IBM & AMD collaborate to develop quantum-centric supercomputers
IBM and AMD have announced a partnership aimed at developing quantum-centric supercomputing architectures by combining IBM's quantum computing capabilities with AMD's high-performance computing and artificial intelligence technologies.
This collaboration seeks to integrate IBM's expertise in quantum systems with AMD's range of CPUs, GPUs, and FPGAs, aspiring to address complex scientific and industrial challenges across sectors such as drug discovery, materials science, optimisation, and logistics. By combining resources and skills, both companies hope to create a platform capable of solving problems that are currently beyond the capabilities of classical computing infrastructure alone.
Quantum and classical integration
Traditional computers process information using bits that hold a value of either zero or one, while quantum computers use qubits that can represent information according to quantum mechanical laws, enabling representation and manipulation of much more complex data spaces. This difference underpins quantum computers' suitability for exploring solutions that classical computers cannot reach.
"Quantum computing will simulate the natural world and represent information in an entirely new way," said Arvind Krishna, Chairman and CEO, IBM. "By exploring how quantum computers from IBM and the advanced high-performance compute technologies of AMD can work together, we will build a powerful hybrid model that pushes past the limits of traditional computing."
In the planned hybrid architecture, IBM's quantum technologies will be paired with AMD's high-performance chips and AI accelerators. Different computational tasks will be assigned to the paradigm most suited to solving them. For example, quantum computers might be employed for simulating atomic and molecular structures, while classical AMD-powered supercomputers conduct data-intensive analysis.
Open development focus
Both companies will focus on scalable, open-source platforms and plan to leverage open-source ecosystems such as Qiskit to accelerate the creation and adoption of quantum-classical hybrid algorithms. Such collaboration is expected to bring new solutions to longstanding computational bottlenecks in various industries.
"High-performance computing is the foundation for solving the world's most important challenges," said Dr. Lisa Su, Chair and CEO of AMD. "As we partner with IBM to explore the convergence of high-performance computing and quantum technologies, we see tremendous opportunities to accelerate discovery and innovation."
IBM and AMD are planning an initial demonstration this year to showcase how their technologies can be combined to deploy hybrid workflows. The demonstration will show IBM quantum computers working in tandem with AMD CPUs, GPUs and FPGAs.
Real-world applications and partnerships
IBM has already initiated projects to connect quantum and classical computing environments. Recent initiatives include its partnership with RIKEN for linking the IBM Quantum System Two with the Fugaku supercomputer in Japan, as well as collaborations with Cleveland Clinic, the Basque Government, and Lockheed Martin. These projects aim to provide concrete examples of quantum-classical computing delivering real benefits above what established classical systems can accomplish independently.
AMD technology currently powers several of the world's top supercomputers, including Frontier at Oak Ridge National Labouratory in the United States, which is the first supercomputer confirmed to have exceeded the exascale performance threshold. Additionally, AMD CPUs and GPUs enable processing on El Capitan at Lawrence Livermore National Labouratory. AMD is also actively involved in powering generative AI applications for enterprises and cloud service providers globally.
Hybrid computing outlook
The companies' collaboration is designed to support IBM's goal of developing fault-tolerant quantum computers by the end of the decade. AMD's hardware is being examined for its potential to provide real-time error correction, a key requirement for practical quantum computing at scale.
As AMD and IBM work towards their initial joint demonstration, the outcome could signal progress in the development of quantum-centric supercomputing that blends quantum and classical resources to solve complex, real-world problems in scientific and industrial domains.
