QuEra Computing scientists will co-lead three of nine teams receiving a total of $37 million from the Department of Energy’s Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry program over the next three years. The program challenges researchers to achieve a scalable, hundredfold improvement over classical models, validated at approximately 100 logical qubits, targeting applications impacting at least a quadrillion BTU of energy or a gigaton of CO₂-equivalent. QuEra’s contributions will focus on neutral-atom access and algorithm co-design for projects exploring superconductors, high-performance magnets and hydrogen fuel production.
QuEra Computing Partners on ARPA-E’s Quantum Chemistry Program
The Advanced Research Projects Agency for Energy program selected teams aiming to tackle challenges with impacts potentially reaching a gigaton of CO₂-equivalent, demanding a substantial leap in computational chemistry capabilities. QuEra’s technology underpins work across three of those nine selected teams, providing access to neutral-atom quantum hardware and expertise in algorithm co-design. These collaborations focus on areas including superconductor discovery, high-performance magnet development and more efficient hydrogen fuel production, all critical for advancing energy technologies.
QuEra scientists are co-principal investigators on projects led by National Laboratory, National Laboratory and Phasecraft, each addressing a distinct energy-related challenge. The SuperKIQ team, for example, will explore quantum algorithms for understanding high-temperature superconductors, aiming to accelerate the discovery of new materials with improved energy efficiency. Similarly, MAGNETIQC will apply quantum and machine-learning tools to design ultra-strong magnets, essential components for electric motors and generators.
The third project, focused on hydrogen fuel production, seeks to reduce reliance on scarce materials like iridium through optimized quantum simulations of electrolysis. “We have a growing body of evidence that the earliest examples of quantum advantage will be the result of co-design across the entire application stack, from the algorithm design to the QEC architecture, to the hardware itself,” said Stefan Ostermann, Director of Quantum Applications at QuEra.
The QC3 program’s emphasis on full-stack co-design, optimizing algorithms, error correction and hardware simultaneously, aligns closely with QuEra’s approach to quantum computing. The company’s neutral-atom architecture offers inherent advantages in this regard, due to the identical nature of the atoms, their wireless laser control and the reconfigurable connectivity they provide. This reconfigurability is a core lever in both algorithm development and the implementation of effective error correction strategies.
QuEra previously demonstrated this approach with National Laboratory, publishing a transversal STAR architecture in PRX Quantum that achieved up to 250 times faster execution and reduced qubit requirements for structured quantum simulation, the company says. Algorithmic fault tolerance research published in Nature in 2025 showed a 10 to 100-fold reduction in runtime overhead for reconfigurable architectures. ARPA-E’s solicitation process uniquely required applicants to secure letters of intent from quantum hardware providers, making hardware selection a foundational element of each project.
QuEra is the external hardware provider partner for three out of the remaining four projects. “QuEra’s architecture and software stack give researchers exceptional flexibility to co-design quantum error correction and fault-tolerant applications with the hardware itself,” explained Shengtao Wang, VP of Algorithms and Applications at QuEra. This flexibility is particularly valuable for a long-term program like QC3, which aims to deliver a substantial step change in computational chemistry and materials science.
QuEra’s own roadmap targets 1,000 logical qubits by 2029, providing ample hardware capacity to support these ambitious goals. “The Department of Energy’s approach through QC3 is one we deeply agree with, and we are excited to partner closely with them over the course of this program,” added Ostermann. The collaborative effort signifies a growing recognition of the importance of hardware-aware algorithm design in realizing the potential of quantum computing for real-world energy applications.
We have a growing body of evidence that the earliest examples of quantum advantage will be the result of co-design across the entire application stack, from the algorithm design to the QEC architecture, to the hardware itself.
Stefan Ostermann, Director of Quantum Applications at QuEra
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