The University of Southern California (USC) has partnered with IBM to boost quantum research and establish the first IBM Quantum Innovation Center on the West Coast. The collaboration is part of USC President Carol Folt’s Frontiers of Computing initiative, a $1 billion project supporting advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing. The partnership gives USC researchers cloud access to IBM quantum systems, which could help manage complex calculations that may soon be too difficult for traditional computers. The agreement also aims to prepare students for a rapidly growing quantum workforce, according to Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and vice president, IBM Quantum.
USC’s Quantum Computing Research Enhanced by IBM Collaboration
The University of Southern California (USC) has entered into a new agreement with IBM, a significant move that will bolster quantum research conducted by the university’s scientists and students. This collaboration will also strengthen USC’s position in quantum research and its role in preparing the nation’s tech workforce.
The partnership with IBM is set to expand quantum computing at USC, marking a significant milestone for the university’s Frontiers of Computing initiative. The establishment of the first IBM Quantum Innovation Center on the West Coast at USC will provide a platform for top researchers and industry innovators to shape the future of quantum computing.
This agreement will also expedite USC’s efforts to achieve the research and education objectives of the Frontiers of Computing initiative, a more than $1 billion initiative that supports ethical advancement in areas such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and quantum computing.
USC’s IBM Quantum Innovation Center: A Hub for Quantum Research
The IBM Quantum Innovation Center at USC officially began operations on February 1, providing the university’s researchers with cloud access to IBM quantum systems. This collaboration significantly enhances USC’s quantum capabilities for research. IBM’s powerful quantum computers could assist USC researchers in managing complex calculations that may soon be too challenging for ordinary, “classical” computers that use traditional silicon processors.
The IBM Quantum Innovation Center at USC will play a crucial role in conducting cutting-edge research in the field of quantum computing and training future scientists. The center will also provide a wider array of cutting-edge quantum computers for experiments, a significant upgrade from IBM’s open access plan that USC had been using.
Quantum Computing: The Future of Tech Industry
Quantum computing is seen as a revolutionary technology due to its theoretical processing speeds, which far exceed those of classical computers, especially in solving particularly difficult computational problems. Although the technology has not yet demonstrated an overwhelming advantage, many scientists believe that day will soon come.
The development of applications with a quantum advantage could impact multiple industries. Scientists expect potential breakthroughs in drug discovery, energy-efficient electronics, energy storage, and machine learning that could address issues in areas such as sustainability and image processing.
USC’s Quantum Journey: A Proven Leader in Quantum Research
USC’s agreement with IBM is the latest milestone in the university’s quantum journey. USC is already recognized as a leader in quantum, ranked among the top five programs in quantum information systems. Its strengths lie in quantum computing, quantum cryptography, quantum information theory, and quantum error correction, a crucial aspect in enabling quantum computers to realize their computational advantage despite their susceptibility to errors due to external disturbances.
Some scientists believe that quantum computers will be used to solve some computational problems that are unsolvable for CPUs or GPUs in less than 10 years. Quantum computers may not only provide revolutionary computational speedups but also massive reductions in energy consumption.
Quantum Computing: A New Era of Job Opportunities
The IBM agreement provides USC with access to tools to conduct advanced research and train students at the forefront of computing advancement and research. The new quantum center at USC also includes opportunities for jobs and innovations, as well as new business opportunities for students who graduate from the university, particularly in STEM.
More employers, including government agencies, are seeking graduates with quantum science and technology degrees in both the public and private sectors. Education and training the quantum workforce is a concern highlighted in recent federal reports. The White House and National Quantum Initiative in 2022 mapped a path to building a quantum workforce, and the federal government continues to seek input from research and higher education industries to create a pipeline that can meet the rising national need for quantum.
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