IBM Corp. is doubling down on its quantum computing research efforts with the aid of clients who have been granted early access to its IBM Q platform, the company’s commercial quantum computing service.

With its partners, Big Blue has created what it calls the IBM Q Network in order to foster greater collaboration and explore the practical applications of quantum computing.

Quantum computing is believed to hold incredible potential, thanks to an architecture that’s fundamentally different from that of today’s personal computers, smartphones and other computing devices. Whereas classic computers encode information in regular “bits,” represented by ones and zeros, quantum computers encode information in “qubits,” which can be ones, zeros or both at the same time. Because they use qubits, quantum computers can manipulate multiple combinations of states at once, which makes them far more powerful than their nonquantum cousins, at least for performing a range of advanced computing tasks such as genomic sequencing, materials science research and more.

Exploring that potential is what the IBM Q Network is all about. Under the initiative, IBM will provide the expertise and access to its most advanced quantum machines, which are powered by its latest 20-qubit processor. IBM said it’s working with 12 partners on the initiative to begin with: JPMorgan Chase & Co., Daimler AG, Samsung Group, JSR Corp., Barclays Plc., Hitachi Metals Ltd., Honda Motor Co. Ltd., Nagase & Co. Ltd., Keio University, Oak Ridge National Lab, Oxford University and the University of Melbourne.

A number of projects involving those partners are already underway, IBM said. For example, IBM is working with JPMorgan Chase to explore the use cases for quantum computing in the financial services sector, while Samsung is exploring how quantum computers might impact the semiconductor and electronics industries. Other projects are looking into possible applications for the materials, automotive and chemistry industries, IBM said.

Besides these initiatives, IBM is now offering a new consulting service for clients who’re interested in becoming “quantum ready.” Called IBM Q Consulting, the service brings together expertise from various consultants, scientists and industry experts, who can help clients to create new quantum systems to tackle business problems, IBM said.

Last but not least, IBM said it’s setting up five regional research hubs dedicated to quantum research, education and collaboration. The hubs, which are scattered across four continents, are meant to increase access to IBM’s quantum computing systems for researchers and other industry experts. Locations include the IBM Research Center in the United States, Keio University in Japan, Oak Ridge National Lab in the U.S., Oxford University in the United Kingdom, and the University of Melbourne in Australia.

“Working closely with our clients, together we can begin to explore the ways big and small quantum computing can address previously unsolvable problems applicable to industries such as financial services, automotive or chemistry,” said Dario Gil, vice president of AI and IBM Q at IBM Research. “There will be a shared focus on discovering areas of quantum advantage that may lead to commercial, intellectual and societal benefit in the future.”

Image: IBM