IBM, Oak Ridge National Lab and AMD Launch Co-Design Platform for Quantum Error Correction
IBM, the U.S. Department of Energy-funded Quantum Science Center (QSC) at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), and AMD on November 5 unveiled a new co-design platform for quantum error correction, integrating quantum and high-performance computing.
The first deployment co-locates IBM's quantum computers, including its most powerful quantum processor, the 120-qubit IBM Quantum Nighthawk, with ORNL's Umbra high-performance computing system, powered by AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs and fifth-generation AMD EPYC CPUs. The AMD compute provides the classical computing foundation for research into quantum error correction, decoding optimization and software orchestration. The platform will also connect with the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility (OLCF).
The work aligns with the Department of Energy's Quantum Genesis Mission, whose recently announced Q Competition targets 100 logical qubits running 100,000 hard operations by late 2028. IBM has demonstrated experiments with up to 70 logical qubits and 438 hard operations, meaning the field needs a roughly 230-fold increase in hard operation count to close the gap.
"Solving the challenges of quantum error correction is essential to making quantum computing a practical tool for scientific discovery, which is a priority for Oak Ridge National Laboratory," said Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center. "ORNL's strength in high-performance computing, combined with the expertise of our QSC partners — like IBM and AMD — creates an opportunity to push the boundaries of what is possible."
"The question is no longer if error correction will work on quantum hardware," said Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Director of IBM Research. "Today, the question is how to accelerate and optimize error correction to build systems that scientists can use to tackle meaningful problems."
"The next era of computing will bring the new quantum paradigm together with decades of innovation across the classical hardware and software ecosystem," said Mark Papermaster, executive vice president and chief technology officer of AMD. "Together with IBM and Oak Ridge National Laboratory, we are advancing a holistic approach that integrates quantum processors, high-performance computing and AI."
The companies said lessons from the platform will inform IBM's path to IBM Quantum Starling, its first fault-tolerant quantum computer, and prepare DOE researchers to use such systems from day one. (Source: IBM)
Source: IBM
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：IBM Q System One 量子计算机（弗劳恩霍夫安装机）。IBM Research 摄，CC BY 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: IBM Q System One quantum computer (Fraunhofer installation). Photo by IBM Research, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
