Recognizing the builders of the quantum era
A biennial award for entities developing their quantum pillars — assessed by AI, with every dollar advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
How the award works
Every two years
The GQA runs biennially, celebrating measurable progress on quantum-readiness pillars.
AI assessment
Entities upload their documents and are assessed by neutral AI against standards-aligned criteria.
$5,000 enrollment
A $5,000 enrollment covers the AI assessment as a service fee.
100% to the SDGs
All award funds advance the UN SDGs and help under-resourced regions build quantum capability.
Every dollar builds capability
100% of award funds advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and help regions with limited resources develop their quantum capabilities.
Award categories
Open to SMEs and government entities worldwide. The international base categories are $1,000 to enter; full entity quantum-readiness assessment is $5,000.
Best Initiative
The most impactful quantum or quantum-AI initiative delivered by an SME or government entity.
Best Idea
The boldest, most original quantum-AI idea with real potential to scale.
Best Accelerator
The program or accelerator doing the most to grow quantum talent and startups.
Best Green Quantum-AI Idea
The idea using quantum-AI to advance sustainability and the UN SDGs.
Best Government Programme
The public-sector strategy making a nation or region measurably more quantum-ready.
International Open Category
Our global base category — open to any entity, anywhere, building real quantum capability.
Award rubric — how entries are scored
Every award and initiative is assessed by the neutral AI jury against seven weighted categories, each scored 0–100. The weighted total decides the shortlist; a human jury panel confirms the winners.
Impact & outcomes
25%Real, measurable results and who benefits.
- Measurable results
- Beneficiaries & reach
- Evidence of impact
Innovation & originality
20%How novel and technically deep the work is.
- Novelty
- Technical depth
- Differentiation
Feasibility & execution
15%Maturity and ability to deliver.
- Maturity / TRL
- Team & resources
- Delivery track record
Scalability & sustainability
15%Path to scale and lasting value.
- Path to scale
- Financial sustainability
- UN SDG contribution
Standards alignment
10%Alignment to international standards.
- NIST / ISO-IEC / IEEE / EU PQC
- Security-by-design
- Interoperability
Environmental responsibility
8%Environmental footprint of the initiative.
- Energy efficiency
- Green operations
Ethics & responsible use
7%Responsible, fair and safe by design.
- Governance & oversight
- Fairness & access
- Dual-use safeguards
What entrants and winners gain
Global trust & credibility
Independent, standards-aligned recognition of quantum-ready capabilities.
Investment attraction
A clear signal to investors and partners that you're building real capability.
Recognition certificate
A quantum-ready capabilities certificate at entity and country level.
Worldwide visibility
Featured across the IQCDL network and the Quantum Index.
Real-world impact
Your enrollment helps fund the SDGs and capability-building where it's needed most.
Standards-aligned
Criteria aligned with NIST, ISO/IEC, IEEE and the EU PQC roadmap.
The IQCDL Award Calendar
A multi-year, fixed and non-changeable schedule — from worldwide kickoff to the Grand Ceremony in Dubai, and onward to the 2029 Global Mega Edition.
Year 2027
2027 — Global Cycle
The inaugural multi-phase global cycle. Fixed schedule, not subject to change.
Global Kickoff & Registration
- Worldwide launch campaign
- Global press conference
- Country ambassadors onboarding
- Categories announcement
- Early registration opens
- Strategic partnerships activation
- Global roadshows & webinars
Aesthetic: Earth hologram · AI neural lines connecting continents · gold + electric blue cinematic style
Submission & AI Readiness Assessment
- Organizations upload evidence
- AI maturity assessment
- IAIDL framework validation
- AI governance scoring
- Innovation capability evaluation
- Digital transformation benchmarking
Aesthetic: AI scanning effect · digital dashboards · floating scoring metrics · dynamic country-ranking maps
Technical Evaluation & Jury Reviews
- International assessors review submissions
- Jury interviews
- Live demos & AI capability presentations
- Ethical AI verification
- Future-readiness analysis
- Final scoring calibration
Aesthetic: Futuristic jury chamber · holographic panels · dynamic AI score visualization · global ranking transitions
Finalists Announcement
- Global finalists reveal
- Media exposure campaign
- Public voting (optional)
- Winner preparation
- VIP invitations
Aesthetic: Cinematic countdown · country flags appearing · golden AI particles · “Top AI Leaders of the World”
Grand Ceremony
✦ Dubai
- Red carpet
- AI innovation showcase
- VIP government participation
- Global AI leaders summit
- Trophy presentation
- Strategic announcements
- Future AI roadmap launch
Aesthetic: Black + gold luxury stage · AI-generated immersive screens · holographic globe · orchestra + cinematic soundtrack · “Oscars of Artificial Intelligence”
Year 2028
2028 — Expansion & Global Intelligence Reports
Expansion, Editions & Reports
- Global AI Index publication
- Regional editions
- AI country benchmarking
- Government AI transformation reports
- Ambassador ecosystem expansion
- AI leadership forums
Year 2029
2029 — Global Mega Edition
Theme: “AI Beyond Humanity.”
Worldwide Relaunch
- Theme: “AI Beyond Humanity” worldwide relaunch
Strategic Global Assessments
- Sovereign AI
- Agentic AI
- Quantum AI
- AI governance
- National AI readiness
- AI economic impact
Elite Jury & Global AI Olympics
- Live AI battles
- Autonomous systems demonstrations
- Government AI innovation wars
- Startup AI arena
- AI ethics challenge
World AI Summit Week
- AI Expo
- AI Startup Arena
- AI Research Forum
- AI Future Governments Forum
- Defense & Cyber AI Pavilion
Global AI Award Ceremony 2029
- Positioning: “The Most Prestigious AI Award in the World”
- AI hologram hosts
- Drone light shows
- Immersive AI storytelling
- Live global broadcasting
- Interactive audience experiences
- Quantum-inspired stage design
Upload your documents; neutral AI assesses you against standards-aligned criteria.
Assessment criteria align with the international standards referenced across IQCDL — NIST FIPS 203/204/205, ISO/IEC, IEEE and the EU PQC roadmap.
Two clear ways to enter — pick the one that matches your stage:
For an Idea / Initiative
$1,000/ category
SME tier $500 for emerging markets
Submit an idea or initiative into one of the GQA categories — including Best Idea, Best Initiative, Best Accelerator and Best Government Programme.
Submit to a category — $1,000For a full Assessment
$5,000/ entity
As per the IQCDL pricing scheme
Full entity quantum-readiness assessment — upload your documents and a neutral AI grades you against the standards-aligned criteria.
Enroll for AI assessment — $5,000Award FAQ
What does the Global Quantum & AI Award cost to enter?+
International category entry is $1,000 (SME tier $500 for emerging markets). The full entity quantum-readiness assessment is $5,000 per the IQCDL pricing scheme. See the full booklet at https://iqcdl.org/pricing.
When and where is the next ceremony?+
The Phase 5 Grand Ceremony of the 2027 Global Cycle takes place in November 2027 in Dubai. The next major cycle is the 2029 Global Mega Edition with the theme "AI Beyond Humanity".
Who can enter the award?+
SMEs, government entities, accelerators and partner organisations worldwide. Categories include Best Idea, Best Initiative, Best Accelerator, Best Green Quantum-AI Idea, Best Government Programme and the International Open Category.
Where do the award proceeds go?+
100% of award proceeds advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals and support quantum-capability building in resource-constrained regions.
The post-quantum era starts with one step
Take the free readiness assessment and get an AI-tailored plan in two minutes.