Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge
By Google
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Quick Answer
Google Quantum AI's Kaggle competition on verifiable quantum circuit compilation. US$150,000 in prizes, with US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh) for first place.
- Funding amount
- Varies
- Funding type
- Competition
- Provider
- Application deadline
- 68d — 14 Jan 2027
- Location
- International
About this competition
The Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge (listed on Kaggle as "Verifiable quantum circuit compilation") is an online competition sponsored by Google LLC and hosted on Kaggle. Teams build solutions that are scored on the competition's evaluation metric, with separate prizes for the best score on each of three tasks: combinatorial optimization, chemistry and fusion. The total prize pool is US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore), first place wins US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh), and the rules must be accepted by 13 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is 5:29 AM IST on 14 January.
It is open worldwide to Kaggle users, and India is not on the list of excluded places. This is a skill competition, not a grant or an accelerator: you win by ranking well, not by pitching a business plan.
What the program offers
The prize pool is US$150,000 in total. The main leaderboard pays US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh) for first place, US$25,000 for second, US$10,000 for third, and US$5,000 each for fourth, fifth and sixth.
On top of the final leaderboard there are three extra prize types. The Mid-Competition Milestone Prize is US$10,000 for the team at the top of the public leaderboard at 11:59 PM UTC on 20 November 2026, provided its notebook is public. The Longest Leader Prize is US$10,000 for the team whose public notebook led the leaderboard for the longest time up to 4 January 2027. The Single Task Performance Prizes are US$10,000 for the best score on each of the three tasks, so a team that is strong on only one task can still win.
These are competition prizes, not loans and not investments. Winning code must be released under the Apache 2.0 open-source licence, so do not enter anything you need to keep proprietary.
Who can apply
Anyone with a registered Kaggle account can take part, as long as they are at least 18 (or the age of majority where they live, if that is higher) and do not live in an excluded place. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, are excluded. You may enter alone or in a team of up to five people, and each person may hold only one Kaggle account.
For an Indian founder or team this means you can enter from India. Employees, interns, contractors, officers and directors of Google, Kaggle and their affiliates can take part but cannot win prizes. Prizes cannot go to residents of a country where they cannot be awarded.
This suits machine-learning engineers, quantum-computing researchers and deep-tech startup teams who already work on circuit optimisation, quantum chemistry or related simulation problems. It is a poor fit if you want funding to build a company, because the reward is a prize for ranking well, not support for a business.
How to apply
There is no application form or business plan. You join through the competition page on Kaggle, accept the rules, and submit solutions that are scored automatically. The competition started on 22 October 2026. The entry deadline is 13 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC (5:29 AM IST on 14 January), and this is also the last day to join or merge teams. Final submissions close on 20 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC (5:29 AM IST on 21 January).
You can make up to five submissions a day and choose up to two final submissions to be scored at the end. If you want the milestone or longest-leader prizes, keep your notebook public by the dates the rules state. A practical tip: read the full rules tab before you start, because it is the binding document and this page is only a summary of it.
How applications are judged and what happens next
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
About the sponsor
The sponsor of this competition is Google LLC, and the competition is hosted on Kaggle, an online platform where teams compete on data and machine-learning problems. The source does not give further background on the sponsor.
Things to check before you apply
- The data can be used for any purpose, commercial or not, according to the rules summary, but the winning code must be open-sourced under Apache 2.0.
- Prizes are paid in US dollars. An Indian winner should check the tax and foreign-exchange treatment of prize income with an adviser; the source does not give those rules.
- A practical tip: if you are a startup founder, treat this as a way to build credibility and test your technical team, and do not budget the prize money as funding, since only the top places are paid.
Eligibility
See if you're eligible
Full eligibility criteria — entity type, stage, sector, founder profile and registration requirements — plus your fit for this program. Sign up to view.
Organizers
Google for Startups runs accelerators, a Google Cloud credits scheme, training and events for startups. Its India programmes are aimed at Indian startups and students, and its regional accelerators run as cohorts across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Asia…
Learn morePrizes & Awards
What You Get
Prizes add up to US$150,000 (about ₹1.43 crore). The leaderboard pays US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh) for first place, US$25,000 for second, US$10,000 for third and US$5,000 each for fourth to sixth. A further US$50,000 goes to a US$10,000 Mid-Competition Milestone Prize, a US$10,000 Longest Leader Prize and three US$10,000 Single Task Performance Prizes (combinatorial optimization, chemistry and fusion). Winners license their solution under Apache 2.0 and are paid about 30 days after returning the prize documents.
- Disbursement
- Lump Sum
- Bootstrap friendly
- Yes
Timelines & Process
Selection Process
Each submission is scored automatically on the competition's evaluation metric, and prizes go to the best-ranked teams on the final leaderboard. Potential winners must hand over their code and documentation, license the winning solution as the rules require, and return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received; team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise.
Application Process
- 1
Join on Kaggle
Sign in to Kaggle and accept the competition rules by 13 January 2027.
You - 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
How to apply
Four steps from draft to disbursement — one action each.
- 1
Submit on the official portal
Use the official application link and verify all details before final submission.
- 2
Follow up
Reach out 5–7 days after submitting to confirm receipt and ask about the review timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can enter Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge?
Any Kaggle user aged 18 or older (or the age of majority where they live, if higher) can enter, alone or in a team of up to five. Residents of Crimea, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, Cuba, Iran and North Korea, and anyone under US export controls or sanctions, cannot take part. Each person may have only one Kaggle account.
Can Indian startups and founders apply for Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge?
Yes. The rules exclude only the places named above, and India is not among them, so people in India can enter. Prizes are paid in US dollars and cannot go to people living in a country where prizes cannot be awarded. The source does not give Indian tax rules, so check with an adviser if you win.
How much can I win in Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge?
First place wins US$50,000 (about ₹47.5 lakh) and the total pool is US$150,000. Second to sixth place on the leaderboard win US$25,000, US$10,000, and US$5,000 each for fourth to sixth. There are also US$10,000 milestone, longest-leader and per-task prizes.
How is the prize money paid?
Potential winners must return prize acceptance documents within two weeks of being asked. Prizes are paid about 30 days after those documents are received, and team prizes are split evenly unless the team agrees otherwise. The source summary does not name the payment method.
What is the deadline for Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge, and what if it has passed?
You must accept the rules by 13 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC, which is also the last day to join or merge teams, and final submissions close on 20 January 2027 at 11:59 PM UTC. If you miss these dates you cannot enter this competition. The source does not say whether the challenge will run again.
Is Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge a grant or equity?
It is a competition prize. You win money by ranking well, and the source summary describes no equity or ownership being taken. Winners must release or license their solution as the rules require, so check the licence before you enter.
What documents or materials do I need?
You need a Kaggle account and a working solution submitted through Kaggle. Winners are later asked for their code, documentation and signed prize acceptance documents within two weeks.
Do I have to travel anywhere?
The competition itself is online. The source summary mentions no travel requirement.
Is it free to enter Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge?
The source summary does not state an entry fee, and joining a Kaggle competition is done through a free Kaggle account. Check the competition page to confirm before you submit.
When are the results of Quantum AI Circuit Compilation Challenge announced?
The source summary does not give a results date. The milestone prize is measured at 11:59 PM UTC on 20 November 2026 and the longest-leader prize up to 4 January 2027, and the final leaderboard is set after final submissions close on 20 January 2027.
Sources
Data on this page is compiled from official program and provider references.
