Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) is now the world’s first university to host an IBM Quantum System One.
RPI and IBM unveiled the system today at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on campus. The unveiling, part of RPI’s bicentennial celebrations, marks a new milestone in the institute’s long-standing partnership with IBM.
First announced last June, the collaboration aims to spearhead advancements in quantum computing, workforce development, and educational opportunities both within RPI and among other institutions and organizations across the state of New York.
Located in the Voorhees Computing Center Chapel, the quantum system features a 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor and will give access to utility-scale quantum computing for RPI’s network of researchers, students, and partners.
RPI President Marty A. Schmidt expressed his excitement about the installation, emphasizing RPI’s pioneering legacy and its new role in leading quantum innovation. “With trustee Curtis Priem’s support and our enduring partnership with IBM, we’ll utilize advanced computing for global problem-solving and train future quantum professionals, aiming to establish the Capital Region as a hub for quantum innovation – our own ‘Quantum Valley’,” he stated.
The IBM Quantum System One at RPI is set to enhance the university’s research capabilities in fields such as chemistry, physics, and materials science, aiming to achieve quantum advantage. The institute is now poised to offer new quantum computing curricula and educational programs, preparing students for careers in the field.
IBM’s Senior Vice President and Director of Research, Dario Gil, highlighted the importance of collaborative efforts in exploring quantum computing’s potential to address complex problems. “It is fundamental that IBM works with our global ecosystem of partners, including world-renowned universities and research institutions such as RPI, to discover and map new algorithms to the most difficult challenges that quantum computers can solve. We will do this by fostering a quantum workforce of the future and ensuring that the next generation is equipped with the skills to use these systems to their fullest potential.”
RPI is already home to the Artificial Intelligence Multiprocessing Optimized System (AiMOS), the most powerful classical supercomputer at a private university in the U.S. with a top peak processing speed of 11.03 petaFLOPS. The addition of the IBM Quantum System One builds on this foundation, allowing researchers to utilize the power of both quantum and classical computing to further RPI’s mission as a leader in technological education and research.
“IBM is proud to build on our partnership with RPI. Together, we can unlock new frontiers in quantum research, science, and engineering,” said IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna. “This collaboration will help explore some of the world’s most complex problems and train the next generation of quantum experts.”