Recently, the government of Quebec and IBM announced a cooperation to jointly build IBM's first quantum computer in Canada to promote the research and development of quantum computing, battery development, artificial intelligence, semiconductors and so on.
The quantum computer, called IBM Quantum System One, will be deployed at ibm's plant in Bromont, Quebec, and is IBM's fourth general-purpose quantum system outside the United States. Since this quantum system is universal, it will be able to run all the programs written for quantum computers, rather than highly specialized systems. This will help researchers develop new solutions in areas such as energy, life sciences and sustainability, and further improve quantum computers.
Image from IBM
IBM has positioned Quebec as a hub for innovation and technology in quantum-related sciences, and has launched a partnership with the Government of Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator. The two sides plan to combine quantum computing with cloud technology, high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to address broader challenges.
Canada has identified quantum solutions as a key technology industry. This trend is reflected in a range of investments: Canadian quantum computing technology company D-Wave Systems received $40 million in government investment in 2021. And that's just part of the government's $120 million investment plan to develop homegrown quantum computer hardware and software systems. At the same time, Canada has deployed a series of new organizational structures and development initiatives, such as Quantum Industry Canada, and various innovation centers across the country.
"Combining quantum technology and artificial intelligence has real potential, which will allow us to get concrete results very quickly." Jean-Francois Barsoum, senior head of innovation at IBM, said, "We are doing this to implement these technologies and achieve concrete applications and discoveries quickly by working with academia and the private sector." ”
The collaboration will also help advance battery development.
"Batteries are difficult to make and improve. We've been fighting for decades, but progress has been slow," said Anthony Annunziata, head of IBM' division, "and if ai and quantum technologies are brought into this space, things will change." We can really start to understand the core of the battery, understand the new materials and new processes, and thus make better batteries. ”
The first IBM quantum computer in Canada is expected to be fully operational by 2023. In addition to the Government of Quebec in Canada, IBM has similar partners in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Based on the superposition properties of qubits, quantum computers can process information at an exponential rate, millions of times faster than today's supercomputers. At present, countries around the world are competing to develop quantum technology, which will help promote progress in artificial intelligence, materials science and chemistry in the future.