OpenFederal grantOpen to for-profit businessesDE-FOA-0003657

The DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition

Office of ScienceCloses Oct 19, 2026(6 days left)$250,000 – $200,000,000

Does this fit your business?

This is a Department of Energy competition for domestic commercial entities — small businesses and other for-profits — with technically viable plans to build the first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computer. If you are not a for-profit company working on quantum hardware, software, or enabling technologies at serious scale, do not bother applying. Nonprofits cannot apply at all.

Best for
Small businesses in quantum computing or advanced technology hardware and software, For-profit companies with technically viable plans to build fault-tolerant quantum computers, Commercial entities able to scale quantum hardware, software, and enabling technologies, Firms funding R&D, equipment, and infrastructure without matching funds
Not for
Nonprofits and social-service organizations, Companies outside quantum computing or advanced technology R&D, Businesses without a technically viable plan for fault-tolerant quantum computing
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Technology & SoftwareMatches your industry (technology, tech, innovation, software)
85
Strong Match
Energy & Clean TechMatches your industry (energy)
77
Strong Match
Construction & InfrastructureMatches your industry (building)
55
Good Match
Agriculture & FarmingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to agriculture & farming
54
Possible Match
Finance & BankingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to finance & banking
54
Possible Match
Food & BeverageLimit: Nothing in this notice points to food & beverage
54
Possible Match
Show all 15 industries
Estimated fit by industry, best first
IndustryEstimated fit
Healthcare & BiotechLimit: Nothing in this notice points to healthcare & biotech
54
Possible Match
Housing & Real EstateLimit: Nothing in this notice points to housing & real estate
54
Possible Match
ManufacturingLimit: Nothing in this notice points to manufacturing
54
Possible Match
Retail & E-CommerceLimit: Nothing in this notice points to retail & e-commerce
54
Possible Match
Transportation & LogisticsLimit: Nothing in this notice points to transportation & logistics
54
Possible Match
Arts & CultureLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Education & TrainingLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Environment & ConservationLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring
Social Services & NonprofitLimit: This program does not accept nonprofit applicants.
0
Worth Exploring

These are our matcher’s estimates for a typical business in each industry. A real match depends on your size, your state and what you need the money for — check your own fit.

What this funds

Money can be used for
R&D, Research, Equipment, Infrastructure
Who can apply
Small businesses, For-profit companies
Award range
$250,000 – $200,000,000

Questions about this grant

When is the application deadline?
October 19, 2026.
How much funding can an applicant receive?
Awards range from $250,000 to $200,000,000, with about 10 awards expected from a total program funding of $215,000,000.
Who can apply for this grant?
Domestic commercial entities: small businesses and other for-profit organizations. Nonprofits are not eligible.
Can a sole proprietor or single-member LLC apply?
The facts do not say. Eligibility is stated only as small businesses and other for-profit organizations, so check the full funding announcement (DE-FOA-0003657) for entity-type details.
Can a nonprofit apply?
No. The program accepts only small businesses and other for-profit organizations.

Summary

DOE Quantum Genesis Q Competition invites domestic commercial entities (small businesses and other for-profit organizations) with technically viable plans to accelerate development of the first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computer. Awards fund scaling quantum hardware, software, and enabling technologies and building scientific workflows; cost sharing not required.

About this grant

The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced the establishment of the Quantum Genesis initiative to develop and deploy the world’s first fault-tolerant, scientifically relevant quantum computing (SRQC) capability for research and development. The Department seeks to realize this bold ambition through the Quantum Genesis Q Competition (herein, the Q Competition), a first of its kind effort to accelerate the timeline for realizing this novel, transformative capability. The Quantum Genesis initiative will serve as a foundational pillar of the broader Genesis Mission, designed to usher in a new era of computational power for the nation and accelerate scientific discovery and innovation. The announcement of the Quantum Genesis initiative marks a significant step toward the Department’s goals outlined in President Trump’s Executive Order (EO), Ushering in the Next Frontier of Quantum Innovation and its Quantum Computer for Application Development and Discovery Science (QC-ADDS) effort.[1] This request for applications (RFA) invites proposals from domestic commercial entities have a technically viable plan for the Quantum Genesis program and achieving the milestones of the Q Competition. The intent of the Q Competition is to accelerate the development timeline for SRQCs, align successful applicants with the needs of the Department and the scientific community, and to enable the necessary scaling of quantum hardware, software, and enabling technology while developing scientific workflows that ensure SRQCs contribute to national scientific and technological advancement. In addition to the goal of building the first-generation SRQC, these partners may also help to form the technical foundation for DOE’s continued efforts into the 2030s to deploy one or more next-generation SRQCs at National Laboratories. DOE envisions this competition as a first step toward scaling fault-tolerant quantum computers to scientific relevance alongside other ongoing and planned activities. DOE acknowledges that potential vendors may have timelines that do not coincide with this competition, even though they may have a viable path to future platforms of interest to the DOE. Failure to participate or complete the milestones does not disqualify an entity or vendor from future DOE collaborations or procurements.

Who can apply

The listing does not include detailed eligibility text. Check the official listing before you apply.

Topics and uses of funds

Topics

  • Technology
  • Science
  • Quantum computing

Program contact

Michael S Zarkin Grants Management Specialistqcompetition@doe.gov301-903-4946

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