QuEra Named Co-Principal Investigator on Three Quantum Chemistry Teams

BOSTON, Oct. 15, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- QuEra Computing, a leader in quantum computing, has been named a co-principal investigator on three of the nine teams selected for the Quantum Computing for Computational Chemistry (QC3) program by the Department of Energy. The program, announced in March 2026, aims to develop quantum algorithms and hardware co-design approaches for energy-relevant chemistry and materials science problems. It is funded with $37 million across the nine teams over a three-year period.

The three QuEra-led projects focus on different areas of research. The SuperKIQ project, led by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, aims to search for high-temperature superconductors using Krylov-inspired quantum algorithms. This project also includes NASA Ames, the University of Southern California, Michigan State University, Citrine Informatics, and Azulene Labs. The MAGNETIQC project, led by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, focuses on the discovery of ultra-strong, lightweight magnets for electric motors, generators, and high-performance information technology. The project also includes members from Columbia University, the National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center Application Technology Group, and Citrine Informatics. Lastly, the Quantum Computing for Hydrogen Fuel Production project, led by Phasecraft, aims to optimize quantum algorithms for simulating electrolysis to reduce reliance on iridium in hydrogen production. The project also includes Phasecraft Ltd, Johnson Matthey, and Harvard University.

QuEra's neutral-atom technology and application co-design approach were chosen for these projects due to the architectural benefits it provides for full-stack application development and optimization across both error correction and application layers. Neutral atoms are identical by nature, controlled wirelessly by lasers, and reconfigurable, which enables a high degree of connectivity, a core lever in algorithm development and error correction implementation.

The QC3 program is closely aligned with QuEra's co-design thesis. With Los Alamos National Laboratory, QuEra published a transversal STAR architecture in PRX Quantum in June 2026, which delivers up to 250 times faster execution and roughly half the physical qubits of conventional fault-tolerant approaches for structured quantum simulation, achieved specifically by co-designing error correction around neutral-atom reconfigurable connectivity. Separately, algorithmic fault tolerance published in Nature in 2025 reduced runtime overhead by 10 to 100 times for reconfigurable architectures.

QuEra's updated roadmap targets 1,000 logical qubits by 2029, providing ample hardware capability for the program. The company's neutral-atom technology and full-stack co-design approach are expected to play a significant role in advancing the field of quantum chemistry and materials science.