IonQ Powers Three-Year Sustainable Urban Planning Programme with Quantum Optimisation
IonQ has joined a three-year Harmonious Urban Growth programme with The King's Foundation and FormationQ to apply its trapped-ion quantum optimisation platform to sustainable urban expansion across Commonwealth cities. The initiative will use quantum-powered combinatorial modelling to design infrastructure, transit, ecological corridors and public services for unplanned settlements.
1. Partnership Launch and Scope
On May 11, IonQ joined The King's Foundation and FormationQ to launch the three-year Harmonious Urban Growth programme, aimed at helping Commonwealth cities plan sustainable expansion using IonQ’s trapped-ion quantum optimisation platform.
2. Quantum Optimisation in Modelling
IonQ’s trapped-ion systems will enable advanced combinatorial modelling across interconnected urban layers, including transportation networks, water systems, ecological corridors and neighbourhood infrastructure frameworks.
3. Addressing Unplanned Settlements
Targeting the 1.3 billion people living in unplanned settlements, the programme will generate spatial frameworks that balance walkability, environmental resilience and infrastructure efficiency for rapidly growing urban areas.
4. Participatory Planning and Field Testing
UK consultancy Space Syntax will apply digital mapping and participatory methods, working with local planners and community representatives to iteratively test and refine spatial options on site.