XPRIZE Quantum Applications Names Seven Finalists in $5 Million Global Competition

The XPRIZE Quantum Applications competition, a $5 million global challenge backed by Google Quantum AI and the Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator (GESDA), has announced the selection of seven Finalist teams. The Finalists were chosen from 133 submissions worldwide after a rigorous evaluation focused on algorithmic innovation, solid resource reasoning, and credible pathways toward achieving quantum advantage.

The competition, launched in March 2024, challenges teams to develop quantum computing algorithms ready for deployment that can help solve real-world problems aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The seven finalists were selected from 20 semifinalists, reflecting a field moving from conceptual promise toward clear, evidence-based use cases.

Finalist Teams

The seven teams moving forward to Phase II of the competition are:

The selection criteria prioritized submissions demonstrating plausible pathways to quantum advantage, clear technical novelty, and strong algorithmic rigor. One finalist, Phasecraft, proposed two new algorithms focused on computing the properties of materials more accurately, with the goal of enabling advancements in areas such as high-performance batteries.

Finalist teams now move to Phase II, which shifts the focus from promising ideas to evidence-driven performance assessments and real-world impact. This stage requires teams to provide detailed resource estimates (including architectures and error-correction assumptions) and demonstrate quantifiable impact evaluated by domain experts.

Read the list of finalists and competition details on the XPRIZE website here, view the Finalist Teams Book summary here, and read external coverage of the finalists here.

December 10, 2025