The Quantum City Challenge puts forward unique energy industry problems, identified by Alberta energy organizations embracing innovation and technological advancements. The problem statements are posted here publicly for any group or individual to present solutions applying quantum computing expertise.

The Quantum City Challenge is a worldwide competition open to anyone. We welcome researchers, enthusiasts, industry organizations, startups, professionals, and students. Employees of Quantum City are not permitted to enter the Challenge as a participant. Quantum City welcomes diverse individuals and teams from around the world and teams can be comprised of individuals from a variety of countries and regions.

The Quantum City Challenge will run from November 2023 until March 22nd, 2024. The details of the submission and evaluation process are outline in the detailed timeline.

Entrants in the Quantum City Challenge who submit their solutions for assessment will have the chance to showcase their quantum solutions on a global platform before leaders from the energy and technology sectors. And, notably, there's a possibility for continued collaboration with the industry partner supporting the particular use case.

All registered participants will receive an initial Amazon Braket credit of $500 to test their solution on real quantum hardware in the cloud (and may apply for a Power Up until January 31st, 2024).

The winner(s) are in for a thrill with a CAD $10,000.00 cash prize (taxable benefit, one cash prize per winning submission), an exclusive 1-year membership at qHub , personalized mentorship from top quantum experts , prime speaking opportunities at qConnect 2024 that put you in the spotlight, plus a travel bursary program (one bursary per winning submission) to broaden horizons. As if that's not enough, winners will also enjoy privileged access to select AWS programs and resources , unlocking a world of possibilities! Download the full winner’s package here. Winner's package is one per winning submission (team or individual).

The problem statements are posted here at QuantumCityChallenge.ca in November 2023 and open to the public. Individuals and teams can register online to review the Challenge details and submission requirements. Individuals and teams can submit proposals for the Quantum City Challenge in the form of a paper for one or more of the proposed problem statements online. The maximum length is 10 pages per paper. Documents and additional artifacts (e.g., sample code; optional) can be submitted using the upload feature once an individual or team is registered.

Participating in the Quantum City Challenge is more than a competition—it's a commitment to innovation excellence, market agility, and future-ready investments. It not only exposes your organization to quantum capabilities but also mitigates risks in transitioning to the quantum era, positioning you at the forefront of Alberta's tech paradigm shift. The quantum job market is expected to grow to 229,000 jobs nationally by 2040, your participation contributes to this growth. The sector is set to surpass the entire aerospace and aeronautics industry in Canada in less than 20 years. Federally, Canada is investing $360 million in quantum innovation and established the National Quantum Strategy. Provincially, the Alberta Government has invested $23 million in Quantum City to help to accelerate quantum technology development, build skills and talent, and attract companies interested in quantum technologies.

Proposed solutions will be evaluated by our panel judges, comprised of University of Calgary quantum researchers, the Quantum City team, and AWS Quantum Solutions Lab scientists.