A National Competition to Tackle Societal Issues
The New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) is hosting a nationwide competition to encourage the application of quantum computing to major societal issues. This exciting initiative aims to attract talented individuals from diverse fields, including those without prior experience in quantum computing.
The competition will focus on three specific societal issues facing Japan, which will be selected through an open call for suggestions from the public. Participants will then compete individually or in groups to develop innovative solutions using quantum computing. The winning ideas for each issue will be awarded a prize of 20 million yen or more, totaling approximately 200 million yen ($1.3 million) for the entire competition.
To address the talent shortage in the field of quantum computing, NEDO is offering free courses to participants from other fields who wish to acquire specialized knowledge. This open approach aims to attract undiscovered talents and encourage innovative thinking from experts outside the traditional quantum computing domain.
The open call for suggestions on the specific societal issues and the recruitment period for participants without expertise in quantum computing will be held until noon on December 13, 2024. Applications to compete can be made by individuals or groups. The competition is scheduled to start in March 2025, with the final judging committee taking place in August 2026.
For more information and to participate, please visit NEDO's website at https://qc-challenge.nedo.go.jp/.