DARPA plans ‘major expansion’ of quantum computing push next month
Published on February 20, 2025
WASHINGTON — The self-proclaimed “quantum skeptic” heading DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) tells Breaking Defense he is “pleasantly surprised” by how many companies’ quantum computing plans look feasible — and as a result, he’s weeks away from announcing a slew of new awards.
The point of the QBI program is not to pay the private sector to develop the tech, which they’re already doing on their own, according to program manager Joe Altepeter. Instead, in essence, a company that wins a QBI award gets access to DARPA’s interagency team of expert testers and devil’s advocates, serving as an independent outside check to make sure that they’re on a practical path.