NVIDIA Announces The Launch Of A New Quantum Computing Research Center In Boston

NVIDIA has revealed plans to establish the NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) in Boston to advance quantum computing by combining quantum hardware with AI supercomputers. The centre will collaborate with industry leaders and top academic institutions like Harvard and MIT.

NVIDIA has announced plans to build a new research centre in Boston to speed up the development of quantum computing. The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC) will be a key place for advanced research and collaboration with leading experts in the quantum computing field.

NVIDIA’s new centre aims to push the boundaries of quantum computing by combining advanced quantum hardware with AI supercomputers. This approach, referred to as accelerated quantum supercomputing, is designed to solve some of quantum computing’s most complex challenges. The NVAQC will focus on issues such as qubit noise and the transformation of experimental quantum processors into practical, usable devices.

Through this initiative, NVIDIA plans to bring together leading quantum computing innovators, including Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing, to collaborate with top researchers from prestigious universities. These institutions, such as the Harvard Quantum Initiative (HQI) and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s (MIT) Engineering Quantum Systems (EQuS) group, will work alongside NVIDIA to drive advancements in quantum computing.

Jensen Huang, the founder and CEO of NVIDIA, emphasised the importance of this development:  “Quantum computing will augment AI supercomputers to tackle some of the world’s most important problems, from drug discovery to materials development.”

State-of-the-art technology for quantum innovation

The NVAQC will make use of NVIDIA’s most powerful hardware ever deployed for quantum computing applications—the GB200 NVL72 rack-scale systems. These advanced systems will enable complex simulations of quantum systems and the deployment of quantum hardware control algorithms that are essential for quantum error correction. This technology will also aid in the acceleration of AI algorithms for use in quantum computing research.

In addressing the integration of GPU and QPU hardware, the NVAQC will utilise NVIDIA's CUDA-Q™ quantum development platform. This platform will support the development of new hybrid quantum algorithms and applications, furthering the capabilities of the research centre.

“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,” said Jensen Huang. 

Collaboration with academic and research leaders

The partnership with the Harvard Quantum Initiative (HQI) and MIT’s EQuS group adds significant academic expertise to the project. Harvard’s Mikhail Lukin, a co-director of HQI, highlighted the centre’s potential:

 “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 applications of quantum computing systems, accelerating quantum computing research and bringing useful quantum computing closer to reality.”

MIT’s William Oliver, leader of the EQuS group and director of the MIT Center for Quantum Engineering, also praised the centre:

 “The NVIDIA Accelerated Quantum Research Center will provide EQuS group researchers with unprecedented access to the technologies and expertise needed to solve the challenges of useful quantum computing. Integrating the NVIDIA accelerated computing platform with qubits will help tackle core challenges like quantum error correction, hybrid application development, and quantum device characterisation.”

Expected impact and future prospects

The NVAQC is set to begin operations later this year, with the potential to drive transformative progress in the quantum computing field. By promoting collaboration between the commercial and academic sectors, the centre is positioned to be a focal point for quantum research, helping to bring quantum computing closer to practical, large-scale applications.

As the research centre progresses, it is expected to attract further partnerships and accelerate the development of next-generation quantum technologies that could revolutionise industries ranging from healthcare to material science.

About NVIDIA

NVIDIA Corporation is an American technology company founded in 1993 by Jensen Huang, Chris Malachowsky, and Curtis Priem. Headquartered in Santa Clara, California, NVIDIA specialises in designing graphics processing units (GPUs) for the gaming and professional markets, as well as system-on-a-chip units (SoCs) for mobile computing and automotive applications. 

Over the years, NVIDIA has expanded its focus beyond graphics processing, becoming a key player in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). The company's GPUs are widely used in training deep learning models, significantly contributing to advancements in AI technology. This strategic shift has positioned NVIDIA at the forefront of the AI industry, with its products being integral to various applications, from autonomous vehicles to advanced data centres.