IonQ has announced plans to install its Superion 256 quantum processor at the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), marking what the company describes as the first on-premise quantum computing system for the facility.
The collaboration aims to explore the integration of quantum processors with advanced AI infrastructure, potentially paving the way for new approaches to large-scale quantum supercomputing.
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Under the partnership, the IonQ Superion 256 system will be directly connected to an Nvidia GB200 NVL72 system using Nvidia NVQLink technology.
The systems will operate in conjunction through the open Nvidia CUDA-Q software platform, with research focusing on hybrid quantum-classical software development and large-scale system prototyping.
IonQ chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi said: “Deploying our Superion 256 into cutting-edge environments, such as Nvidia’s NVAQC will lead to developments allowing our partners to benefit from our scalable architecture and robust manufacturability.
“Our Superion quantum computing platform is robust and research-centre ready. Our roadmap to 10,000 qubits and full fault tolerance is accelerating through vertical integration of our SkyWater CMOS foundry. We are excited by the possibilities our groundbreaking partnership with Nvidia will yield.”
IonQ and Nvidia aim to produce open research outputs to guide future use cases in AI and quantum-GPU design.
Nvidia vice president and quantum general manager Timothy Costa said: “As the first quantum processor to sit alongside the NVAQC’s GB200 NVL72 system, IonQ’s Superion 256 will help make breakthroughs allowing the global ecosystem to integrate QPUs with AI infrastructure, build using open models and open-source software, and advance toward scientifically useful quantum supercomputers.”
Recent joint research involving IonQ, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Nvidia, and the University of Tennessee was presented at IEEE Quantum Week earlier this month.
The study outlined a framework that combines generative AI with distributed quantum algorithms for combinatorial optimisation. This work used the Nvidia CUDA-Q platform.
The research collaboration intends to address challenges in areas such as portfolio optimisation in financial services, materials science, and computational chemistry for drug discovery.
Last month, IonQ finalised its acquisition of US semiconductor foundry SkyWater Technology in a deal valued at approximately $1.8bn.
