IonQ has advanced to Stage C of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative under an agreement with a potential value of up to $300 million, the company said.
The College Park, Maryland-based quantum computing company is among the first selected for Stage C, which will see IonQ deliver multiple generations of its Superion quantum systems for independent verification and validation by DARPA through 2029.
DARPA’s QBI is designed to determine whether quantum systems can reach utility scale, where their computational value exceeds cost. IonQ completed Stage A, which defined its technical concept, and Stage B, which laid out its R&D roadmap, technical requirements, designs and risk-mitigation plans.
IonQ Chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi said the advancement reflects confidence in the company’s roadmap for utility-scale quantum computing. President of Quantum Computing Chris Ballance said DARPA’s review will test IonQ’s focus on simplifying systems so they can be manufactured, deployed and operated reliably at volume.
Read the full press release here.