Fujitsu Launches $100,000 Quantum Simulator Challenge for 2025-26 - Quantum Computing Report

Fujitsu Launches $100,000 Quantum Simulator Challenge for 2025-26 Fujitsu Limited has announced the Fujitsu $100,000 Quantum Simulator Challenge 2025-26, inviting industry and academic participants to evaluate its proprietary quantum simulation technology on complex, real-world applications. The challenge aims to bridge the gap between quantum research and industrial pain points by providing participants with access to Fujitsu’s most advanced simulation platforms and its new Quantum Application Research Package (QARP). Building on its existing 40-qubit CPU-based state vector quantum simulator (powered by 1,024 FX700 nodes using A64FX processors), Fujitsu is introducing several new features for this year’s competition: Tensor Network-based Simulator: A new computational environment capable of handling circuits with 40 or more qubits in low-depth circuit settings. Fujitsu QARP: A proprietary quantum algorithm library designed to streamline application development and reduce the engineering overhead for complex simulations.

Hybrid Platform Integration: The simulator leverages Qulacs software and provides a Qiskit-compatible SDK, allowing developers to transition between Fujitsu’s noise-free simulators and real noisy hardware seamlessly. Fujitsu is offering a total prize pool of $100,000, distributed as $50,000 for first prize, $30,000 for second, and $20,000 for third. Beyond financial awards, participants receive free access to Fujitsu’s quantum technologies, training from internal experts, and the potential for long-term partnerships and investment. The competition targets legal entities (companies or institutions) that can demonstrate project uniqueness, business applicability, and high algorithm quality. Evaluation will prioritize solutions that utilize higher qubit counts to solve intractable business problems, such as those in materials science, drug discovery, or logistics optimization. Applications are open until January 30, 2026, with the official challenge period running from January through March 2026. This program aligns with Fujitsu’s broader roadmap, which includes the operation of a 256-qubit superconducting quantum computer and plans for a 10,000-qubit system by 2030. Read the full challenge details here.