IBM, Google announce $150 million to support quantum computing research

Tech companies IBM and Google have pledged $150 million to support two universities’ quantum computing research efforts.

At the Group of Seven (G7) Summit in Japan, IBM on Sunday announced a new 10-year, $100 million initiative with the University of Tokyo and the University of Chicago to develop a quantum-centric supercomputer powered by 100,000 qubits. Google said, it is contributing $50 million towards the initiative and will provide scientists with access to its quantum computing hardware.

A qubit (short for quantum bit) is the basic unit of information in quantum computing and plays a similar role as bit (binary digit) in classical computing, in terms of storing information. But it is distinguished by its ability to exist in multiple states at once because of its unique phenomenon called superposition. The feature offers potential breakthroughs in solving complex problems that are currently beyond the reach of classical binary computers.

IBM and Google are both developing quantum computing chips. By funding quantum computing projects at universities, the companies will support research that could make the technology easier to commercialize.

For example, IBM said that the project is being pitched as offering new understandings of chemical reactions and molecular processes, aiding research in areas such as climate change, the development of materials for electric vehicle batteries and sustainable energy grids and the discovery of more effective and energy-efficient fertilizers.

The initiative will be in phases, starting with IBM’s plan to launch a new 133-qubit “Heron” processor by the end of 2023. The new processor is said to be a complete redesign of IBM’s previous generations of quantum processors and includes a new two-qubit gate for higher performance and compatibility with future extensions to enable modular connected processors to grow the size of the computer.

“Over the past several years, IBM has been at the forefront of introducing quantum technology to the world,” Arvind Krishna, chairman and chief executive officer of IBM, said in a statement.

“We have achieved significant progress along our roadmap and mission to globally establish useful quantum technology, so much so that we can now, with our partners, truly begin to explore and develop a new class of supercomputing anchored by quantum.”

IBM has earlier developed a series of quantum chips. Its newest processor, Osprey, debuted last November and features 433 qubits. IBM has stated that it plans to develop chips with significantly more qubits in the future.

Google has also detailed several of its internally developed quantum chips. Most recently, it introduced a 53-qubit chip called Sycamore in 2019. According to Google, Sycamore has demonstrated the ability to perform a calculation involving random numbers faster than a 200-petaflop supercomputer.

Both companies’ chips are based on a processing approach called superconducting quantum computing. Chips based on this approach carry out calculations using qubits made of superconducting materials. Such materials enable electricity to travel from one point to another in a chip without generating heat, which eases processor design. Quantum processors are highly susceptible to errors and even a slight increase in temperature can cause a malfunction. That means, by reducing heat, superconducting qubits can increase the reliability of calculations.

According to the companies, their new investment initiative seeks to not only advance research but also train a new generation of quantum experts. The companies hope to train physicists as well as scientists in adjacent fields where quantum chips could one day help facilitate new discoveries.