[2025 Future Business Forum] "Error-Free Quantum Computers to Be Used in Finance and Drug Development by 2029"

Hanhee Baek, IBM Director, Delivers Keynote Speech
Aiming for "Quantum Advantage" by Next Year
Solving Problems Unsolvable by Classical Computers
Paper on Logical Qubits Also Released
Focusing on System and Algorithm Development

"We will implement a fully fault-tolerant quantum computer that can be deployed in industrial settings by 2029."

IBM has unveiled a mid- to long-term plan to achieve "quantum advantage"?where quantum computers solve problems that classical computers cannot?by next year, and to realize a fully error-corrected quantum computer at an industrially applicable level by 2029.

Hanhee Baek, Director of the IBM Quantum Algorithm Center (Ph.D.), delivered a keynote speech at the "2025 Asia Future Business Forum" held at Lotte Hotel in Sogong-dong, Seoul on June 11. She stated, "Quantum computers have now surpassed the laboratory stage and have reached a level of computational capability that can be utilized in real-world applications."

Dr. Baek specifically presented IBM's annual roadmap for quantum technology development. In 2023, IBM demonstrated "quantum utility," proving that quantum computers can perform meaningful calculations. In 2026, the company aims to establish quantum advantage, and by 2029, it has pledged to introduce the "IBM Quantum Starling" quantum computer, which will feature an industrial-grade fault-tolerant system.

[2025 Future Business Forum] "Error-Free Quantum Computers to Be Used in Finance and Drug Development by 2029"

Hanhee Baek, Director of BH Research Quantum Algorithm Center and Centric Supercomputing Partnership, is delivering the keynote speech at the "2025 Asia Future Business Forum" hosted by Asia Economy at Lotte Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul on the 11th. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

Starling will be composed of 200 logical qubits. A logical qubit is a unit that stores quantum information equivalent to one qubit in an error-corrected quantum computer. It is constructed by multiple physical qubits working together to store information and monitor each other's errors.

On this day, IBM also released a paper detailing how the number of logical qubits and resources required to build an error-free quantum computer can be significantly reduced.

Quantum advantage refers to the ability of quantum computers to solve problems much faster and more efficiently than classical supercomputers, particularly for problems that would take too long or be impossible for classical systems. IBM plans to achieve this goal by 2026.

Furthermore, by 2029, IBM aims to complete a "fault-tolerant quantum computer" that operates reliably without errors, and to use it to solve real-world industrial problems in fields such as pharmaceuticals, energy, materials, and finance.

IBM also unveiled its quantum computer system development roadmap, which progresses through "Loon," "Kookaburra," "Cockatoo," and "Starling." Dr. Baek stated, "In 2025, we plan to implement two logical qubits, and in 2026, we will build a structure capable of real-time error correction based on twelve logical qubits." She added, "We will expand the scale by connecting multiple modules and ultimately raise the system to a level usable in industrial settings."

To ensure stable implementation of the technology, IBM is focusing not only on hardware but also on algorithm development. The company is starting with problems whose results can be easily verified, working to reduce errors that occur during computation, and simultaneously employing methods that select results with fewer errors. IBM is also experimenting with new computational methods in which quantum computers and classical computers collaborate to find optimal solutions.

Real-world cases were also introduced. Recently, IBM succeeded in calculating the ground state energy of a complex molecule called "4Fe-4S," a metal-protein complex. This molecule is difficult to compute using conventional methods, but IBM's quantum computer processed it using 77 qubits.

Dr. Baek emphasized, "Quantum advantage is not something that is achieved overnight, but is built up over a long period through experimentation and building trust." She added, "In addition to technology, cooperation, investment, and social preparedness are all necessary."