Last year, governments, universities, research labs, scientific societies, and industries across the globe joined together to celebrate the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Led by the United Nations, this year-long celebration recognized a century since the initial development of quantum mechanics. Since this discovery, quantum technology has delivered transformative innovations in electronics and computing, medical imaging, and navigation and timing – and it shows promise to do so much more. But to fast-track innovation, particularly in the energy sector, solutions to key quantum challenges must still be identified.
That’s where EPRI comes in.
A leader in energy R&D for more than 50 years, EPRI believes quantum technology may be one of the answers to providing safe, reliable and affordable energy. Seizing this unique anniversary, EPRI launched a Quantum Challenge to coincide with the 2025 Year of Quantum.
The EPRI Quantum Challenge asked participants to propose conceptual quantum use cases to address fusion energy challenges, specifically use cases for fusion-resistant materials and optimizing fusion plasma control and stability. Each submission included a creative and novel approach to advancing fusion energy by addressing one of two major obstacles: designing fusion-resistant materials and controlling fusion plasma.
As news of EPRI’s challenge quickly spread, concepts began to form from individuals and teams. An expert panel, including representatives from the U.S. Department of Energy, ARPA-E, University of Maryland, Columbia University, Auburn University, Kyoto Fusioneering, and Aqora, reviewed the submissions to determine a top three.
Two use-cases for fusion-resistant materials and one for controlling fusion plasma were selected as finalists, with the final ranking revealed at a ceremony in Washington, D.C. last fall. Winners received a cash prize and award, as well as an opportunity to advance their proposal through collaboration on an industry white paper.
The three winning projects were led by Kory Burns (University of Virginia), Justus Lau (Heidenberg University), and Ridwan Sakidja (Missouri State University). Their use cases reflect the diversity of thinking and creative application possible when using quantum technology. They also showcase the interdisciplinary connection and outside-the-box problem solving that will be necessary to put these technologies to use.
Meet the Winners
Third place: Kory Burns, University of Virginia (plasma stability)
Maintaining fusion conditions though plasma stability is one of the key challenges facing fusion energy. Plasma, also known as ionized gas, is inherently unstable and prone to sudden outbursts that can damage reactor walls and prevent efficient energy production.
Kory’s use-case challenged researchers to think outside the box and shift away from the diamond, a common quantum sensing material, to consider alternatives. He proposed exploring quantum sensing applications through use of the second hardest material known to man, cubic boron nitride (cBN).
A synthetic allotrope of boron nitride; this material is structurally similar to diamond, though slightly softer. Kory explains, “[cBN] has the same geometry as diamond but a different neutron absorption coefficient, a different band gap, and different emissions properties.” This, he thought, might just be a winner for scaling quantum sensing – or, at the very least, a use case worth exploring.
Second place: Justus Lau, Heidelberg University (radiation-resistant materials)
Justus Lau, a student at Heidelberg University, secured the second place prize with an inventive use-case proposal that leveraged recently published theoretical work of Daniel Bultrini. Reflecting both the interdisciplinary nature and creativity that is often necessary for scientific breakthroughs, Justus worked with Bultrini and mathematician Damian Iltgen to apply Bultrini’s fundamentals to a new setting – one that could help advance development of radiation-resistant materials.
When asked how he came up with the application, Justus shared, “Sometimes you read something and store it away. And here, with this challenge, Daniel’s research came to mind. I wondered if this could be an application. Could we take those fundamentals and apply them to solve this problem?”
Bultrini’s research looked at how rapid change, like poking an atom very quickly, changes the material. Justus applied this approach to a nuclear reactor where neutrons are rapidly hitting reactor walls. Damian Iltgen helped make the technical proposal more coherent. Together, the group adapted algorithms and theoretical work to support the challenge scenario; their creative approach and application delivered a winning solution.
“I think people underestimate creativity, which is going to be essential to solving some of these quantum challenges,” said Justus. “I may take the same course as somebody else, but there will be small deviations from how they see stuff and how I see stuff. I think you have to find ideas that are close to each other and then listen to each other.”
First place: Ridwan Sakidja, Missouri State University (radiation-resistant materials)
Dr. Ridwan Sakidja, professor of physics, astronomy and materials science at Missouri State University began his use-case brainstorm with student collaborators by challenging them to find an application that delivered quantum advantage to help reduce the complexity of radiation damage modeling.
When thinking about radiation damage from plasma-facing materials, the team knew pinpointing accuracy was essential. To do this, they focused on finding three things: the right time, the right place, and the right physics.
“Our strategy from the very beginning was to identify the genesis of this radiation damage,” explained Ridwan. The team used an open quantum system for their use case which allowed the potential to harness environmental interactions (noise/dissipation) for quantum control and error correction.
Through the process of designing this model, Ridwan and team struck something big – and unexpected. “One of the key aspects that have yet to be solved is the need to dramatically suppress errors,” said Ridwan. “It’s the number one problem, in terms of being able to scale quantum computing.” Developing their proposal for the EPRI Quantum Challenge highlighted the need for researchers to focus on this area, and that’s exactly what Ridwan and his students and colleagues are doing now.
“The challenge actually opened us towards this new direction,” said Ridwan. “I think this [new area of research] is one of the key areas that needs to be solved to change the paradigm in terms of being able to adopt quantum technology.”