Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Plans to Deploy First IBM Quantum System One on University Campuses

Insider Summary

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute announced that it will be the first university in the world to have IBM Quantum System One.
• IBM Quantum System One will be powered by a 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor.
• Quantum computers will be part of RPI’s new Curtis Priem Quantum Constellation, a faculty-endowed center for collaborative research.

PRESS RELEASE — Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute announced it will be the first university in the world to have IBM Quantum System One. The IBM quantum computer, which is intended to be operational in January 2024, will serve as the basis of the new IBM Quantum Computing Center in partnership with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI). By partnering, RPI’s vision is to further enhance the educational experience and research capabilities of students and researchers at RPI and other institutions, propel the Capital Territory to become a top location for talent, and accelerate New York’s growth as a technology hub.

RPI’s progress in application research for quantum computing will represent an investment of more than $150 million once fully realized, helped by philanthropic support from Curtis R. Priem ’82, co-chair of RPI’s Board of Trustees. The new quantum computers will form part of the new Curtis Priem Quantum Constellation RPI, a faculty-endowed collaborative research center, which will prioritize recruiting additional faculty leaders who will leverage quantum computing systems.

“We are grateful for Curtis Priem’s ​​support. RPI builds on our longstanding collaboration with IBM to leverage advanced computing to find solutions to global challenges, while training the next generation workforce in quantum,” said Marty A. Schmidt ’81, Ph.D., Chair of RPI. “Our new quantum computing center will benefit the Capital Territory and New York State by dramatically increasing our regional research capabilities. We look forward to working with our partners in the region to transform the Hudson River Valley into a ‘Quantum Valley.’”

“I am very excited to support RPI as it moves into this important area,” said Priem. “This investment will make RPI at the forefront of technology and innovation, and lead the country in harnessing this advanced technology for the good of our nation.”

Priem co-founded NVIDIA Corp. in 1993. Since its founding, NVIDIA has been a pioneer in accelerated computing. “Our invention of the GPU in 1999 fueled the growth of the PC gaming market, redefined computer graphics, sparked the modern AI era, and sparked the creation of a metaverse. NVIDIA is now a full-stack computing company with data center-scale offerings that are reshaping the industry.” Priem’s ​​past support of RPI includes a historic $40 million unlimited gift that led to the naming of the Experimental Performing Arts and Media Center (EMPAC).

Quantum computers make use of the laws of quantum mechanics to process information and can solve problems too complex for classical supercomputers such as advances in computational science, artificial intelligence, and materials research. The IBM Quantum System One that will be used in RPI will be powered by a 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor, which the company recently used to perform utility-scale computations. IBM defines utility scale as the point at which a quantum computer can serve as a scientific tool for exploring new scale problems that remain difficult for classical methods. The agreement with IBM includes a commitment to provide upgrades to systems installed at RPI by 2026.

“Today’s quantum computer is a new and scientific tool that can be used to model very difficult, and perhaps impossible, problems for classical systems, signaling that we are now entering a new phase of utility for quantum computing,” said Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and IBM Research Director. “We hope that this collaboration will continue to have a tremendous impact on the growth of the region as an innovation corridor, from New York City to the Capital Region. We are very pleased to be collaborating with RPI as we continue to nurture the future global quantum ecosystem.”

RPI has a long history of cutting edge technology and is already home to one of the world’s most powerful supercomputers, the Artificial Intelligence Multiprocessing Optimization System (AiMOS). AiMOS, with the highest peak processing speed of 11.03 petaFLOPS, is currently the most powerful private university-based supercomputer in the United States. Supercomputers equipped with IBM POWER9 CPUs and NVIDIA GPUs allow users to explore new AI applications.

“The Capital Region is a major center for global semiconductor R&D and manufacturing and key to other emerging industries such as quantum computing,” said US Senator Charles Schumer. “The region is home to one of the most advanced R&D facilities at the Albany Nanotech Complex, where cutting-edge research is carried out such as IBM’s development of the world’s smallest semiconductor chip. The region is also home to leading research institutions such as RPI, and under the leadership of President Marty Schmidt, RPI is continuing its 200 year legacy as one of the leading technology universities. What a great novelty for a regional lid to put the first IBM Quantum System One on a university campus! This sets Capital Region and Upstate New York apart and will be an asset to recruiting and retaining talent locally, and helping to train students in high-value careers.”

“The RPI quantum computing center will be installed as we begin celebrating our 200 year history of innovation. From a pedagogical and research perspective, there is potential to accelerate breakthroughs that could benefit the New York region and the world,” said John E. Kelly, ’78G, ’80Ph.D., DHL (Hon.), Chair of the Rensselaer Board of Trustees.