Yonsei University Upgrades to IBM Nighthawk Quantum Processor for Research and Industry Applications

Yonsei University's Quantum Initiative is set to become the second research institution in the world to install IBM's Nighthawk quantum processor, following in the footsteps of IBM Miami. The move will upgrade Yonsei's existing quantum processing unit and enable it to perform about 40% more computation than its previous Eagle processor at the same error level.

The initiative aims to connect industrial users with quantum algorithms, data resources, and computing capabilities through its Q-Bridge platform, which is set to launch alongside the Nighthawk installation in November. Director Jung Jae-ho explained that the key challenge for the initiative is to resolve demand from industrial sites and develop practical use cases across research and industrial settings.

The Yonsei Quantum Initiative will also pursue joint research projects with institutions such as RIKEN and the University of Cambridge, including a project on Leigh syndrome, a genetic disease. Director Jung highlighted the scale of the calculation challenge, stating that using Fugaku alone would require running the computer nonstop for 48 years.