The Quantum Technologies Competition 2026, aimed at accelerating domestic talent and encouraging novel solutions across strategic sectors such as cybersecurity, energy, finance, logistics, and materials science, is hosting its finals in Gebze.
From an initial pool of 142 teams and 535 participants, 18 teams and 77 finalists advanced to the final rounds across two distinct tracks.
Software Category: Quantum Hackathon on Urban Water Networks
Finalists in the Software Category tackle the challenge of "Dynamic Allocation Optimization in Water Resources and Distribution Networks." Teams are tasked with developing decision-support algorithms that secure uninterrupted water supply while balancing reservoir reserves, minimizing grid losses, and reducing energy costs.
Participation: 10 teams (40 members) advanced from 97 applying teams (356 applicants).
Date & Venue: August 28–30, 2026, at Informatics Valley Gebze Campus.
Scope: Teams will be evaluated on source code, final technical reports, and presentations developed over a 24-hour hackathon utilizing quantum annealing and hybrid classical-quantum solvers.
Hardware Category: Real-Time Calibration on Quantum Processor Chips
The Hardware track brings finalists directly into the Quantum Metrology Laboratory to validate transmon qubit designs, simulation setups, and microwave control infrastructure using dilution refrigerator systems.
Participation: 8 teams (37 members) qualified out of 45 applying teams (179 applicants).
Date & Venue: August 26–28, 2026, at TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus.
Scope: Finalists perform real-time experiments directly on quantum processor chips, executing broadband/power spectroscopy, Rabi, Ramsey, and single-shot readout calibrations, alongside evaluating qubit $T_1$, $T_2$ coherence times, and gate fidelities.
Prize Distribution
Software Track:
1st Place: TL 200,000
2nd Place: TL 175,000
3rd Place: TL 150,000
Hardware Track:
1st Place: TL 200,000 (+ TL 15,000 Advisor Award)
2nd Place: TL 175,000 (+ TL 12,000 Advisor Award)
3rd Place: TL 150,000 (+ TL 10,000 Advisor Award)
