IBM and the Japanese institute RIKEN have officially unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two installed outside the United States, marking a milestone in the history of global quantum computing. The new machine, powered by the IBM Heron quantum processor with 156 qubits, is co-located with the Fugaku supercomputer at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science in Kobe.
This deployment not only expands IBM’s international presence in quantum computing but also establishes the first direct integration between a classical supercomputer and a next-generation quantum system. The initiative is backed by the Japanese public organization NEDO, as part of the national program for the development of post-5G technologies.
The Heron Processor: Unprecedented Precision and Speed
At the heart of the system is the IBM Quantum Heron, the most powerful quantum processor built to date by the company. With a quantum gate error rate of 1×10⁻³ (in its best configuration) and an operational capacity of 250,000 operations per second (CLOPS), Heron is ten times more powerful than its predecessor, the 127-qubit Eagle.
Thanks to these advancements, the new quantum system can run algorithms that are impossible to simulate with classical computers, paving the way for discoveries in areas such as quantum chemistry, complex materials, and industrial optimization.
Quantum + Classical: The Birth of Hybrid Supercomputing
The most revolutionary aspect of this installation is the direct interconnection between the IBM Quantum System Two and the Fugaku supercomputer, one of the most powerful in the world. Through a high-speed network at the instruction level, both systems can execute tasks in a coordinated manner, allowing each paradigm (quantum or classical) to solve the part of the problem it governs best.
This hybrid approach will enable the development of new algorithms, optimized compilation libraries, and low-latency communication protocols, transforming the landscape of scientific computing.
Real Applications and Initial Results
One of the main goals is to achieve what is known as quantum advantage, that is, solving problems more quickly or accurately than any known classical method. In fact, IBM and RIKEN have already published pioneering work in the journal Science Advances, such as simulating electronic structures in compounds like iron pyrite, using quantum sampling diagonalization techniques (SQD).
This demonstrates that, even without fully fault-tolerant quantum computers, quantum computing can already provide real scientific value when integrated with powerful classical infrastructures.
Institutional Statements
“The future of computing is quantum-centric, and with our partners at RIKEN, we are making great strides to make it a reality,” stated Jay Gambetta, VP of IBM Quantum.
“Our goal is to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing,” asserted Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, director of the Quantum-HPC Platform Division at RIKEN.
The inauguration ceremony took place on June 24 in Kobe, with the participation of representatives from IBM, RIKEN, Japan’s Ministry of Economy and Industry (METI), local authorities, and organizations such as NEDO and MEXT.
This announcement strengthens Japan’s commitment to remaining at the forefront of global technology. Meanwhile, IBM continues to solidify its leadership in quantum computing, with a growing fleet of systems in America, Europe, and now Asia. Collaboration between public institutions and tech giants remains key to bringing this emerging technology from the lab to the industry.