IBM has announced a 10-year, $100 million initiative with the University of Tokyo and Chicago to develop a quantum-centric supercomputer powered by 100,000 qubits. This new era of high-performance computing could address pressing global problems and unlock new understandings of chemical reactions and molecular processes. The collaboration aims to advance the underlying technologies for this system and design and build the necessary components at scale. By the end of 2023, IBM plans to debut the 133-qubit ‘IBM Heron’ processor and the IBM Quantum System Two, as well as introduce middleware for quantum.
IBM Announces 10-Year Quantum-Centric Supercomputer Initiative
IBM has announced a 10-year, $100 million initiative with the University of Tokyo and Chicago to develop a quantum-centric supercomputer powered by 100,000 qubits. This new era of high-performance computing aims to address some of the world’s most pressing problems that even the most advanced supercomputers of today may never be able to solve.
Such a powerful quantum system could unlock new understandings of chemical reactions and the dynamics of molecular processes. This could enable researchers to help study climate change through modeling better methods to capture carbon, discover materials to build batteries for electric vehicles and energy grids to be cleaner and more sustainable, and uncover more effective and energy-efficient fertilizers.
IBM will work over the next decade to advance the underlying technologies for this system and design and build the necessary components at scale in partnership with the University of Chicago, the University of Tokyo, and IBM’s broader global ecosystem.
Building the Blocks of Quantum-Centric Supercomputing
The plans for this quantum-centric supercomputer are expected to involve innovations at all levels of the computing stack, encompassing the convergence of the fields of quantum computing and quantum communication, and seamlessly integrate quantum and classical workflows via the hybrid cloud.
The first step will be to lay out a blueprint for the design, which will have to integrate classical computers and quantum computers – a challenging task to date – and break new ground in quantum communication and computing technology. The foundation of this system will include milestones IBM has already outlined on its Quantum Development Roadmap.
By the end of 2023, IBM intends to debut three cornerstones of its necessary architecture for quantum-centric supercomputers. These include the new 133-qubit ‘IBM Heron’ processor, the introduction of IBM Quantum System Two, and the introduction of middleware for quantum, a set of tools to run workloads on both classical and quantum processors.
Expanding Partnerships with Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory
IBM plans to expand its partnerships to include Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab National Accelerator Laboratory, both of which are members of the Chicago Quantum Exchange and home to two respective Department of Energy quantum hubs. These two laboratories offer capabilities and expertise that can facilitate delivering the technologies envisaged in the race to build a quantum-centric supercomputer.
IBM’s collaboration with the University of Chicago will build upon the Chicago area’s strengths in quantum research. The University of Chicago seeded the region’s quantum ecosystem more than a decade ago with the decision to make quantum technology a focus of what is now the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering.
In conjunction with IBM, researchers at the University of Tokyo have been pushing forward on topics such as the detailed analysis of noise deep inside quantum processors, the development of efficient computation for quantum artificial intelligence, and quantum chemistry simulation with classical-quantum hybrid computations.
IBM’s Quantum Development Roadmap
The quantum-centric supercomputer system’s foundation will include milestones that IBM has already outlined on its Quantum Development Roadmap. This includes the ability to scale and connect growing numbers of quantum processors through quantum interconnects and technology to mitigate errors and fully harness noisy yet powerful quantum processors.
Over the next decade, IBM plans to work with university partners and its worldwide quantum ecosystem to evolve how its quantum processors can be connected via quantum interconnects. This work will aim to enable high-efficiency, high-fidelity inter-processor quantum operations and a reliable, flexible, and affordable system component infrastructure to allow scaling to 100,000 qubits.
“Over the past several years, IBM has been at the forefront of introducing quantum technology to the world,”
Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM.
“Achieving breakthroughs at scale in quantum technology requires deeply rooted and productive collaboration around the world and across a broad range of industry, academic, and government partners,” said Paul Alivisatos, President of the University of Chicago. “Quantum information science and technology is at a crossroads where foundational discovery and technical innovation will combine to create real breakthroughs. The University of Chicago is thrilled to partner in this endeavour.”
“We expect our partnership will lead to scientific breakthroughs, acceleration of the adoption of quantum computing for the coming era, and active engagement into the critical societal challenges of humanity. We also aim to contribute to realising a better future society by nurturing diverse talents,” said Dr Teruo Fujii, the President of the University of Tokyo.
- IBM announced a 10-year, $100 million initiative with the University of Tokyo and Chicago to develop a quantum-centric supercomputer powered by 100,000 qubits.
- Quantum-centric supercomputing is a new era of high-performance computing that could address pressing global problems that current supercomputers cannot solve.
- Potential applications include studying climate change, discovering materials for electric vehicle batteries and energy grids, and developing more effective and energy-efficient fertilizers.
- IBM will collaborate with the University of Chicago, the University of Tokyo, and its global ecosystem to advance the underlying technologies for this system over the next decade.
- IBM plans to debut three cornerstones of its necessary architecture for quantum-centric supercomputers by the end of 2023: the 133-qubit ‘IBM Heron’ processor, the IBM Quantum System Two, and middleware for quantum.
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