IBM advances to Stage C in DARPA quantum computer program
Independent experts will test hardware as the company targets a fault-tolerant system by 2029.
IBM announced on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, that it has been selected for Stage C of the Quantum Benchmarking Initiative led by DARPA, the United States Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. In this third phase, independent experts will conduct extensive testing on IBM's quantum hardware, technology, systems engineering, and architectures to determine if the company can build a fault-tolerant quantum computer.
DARPA launched the program in 2024 to determine whether an industrially useful fault-tolerant quantum computer can be built by 2033. Stage A performers were announced in April 2025 based on technical concepts, followed by Stage B evaluations of detailed research plans and risk mitigation. Stage C moves beyond conceptual reviews into direct hardware testing conducted by DARPA's independent verification and validation team.
IBM expects to deliver the first fault-tolerant system in 2029, and we plan to scale the value of quantum computing well beyond that timeline.
IBM plans to deliver its first fault-tolerant quantum computer, named IBM Quantum Starling, which integrates advances in error correction, processor design, and systems engineering. The company reported that its quantum computing systems and Qiskit software are currently used by more than 340 organizations across financial services, healthcare, materials science, academia, and government.
Newsletter
Markets in your inbox, weekly
LATAM-focused analysis, investing ideas, and the week in finance.
Keep reading
