Scaling beyond our roadmap with networked quantum computers : US Pioneer Global VC DIFCHQ SFO NYC Singapore – Riyadh Swiss Our Mind

Initiating the research and collaboration needed to build the quantum computers of the future.

 the future with our partners

Quantum links, networks, and even a quantum computing internet all play a central role in our vision for the future of computing.


At the processing level, our goal for running ever-larger quantum computations requires linking modular quantum processors over a short range, which we have demonstrated with our Crossbill and Flamingo processors. But longer-range links, would let us link quantum processing units at the scale of meters to create a quantum computing cluster in a datacenter.

At the heart of this linking is the quantum networking unit, or QNU. QNUs are the interfaces between the processors and interconnects—they translate static qubits encoded on stationary processors into “flying” qubits that can propagate and travel across a network. Photons are the natural element to achieve flying qubits, but the specific frequency of these photons, be it optical or microwave, could define the type of infrastructure over which we imagine this network.

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We’ve already started collaborating with government, academia, and business partners to begin researching and developing the components required to build distributed quantum computers, and in the future, a quantum computing internet. And today, we’re scoping a variety of coupling technologies at different length scales with our partners, each with their own purposes, challenges, considerations, and collaborators.

  • Internally, we’re developing l-couplers, designed to operate inside dilution refrigerators at the same temperature as our quantum processors and connect QPUs on the one meter scale. We must pursue high-fidelity l-couplers to realize our goal for Starling and delivering fault-tolerant quantum computing in 2029.

  • In partnership with Fermilab’s Superconducting Quantum Materials and Systems Center, we’re exploring connectors at the one- to ten-meter scale, designed to pass information at slightly higher temperatures to link quantum computers in the same building to help realize the quantum data center.

  • Finally—and perhaps the most challenging to realize—couplers designed to transmit information over kilometers. These couplers require a transducer, or a device that converts the energy of our photons from the microwave scale to the optical scale so we can send them over the link, plus further peripherals that allow us to generate entanglement over the link.

Today, we announced a planned partnership with Cisco to explore that final, most challenging piece— transducers and optical links between QPUs—as we work to realize the most challenging facet of our quantum computing internet vision. And once we build QNUs capable of linking QPUs over short and long distances, we can realize a true quantum computing internet—with QPUs networked across kilometers, in some cases working alongside quantum sensors.

Looking ahead

Quantum computers are already providing signals of value as the community realizes quantum advantage and develops new algorithms. However, we’re only scratching the surface of what’s possible with quantum computing. A full realization of this technology requires a quantum computing internet. It’ll be a challenging journey, but we feel confident we can succeed with the help of our clients and partners.

https://www.ibm.com/quantum/blog/networked-quantum-computers