The Future Leaders in Quantum Hackathon

FLIQing the switch to the future of quantum

Your Quantum journey starts here

The Quantum Coalition and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) proudly present the Future Leaders in Quantum (FLIQ) Virtual Hackathon, a global challenge designed to empower the next generation of quantum innovators.

As part of the UN International Year of Quantum (IYQ), FLIQ brings together students, mentors, and industry leaders from across the world to collaborate, compete, and create real-world quantum solutions. Whether you’re a technical problem solver, an aspiring quantum entrepreneur, or a creative storyteller, FLIQ is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and impactful helping you take your first (or next) step into the quantum world.

102

Participating teams

167

Participants

Countries represented

Co-organized by

In celebration of

Global collaboration
Work alongside students, researchers, and industry experts from around the world
Hands-on learning
Gain experience with cutting-edge quantum tools and frameworks
Exciting prizes & career opportunities
Compete for mentorship and recognition in the quantum community
No experience? No problem!
Whether you’re an experienced developer, a creative, an entrepreneur or just curious about quantum - there’s a track for you

Tracks

Science track
Solve technical quantum challenges using sponsor-provided hardware and software. Perfect for those who want to experiment with quantum algorithms, error correction, and optimization problems.
Presentation
Education track
Make quantum concepts accessible by developing learning materials such as tutorials, visualizations, and interactive tools. If you’re passionate about science communication and education, this is your space.
Presentation
Art track
Express quantum ideas through music, visual design, or storytelling. Science and creativity go hand in hand—help demystify quantum mechanics through artistic interpretation.
Presentation
Innovation track
Explore real-world quantum applications with a focus on business and social impact. Whether it’s medicine, finance, or sustainability, this track is ideal for those eager to explore the entrepreneurial side of quantum.
Presentation

Prizes and Awards

Total prize pool of USD 10,000, recognizing creativity, impact, and excellence across all challenge tracks:

Community impact awards
USD 1,000 for two individuals/groups who mobilize the highest number of engaged participants
Challenge winners
USD 500 for the top solution for each challenge
Track winners
USD 1,000 for the top solution in each track
Travel grants to Geneva
Travel grants for select winners to present winning projects at the Quantum for Good track at the AI for Good Global Summit

Future Leaders in Quantum Hackathon: Closing ceremony

20 May 2025

REPLAY

Challenge problem statements

(Science track) MAX-CUT: Ground state at minimum cost
Winner: Team p3nguin (Kazuki Tsuoka) --- Also the winner of the Science Track.
Can you harness the power of quantum algorithms to solve one of the most iconic problems in optimization? In this challenge, you will engineer efficient quantum circuits to tackle MaxCut—a… Read more
Co-curated by IonQ and Vanderbilt Quantum Initiative
(Science track) Classifying quantum phases of matter
Winner: Team MerQury (Roman Bagdasarian, Samradh Bhardwaj, Hemish Ahuja, Ziwoong Jang, Kirti Dhir)
Think you know the phases of matter? Think again. Beyond solids, liquids, gases, and plasmas lies a strange quantum landscape—home to exotic phases with properties that defy classical intuition. While… Read more
Co-curated by Classiq and Duke Quantum Information Society
(Education track) Implementing quantum experiments
Winner: Team Vivek (Vivek Pal & Mukul Kumar)
Step into the shoes of a quantum scientist and bring foundational quantum phenomena to life. Whether you're simulating iconic experiments, constructing entangled states, or crafting novel quantum gadgets like dice… Read more
Co-curated by IBM and Quant A&M
(Education Challenge) Implementing quantum algorithms
Winner: Team Qryptonian (Dev Verma) --- Also Education Track winner
Quantum algorithms hold transformative promise—but they can be daunting for the uninitiated. In this education-focused challenge, your mission is to make these complex algorithms accessible by creating clear, engaging instructional… Read more
Co-curated by U Penn and IBM
(Innovation track) Quantum Edge: AI with Hybrid Intelligence
Winner: Team Qcanary (Ankit Sharma, Soham Pawar, Janhavi Chaurasia, Yasmin Bougammoura) --- Also the winner of the Innovation Track.
Dive into the frontier of quantum-enhanced machine learning by pushing the limits of classical AI models. In this challenge, you will work with real-world datasets to explore how Variational Quantum… Read more
Co-curated by UNICC and Case Western Reserve
(Innovation track) Beyond the seed: Randomness refined
Winner: Team quantum sloth (Justus Lau)
Randomness is fundamental to our world of connectivity and modern technology, enabling our global network of computers to communicate securely. Over the course of this four-part challenge, you will explore… Read more
Co-curated by IDQuantique and Carnegie Mellon Quantum Computing
(Art track) Creating art with spooky action at a distance
Winner: Team Qbusters (José Diogo da Costa Jesus, Nermine Chaabani, Francesco Preti & Mandi Guatto) --- Also the winner of the Art Track.
Entanglement—the phenomenon of complex correlations between objects that are separated in space—is one of the most powerful tools in the quantum computing toolbox. In this challenge, you will explore how… Read more
Co-curated by Princeton University, Purdue University and MOTH
(Art track) Quantum and creativity: Harnessing randomness to product art
Winner: Team QuittCat (Niloy Kumar Mondal)
Quantum computing is not just for search and optimization—it may also be a canvas for creative expression. In this artistic challenge, you will explore how data encoding and probabilistic quantum… Read more
Co-curated by Princeton University, Purdue University and MOTH

Pre-FLIQ workshops

OnlineAI and industry

14 March 2025

•

16:00 - 17:00

Quantum computing 101

New to quantum computing? This foundational workshop covers the core...

OnlineAI and industry

21 March 2025

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16:00 - 17:00

Beginner’s guide to exploring quantum for social good

Quantum technology is emerging as a powerful tool for addressing...

OnlineAI and industry

28 March 2025

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16:00 - 17:00

Quantum computing 102: Algorithms and applications

Building on the foundations of quantum computing, this session gives...