Energy Infrastructure
Power grids around the world are evolving with increased demand, sustainability goals, and the need for resilience against disruptions. Integrated models of distributed resources break the grid into networks of microgrids that combine storage and generators, operate in connected or disconnected modes, and serve critical infrastructure under real-world disruption scenarios. Optimizing these systems requires modeling thermal generation with higher-fidelity cubic cost functions and evaluating performance across multiple simulated scenarios. Participants will use quantum computing methods, including entropy quantum computing for optimizing cubic cost functions, to improve cost efficiency and resilience in microgrid networks while benchmarking performance against classical approaches.
Phases 2 and 3 of the Global Industry Challenge focus on developing a conceptual design (in Phase 2) to applied execution (in Phase 3), demonstrating technical sophistication and real-world relevance.
Phase 2 focuses on designing and justifying early-stage quantum solutions tailored to each challenge domain. Winning teams are expected to deliver, where possible, functional prototypes or circuit designs, define data preprocessing or encoding workflows, and justify their choice of algorithms and execution platforms, whether simulators or NISQ hardware. Equally important is demonstrating the value of the quantum approach compared to classical alternatives. In addition, teams should provide their estimates of the technical requirements needed to scale their solutions in Phase 3, including the type and extent of quantum hardware and simulator usage required via qBraid’s platform, IBM, D-Wave, or QCi. The selection of that device must be made on the Cover Page, or usage will not be granted.
Submission Requirements
Maximum 3 pages PDF (not including references or Cover Page Template), using 11-point Times New Roman font and single spacing, and submit it through the Aqora platform. Only submit one document per team.
Submission must follow GIC requirements: Maximum 3 pages (excluding this cover page and references), 11-point Times New Roman, single spacing, and submitted via Aqora. File Name Requirement: TeamName__Phase2_VersionX.pdf. This official cover page template is required and may not be modified or recreated.
Phase 2 Cover Page Template: GIC_2026 Cover Page.docx
Specific requirements are outlined in the Challenge Documents on the Challenge pages.
Generally, your submission should try to address:
· Focus area and rationale
· Technical approach to quantum integration
· Stakeholder relevance
· Data modelling strategy
· Quantum platform justification and resource needs – details for accessing can be found below – selection details coming soon.
Important: Non-compliant submissions due to non-compliant page limit, use of the Cover Page template, or use of AI may be disqualified and voided.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (EST).
The power grids of countries around the world are changing and developing with increased demand and awareness of issues like sustainability and climate change mitigation. At the same time, the resilience of these grids is of vital importance as disruptions to electricity can cause widespread damage in a region.
In planning a nation’s power grid, an integrated model of distributed resources can make a power grid more robust by breaking it down into a network of subgrids, or microgrids. These microgrids combine storage and generators to supply energy to consumers, while being isolated from each other to maintain the load locally, representing a highly flexible and optimizable building block for modern energy infrastructure, providing an opportunity to optimize power delivery by automatically switching from connected to disconnected modes and serving critical infrastructure. While thermal power generation is typically modeled with a quadratic cost function, the addition of a cubic term to the cost function provides better fidelity to real-world operation. Entropy quantum computing represents a method of optimizing cubic cost functions that could provide faster optimization of a network of microgrids.
Your challenge is to use quantum computing methods to optimize the cost functions of a network of microgrids under multiple simulated scenarios that may be faced in real-world power grids.
Quantum Computer and Simulator Access
Important Instructions:
- You must still include your choice and justification in your Phase 2 write-up
- One Submission Required Per Team for Each Challenge
- If downselected as a finalist, you will receive access and credits based on the Judging Committee's recommendations.
Submission Deadline: Sunday, May 31, 2026, 11:59 PM (EST).
Questions? Please email
quantum@connecteddmv.orgqBraid [Available for All Challenges]
Congrats, challengers, on your journey so far! Now comes the fun part -- running your solutions on real quantum devices.
Challenge finalists (Phase 3) receive access to the following platforms and systems: IonQ AQT, Cepheus-1-108Q, IQM Emerald, IBEX Q, and more. Full list available here once registered:
https://account.qbraid.com/devicesIf you're using qBraid, all you need to do is click the ‘Launch on qBraid’ button found on Aqora to link your Aqora account with your qBraid account.
Then you should be taken to the challenge page on qBraid (see image). Click Launch on qBraid, and you will have the challenge info cloned into your qBraid account.
As we process device usage requests in the Phase 2 downselect and finalist team selection, we will load your account with credits!
Quantum Computing Inc (QCi) [Available for QCi Challenge Only]
This challenge requires optimization tools which can handle highly nonlinear models. Quantum Computing Inc (QCi) created an analog computing paradigm known as Entropy Quantum Computing (EQC). This paradigm is currently implemented in an electro-optical hybrid system known as Dirac-3. Differentiating it from other analog computing platforms, Dirac-3 offers full connectivity among problem variables with up to fifth degree polynomials. The device also allows the use of two machine-level encodings. One is a discrete encoding- integer valued variables. The other is a quasi-continuous encoding. This flexibility gives the user the ability to solve a wider variety of problems with tighter approximation. While other platforms could be useful for certain aspects of this challenge, Dirac-3 covers the optimization gamut.
Learn about Dirac-3, complete the quick start, then get started with eqc-models to leverage the power of Dirac-3.
D-Wave [Available for All Challenges]
Learning about our platform:
D-Wave offers a variety of free and paid trainings, e-books, and webinars. A few of the most relevant ones are listed below:
• Quantum Fit webinar:
https://youtu.be/8ewcmvYDRV8?si=mQGiBpK8jjY7Vd6S
• Quantum Fit panel from Qubits 2026:
https://youtu.be/E4aJGmsNvog?si=k9MNIH13RpM5YtRL
• Quantum Fit eBook - this is an asset that we offer for Commercial organizations, but could be used by your applicants too, to assess if their project would benefit from using our platform: Is Quantum Optimization a Fit for Your Business?
• Free Introduction to Quantum Computing course (if any participants need to understand annealing vs gate and use cases for each):
https://training.dwavequantum.com/product?catalog=IntroductionQuantumComputing
• Getting Started with Applied Quantum Optimization course covers problem discovery and problem formulation, this is a paid training, the price is $50.
https://training.dwavequantum.com/product?catalog=GettingStartedAppliedQuantumOptimization
• Additional, more advanced trainings can be found here: D-Wave | Courses
Accessing the platform:
• GIC organizers will provide D-Wave access and provide the users of the finalist teams access to the platform.
• Users will be able to access either QPU or D-Wave’s Hybrid Solvers
• There will be a set time limit and credits determined by the organizing and judging committee.
• There is an important limitation on access; the users need to be in a so-called "Leap Approved" country. Please find the list of these countries here: From What Countries Can I Access D-Wave's Leap Quantum Cloud Service? – D-Wave Quantum Inc
• Please indicate you meet these needs in the Typeform.
IBM Quantum Open Plan [Available for All Challenges]
As highlighted in IBM’s recent updates, the Open Plan has been significantly expanded and is intentionally designed to support early stage exploration, prototyping, and algorithm work.
In particular:
• The Open Plan is free and publicly available.
• Eligible users can unlock expanded runtime (up to 180 minutes over 12 months) once a modest usage threshold is reached, allowing teams to scale experimentation as their work matures.
• This expansion is structured so that additional access becomes available at an appropriate usage trigger point, without special forms, approvals, or event specific onboarding.
IBM believes this model better aligns with the likely needs and maturity of participating teams.
For participants seeking details on platform capabilities and access, these should be the primary references:
Any questions about accessing or using IBM Quantum Open Plan should be directed to IBM.
