- IBM has committed more than $10 billion to advance its quantum computing roadmap
- The investment supports research and development, manufacturing scaling and more
- IBM plans to deliver Quantum Starling in 2029 as its first large-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer
IBM has unveiled a potential five-year, $10 billion investment plan to support quantum computing research, development and commercialization efforts.
The company said Tuesday the investment is intended to accelerate its quantum computing roadmap, including plans to deliver IBM Quantum Starling, a fault-tolerant quantum computer, by 2029.
What Areas Will IBM’s Quantum Investment Support?
According to IBM, the investment will cover research and development, manufacturing scaling, capital expenditure, ecosystem partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions.
The investment will also support IBM’s efforts to deliver the next generation of quantum hardware, software and manufacturing capabilities as the company advances the development of fault-tolerant quantum systems.
IBM said it currently operates more than 90 quantum systems worldwide through cloud-based and on-site deployments across North America, Europe and Asia.
What Did IBM CEO Arvind Krishna Say About the Investment?
Arvind Krishna, chairman and CEO of IBM, said quantum computing has entered a new phase of development as organizations increasingly use the company’s quantum systems for practical applications.
“The quantum era is no longer ahead of us, it has started. Our clients, partners and users around the world are tapping into IBM quantum computers to do work that was impossible a few years ago,” Krishna said. “The pace of discovery with quantum computers is accelerating rapidly and this investment powers our ability to deliver the next generation of quantum hardware, software, and manufacturing.”
How Does the Planned Investment Build on IBM’s Recent Quantum Initiatives?
The announcement follows several recent IBM quantum computing efforts, including plans to launch Anderon, a quantum foundry subsidiary that will build superconducting wafers, with support from the Department of Commerce.
IBM also outlined its roadmap for Quantum Starling, expanded work on quantum networking technologies with Cisco and participated in the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s Quantum Benchmarking Initiative Stage B program.
