IBM and RIKEN have announced the deployment of the first IBM Quantum System Two outside the United States, marking a significant development in quantum computing. This system is co-located with RIKEN's supercomputer Fugaku in Japan, one of the most powerful classical systems globally. The project is supported by Japan's New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) under METI's initiative for integrated utilization technology for quantum and supercomputers.
The IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN features IBM's 156-qubit Quantum Heron processor, noted for its performance improvements over previous models. It has achieved a two-qubit error rate significantly better than its predecessor, the 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle. The Heron's speed, measured by CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second), reflects substantial progress in processing capabilities.
This system allows for advanced research on algorithms beyond brute-force simulations on classical computers. Its integration with Fugaku will enable researchers to explore quantum-centric supercomputing approaches to tackle complex problems like fundamental chemistry issues.
Located within the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), this setup provides a testing ground for quantum-centric supercomputing through high-speed network connections at the instruction level. This arrangement supports parallelized workloads and low-latency communication protocols between quantum and classical systems.
The official launch took place during a ceremony in Kobe, Japan, attended by key figures such as RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami and Jay Gambetta from IBM Quantum. "The future of computing is quantum-centric," said Gambetta. "With our partners at RIKEN we are taking a big step forward to make this vision a reality."
Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato from RIKEN emphasized their mission to develop practical hybrid workflows that benefit both scientific communities and industries: "By combining Fugaku and the IBM Quantum System Two, RIKEN aims to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing."
This installation aims to expand on previous achievements by discovering algorithms that demonstrate quantum advantage—solving problems faster or more accurately than classical methods. Recent work featured in Science Advances highlights these efforts using sample-based quantum diagonalization techniques.
RIKEN is recognized as Japan's largest research institute for basic and applied research, publishing numerous papers annually across various scientific disciplines. Meanwhile, IBM continues to provide global expertise in hybrid cloud, AI, and consulting services.
For more information about these organizations, visit www.riken.jp and www.ibm.com.