IBM has entered into an agreement with Japan's RIKEN Center for Computational Science to deploy an IBM Quantum System Two and integrate it with the Fugaku supercomputer in Kobe. This initiative aims to pioneer a new era of quantum-centric supercomputing, blending quantum computing's potential with traditional high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities. The collaboration marks a significant step towards realizing quantum-enhanced computational services, particularly in the context of the forthcoming “post-5G era.”
Technical Synergy
The Fugaku supercomputer, developed by Fujitsu and powered by 152,064 A64FX processor chips, held the title of the world's most powerful supercomputer from 2020 until it was overtaken by the Frontier exascale system in 2022. The integration with IBM's Quantum System Two, which is based on the 133 qubit Heron quantum processor, is poised to unlock new computational possibilities. IBM's quantum system, unveiled at the IBM Quantum Summit in New York, is distinguished by its claim of a fivefold improvement in error rates, thanks to the advancements in the Heron processor. This collaboration is underpinned by funding from the Japanese government's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), focusing on the development of hybrid computational platforms.
The Path Forward
The integration of IBM's quantum technology with the Fugaku supercomputer is not just a technical achievement but a strategic move towards enhancing Japan's computational research and development capabilities. Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, director of RIKEN's Quantum HPC Collaborative Platform Division, emphasized the transition of quantum systems from the noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) era to a more practical stage. The initiative also includes the development of a software stack for executing integrated quantum-classical workflows, aiming to improve algorithm quality and execution times significantly.
