By using quantum computing, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing, the Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator hub will seek to advance discovery and solutions in energy, sustainability, and life sciences
The Discovery Accelerator technology hub in Canada will have an IBM Quantum System One in place. (Credit: IBM)
IBM and the Quebec government in Canada have launched a new technology hub called Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator, which will focus on developing new projects, collaborations, and skills-building initiatives.
The main areas of research to be taken up at the hub include energy, sustainability, and life sciences.
The work to be carried out by Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator will be in line with the objectives of the Quebec government’s innovation zones in Sherbrooke as well as the microelectronics innovation zone in Bromont of encouraging the use of advanced technology in the province.
According to IBM, the technology hub will work with partners in the scientific research and private sectors to advance discovery and solutions using computational technologies such as quantum computing, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance computing (HPC).
An IBM Quantum System One to be installed at IBM’s Bromont facility will be leveraged by the hub to help Quebec’s innovation zones to achieve their mission. Using the system, the hub will explore complex problems such as the modelling of new materials and the role of quantum computing in larger sustainability efforts.
Quebec Premier François Legault said: “Quebec’s potential to innovate in high technology and be a leader in the economy of the future is immense. We have world-class universities, creative entrepreneurs and talented workers.
“The dedicated IBM quantum computer will pave the way for us to make incredible progress in areas such as artificial intelligence and modelling.
“Quantum science is the future of computing. With our innovation zone, we’re positioning ourselves at the forefront of this future.”
The teams of Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator will also use a variety of AI models for exploring use cases, which include the discovery of new drugs, said IBM.
The technology hub will utilise a major base of HPC for integrating classical and quantum technology to look into a range of scientific challenges.
IBM SVP and research director Darío Gil said: “The Quebec-IBM Discovery Accelerator is further proof of our commitment to building open communities of innovation to tackle the big problems of our time through a combination of quantum computing, AI and high-performance computing, all integrated through the hybrid cloud.
“This new Discovery Accelerator, along with our work in semiconductor packaging, will bring to bear the full scope of IBM’s groundbreaking technology to Quebec’s world-class scientific and industrial communities.”
In late 2021, IBM unveiled a new 127-qubit quantum computing chip called Eagle, which is claimed to have the potential to outperform standard chips.