DARPA advances IBM, IonQ, Diraq and Atom Computing to quantum hardware testing stage

DARPA has moved IBM, IonQ, Diraq and Atom Computing into Stage C of its Quantum Benchmarking Initiative, awarding each up to $300 million to prepare quantum hardware for independent testing. The four companies use different qubit approaches: neutral atoms, silicon spins, superconducting circuits and trapped ions.

• DARPA will award each of the four companies up to $300 million
• IBM, IonQ, Diraq and Atom Computing entered Stage C of QBI
• Microsoft and PsiQuantum were already in Stage C
• The program targets a powerful quantum computer by 2033