
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.

What to expect
- Global collaborationWork alongside students, researchers, and industry experts from around the world
- Hands-on learningGain experience with cutting-edge quantum tools and frameworks
- Exciting prizes & career opportunitiesCompete 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
Choose your track
- Science trackSolve technical quantum challenges using sponsor-provided hardware and software. Perfect for those who want to experiment with quantum algorithms, error correction, and optimization problems.
- Education trackMake 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.
- Art trackExpress quantum ideas through music, visual design, or storytelling. Science and creativity go hand in hand—help demystify quantum mechanics through artistic interpretation.
- Innovation trackExplore 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.
Prizes and Awards
Total prize pool of USD 10,000, recognizing creativity, impact, and excellence across all challenge tracks:
- Community impact awardsUSD 1,000 for two individuals/groups who mobilize the highest number of engaged participants
- Challenge winnersUSD 500 for the top solution for each challenge
- Track winnersUSD 1,000 for the top solution in each track
- Travel grants to GenevaTravel grants for select winners to present winning projects at the Quantum for Good track at the AI for Good Global Summit
Challenge problem statements
- `{`Science track`}` MAX-CUT: Ground state at minimum costCan 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 classic NP-hard problem—by finding ground states of Ising Hamiltonians using variational techniques. From circuit design to solution space analysis, your mission is to build expressive, low-cost quantum models that not only compute optimal cuts but also reveal the rich structure of the solution landscape.Co-curated by IonQ and Vanderbilt Quantum Initiative
- `{`Science track`}` Classifying quantum phases of matterThink 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 these properties can be hard to spot, classical machine learning has proven itself a powerful tool for uncovering hidden structure in quantum systems. This challenge puts a quantum twist on that idea: using randomized quantum measurement data, can you build a quantum classifier that goes beyond classical approaches? Accuracy, efficiency, and creativity will be key. The quantum world is full of hidden patterns—can your algorithm reveal them?Co-curated by Classiq and Duke Quantum Information Society
- `{`Education track`}` Implementing quantum experimentsStep 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 and random number generators, this challenge invites you to build, test, and explain core quantum mechanics using quantum circuits. Ideal for those ready to transform theory into interactive, code-driven demonstrations of quantum behavior.Co-curated by IBM and Quant A&M
- `{`Education Challenge`}` Implementing quantum algorithmsQuantum 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 content that walks newcomers through the inner workings of a quantum algorithm. Whether through code, visuals, or storytelling, your success will be measured by how well you learn—and how effectively you teach.Co-curated by U Penn and IBM
- `{`Innovation track`}` Quantum Edge: AI with Hybrid IntelligenceDive 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 Algorithms (VQAs) can be used to elevate the performance of classical machine learning in classification and clustering tasks. Whether you build on starter code or chart your own path, this is your chance to rethink how intelligence is engineered in a hybrid quantum-classical world.Co-curated by UNICC and Case Western Reserve
- `{`Innovation track`}` Beyond the seed: Randomness refinedRandomness 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 the fundamentals of random numbers, learning concepts like entropy, autocorrelation, and conditional probability. In particular, you will explore the distinctions between pseudo-random, true random, and quantum random number generators. Your mission is to discover where quantum randomness truly shines. Ready to take randomness to the next level?Co-curated by IDQuantique and Carnegie Mellon Quantum Computing
- `{`Art track`}` Creating art with spooky action at a distanceEntanglement—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 entangled quantum memory can be combined with data encoding algorithms to produce art that transcends classical boundaries. Your goal is to craft visual or audio outputs that harness these non-classical correlations—creating works that are not just beautiful, but fundamentally quantum in nature.Co-curated by Princeton University, Purdue University and MOTH
- `{`Art track`}` Quantum and creativity: harnessing randomness to product artQuantum 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 transformations can be used to generate art and imagery. Your task is to push the boundaries of what quantum devices can produce—where the logic of quantum randomness meets the spark of imagination.Co-curated by Princeton University, Purdue University and MOTH
Pre-FLIQ workshops
OnlineGOAL 9
14 March 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
New to quantum computing? This foundational workshop covers the core...
OnlineGOAL 9
21 March 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum technology is emerging as a powerful tool for addressing...
OnlineGOAL 9
28 March 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Building on the foundations of quantum computing, this session gives...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
16 April 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum concepts may be complex but teaching them does not...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
15 April 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum concepts can be mind-bending, but a thoughtful approach brings...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
22 April 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum meets creativity in this exploration of art inspired by...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
17 April 2025
• 10:00 - 11:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Can quantum mechanics be taught through a game of chess?...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
11 April 2025
• 10:00 - 11:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum information technology is an emerging field with the potential...
OnlineGOAL 4GOAL 9
23 April 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum computing development is evolving rapidly, and high-level platforms like...
OnlineGOAL 9
24 April 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Step into the world where quantum computing meets creative expression....
OnlineGOAL 9
30 April 2025
• 17:00 - 18:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum technology is reshaping the future but making it understandable...
OnlineGOAL 9GOAL 4
6 May 2025
• 17:00 - 18:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Quantum information science is evolving rapidly, yet some critical areas...
OnlineGOAL 9
13 May 2025
• 17:00 - 18:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Success in a hackathon goes beyond technical skills. It requires...
OnlineGOAL 9
12 May 2025
• 18:00 - 19:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
As quantum computing evolves, its potential impact on creative industries...
OnlineGOAL 9
9 May 2025
• 16:00 - 17:00

EST - New York
CST - Beijing
PST - Los Angeles
AWST - Perth, Australia
Bridging the gap between quantum innovation and commercial success requires...
Key dates and timeline
- 14 March - 14 May 2025Pre-FLIQ workshopsSkill-building sessions
- 13 May 2025Draft challenge descriptions releasedEarly insights to help participants choose challenges and start prep
- 16 May 2025FLIQ kickoffOpening ceremony, challenges released and hacking begins
- 17-18 May 2025Hacking daysCollaborate, build and create solutions
- 19/20 May 2025Final pitches & awardsPresentations, judging, winner announcements
- 8-11 July 2025Quantum for Good
FLIQ Partners
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