive ongoing improvements to social, digital, and physical infrastructure. Connected DMV focuses on initiatives that span local jurisdictions and require public-private-academia-community collaboration to best achieve regional economic growth. Learn more at connecteddmv.org.
ABOUT QBRAID
qBraid is a premiere cloud platform for quantum software development. With proven usage in academia, industry, and the world’s top hackathons at QuantX, MIT, Stanford x Yale, and NYUAD, qBraid’s users can easily get started on 15+ quantum devices and dive deep into complex algorithms related to financial optimization, quantum machine learning and more with 25+ quantum software environments - all in one platform. Learn more at qbraid.com. qBraid is on YouTube, LinkedIn, and Twitter.
ABOUT AQORA
Aqora is the leading quantum computing community platform that connects quantum experts and innovators with companies to solve real-world problems through hackathons and online competitions. Learn more at aqora.io.
ABOUT THE INTERNATIONAL YEAR OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Recognizing the importance of quantum science and the need for wider awareness of its past and future impact, dozens of national scientific societies have gathered together to support marking 100 years of quantum mechanics with a U.N.-declared international year. This worldwide initiative will be observed through activities at all levels aimed at increasing public awareness of the importance of quantum science. Learn more at quantum2025.org.
