NVIDIA to establish an accelerated Quantum Computing research center in Boston

NVIDIA has announced plans to build a state-of-the-art research facility in Boston dedicated to advancing quantum computing technologies. The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) will integrate quantum hardware with AI-powered supercomputers, pioneering the concept of accelerated quantum supercomputing.

Advancing Quantum Computing

The NVAQC aims to address some of quantum computing’s most complex challenges, including qubit noise and the transformation of experimental quantum processors into practical computing devices. By leveraging cutting-edge quantum and AI technologies, the center will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between theoretical research and real-world applications.

NVIDIA is collaborating with top-tier quantum computing companies such as Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing. The initiative will also involve partnerships with leading academic institutions, including the Harvard Quantum Initiative in Science and Engineering (HQI) and the Engineering Quantum Systems (EQuS) group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

A hub for quantum research

Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA, highlighted the significance of quantum computing in complementing AI-driven supercomputing efforts. “Quantum computing will augment AI supercomputers to tackle some of the world’s most important problems, from drug discovery to materials development,” said Huang.

“Working with the wider quantum research community to advance CUDA-quantum hybrid computing, the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center is where breakthroughs will be made to create large-scale, useful, accelerated quantum supercomputers.”

Through the NVAQC, commercial and academic researchers will gain access to NVIDIA’s GB200 NVL72 rack-scale systems, the most powerful hardware deployed for quantum computing applications to date. These systems will facilitate the simulation of quantum processes and enhance the development of low-latency quantum hardware control algorithms essential for quantum error correction.

The research center will also utilize NVIDIA’s CUDA-Q quantum development platform, enabling scientists to explore hybrid quantum-classical computing algorithms. This integration will be instrumental in overcoming the challenges of interfacing GPUs and quantum processing units (QPUs).

Collaboration with Harvard and MIT

The HQI, a prominent research initiative in quantum science and engineering, will work closely with NVAQC to drive advancements in next-generation quantum technologies.

Mikhail Lukin, Joshua and Beth Friedman University Professor at Harvard and co-director of HQI, emphasized the center’s strategic importance: “The NVAQC is a very special addition to the unique Boston area quantum ecosystem, including world-leading university groups and startup companies. The accelerated quantum and classical computing technologies NVIDIA is bringing together have the potential to advance research in areas ranging from quantum error correction to practical quantum computing applications.”

MIT’s EQuS group, a key player in the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering, will leverage the NVAQC to develop techniques like quantum error correction. William Oliver, professor of electrical engineering and computer science at MIT and director of the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering, stated: “The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center will provide EQuS researchers with unprecedented access to the technologies and expertise needed to solve the challenges of useful quantum computing.”

The NVAQC is set to become operational later this year, marking a significant step forward in the integration of AI and quantum computing for scientific and industrial breakthroughs.