Highlights 

  • Advancement follows successful completion of Stage A in the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. 
  • IonQ to help define metrics for measuring utility-scale quantum computing. 
  • Stage B focuses on developing an R&D roadmap extending through 2033. 

IonQ, Inc. (NYSE:IONQ) has been selected to advance to Stage B of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. The company’s progression follows the completion of Stage A, which focused on defining the concept and foundational elements of a utility-scale quantum computer. 

As a key participant in QBI, IonQ will contribute to shaping the framework that determines how utility-scale quantum performance is measured. The initiative aims to establish industry-wide benchmarks using real-world use cases and complex problem sets that require large-scale quantum computing capabilities. 

Focus and Objectives of Stage B 

The QBI program comprises three stages that collectively aim to assess and benchmark the maturity of quantum computing technologies. Stage A focused on defining the technical vision for a utility-scale system. With the transition to Stage B, IonQ will now work on creating a detailed research and development roadmap that extends through 2033. 

This roadmap will outline technical specifications, design architectures, and key milestones necessary to demonstrate scalable and practical quantum computing. The final stage, Stage C, will evaluate the feasibility of constructing and operating the proposed systems for real-world use. 

Executive Statement 

“We’re honored to be selected for Stage B of DARPA’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative. With commercial deployments of IonQ quantum systems worldwide – and availability on all three of the major cloud platforms – IonQ is uniquely positioned to contribute practical insights and technical advancements to this initiative,” said Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ. 

He continued, “We look forward to continuing our collaboration with DARPA to support both our national security and national economic security. IonQ is already working on applications to accelerate drug discovery, modernize energy grid scheduling, decrease transportation costs, build safer cars, and design life-saving medical devices.” 

Key Technical Developments 

In June 2025, IonQ shared updates to its accelerated technical roadmap, targeting the development of quantum computers featuring two million physical qubits and 80,000 logical qubits by 2030. The company also achieved a 99.99% two-qubit gate performance, setting a new world record for quantum computing fidelity. 

Additionally, IonQ achieved an #AQ 64 performance milestone on its IonQ Tempo system ahead of schedule. The company’s quantum computing solutions are available on AWS Braket, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud Platform. 

About IonQ 

IonQ, Inc. develops advanced quantum computing systems designed to address complex computational challenges across multiple industries. Its current platforms, IonQ Tempo and IonQ Forte Enterprise, are utilized by enterprise and research partners including Amazon Web Services, AstraZeneca, and NVIDIA.