DOE Launches Quantum Genesis for Fault-Tolerant Computing by 2028

The U.S. Department of Energy has launched the Quantum Genesis initiative, aiming to deploy the world’s first scientifically relevant, fault-tolerant quantum computer. This ambitious effort will establish a foundational element of the broader Genesis Mission, designed to accelerate scientific discovery and innovation through increased computational power. The announcement directly addresses goals outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order on quantum innovation, reaffirming U.S. leadership in the field; the DOE actively sought community input via a recent Request for Information on Scientifically Relevant Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing Systems before finalizing the program. “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 aggressive timeline, revealed by the Department of Energy, signals a commitment to establishing a functioning system capable of tackling complex scientific challenges, rather than simply exploring quantum possibilities. The resulting systems will focus on applications within chemistry, materials science, plasma physics, and high-energy physics, areas where quantum computing promises to surpass the limitations of classical systems.

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. 

QC-ADDS Effort and RFI Shape Quantum System Strategy

The pursuit of fault-tolerant quantum computing in the United States is being strategically shaped by both the Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) Effort and a recently completed Request for Information (RFI). The RFI process allowed for a broad assessment of the current state and future needs in quantum computing, informing the competition designed to accelerate the development of these complex systems. Under Secretary for Science Darío Gil highlighted the potential impact, stating, “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.” This system will integrate with existing high-performance computing resources and artificial intelligence, forming a unified ecosystem for scientific discovery and ensuring American leadership in the quantum age.

National Quantum Supercomputing User Facility Enables Scientific Discovery

This facility, central to the Quantum Genesis initiative, will not operate in isolation; it’s intended to complement existing DOE exascale computing systems and future post-exascale machines, creating a unified HPC-AI-quantum computing ecosystem. The facility’s design prioritizes access for U.S. scientists and engineers, offering multiple modalities of advanced quantum computing to tackle previously unsolvable problems. The facility will integrate with the high-performance Energy Sciences Network and the Genesis Mission’s American Science and Security Platform, enhancing data transfer and analytical capabilities. This holistic approach, coupled with targeted research and development efforts, aims to establish the United States as a leader in the field of quantum computing and accelerate scientific breakthroughs for years to come.