[Exclusive] IonQ Selected for Korea's First Government-Backed Commercial Quantum Computer

Practical Research Achievements Expected Through Integration of Quantum Computers and Supercomputers with KISTI
Global Quantum Computing Companies Compete for Korean Government Project

IonQ, a U.S.-based quantum computing company, has been selected as the winner of the Korean government's first quantum computer adoption project. There are growing expectations that this will lay the groundwork for strengthening various industrial sectors such as new drug development, new materials, finance, and defense through the use of quantum computers.

Sangim Yoo, Minister of Science and ICT (second from the right on the right side), and Sik Lee, President of KISTI, are visiting the IonQ booth at the "Quantum Korea 2025" event held on the 24th at the AT Center in Yangjaedong, Seoul, and receiving explanations. Photo by Jongmin Baek, Tech Specialist

According to the scientific community on June 26, the consortium of "IonQ and the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI)" has been virtually confirmed as the final contractor for the "Quantum Computing Service and Utilization System Establishment" project, which is worth 48.2 billion KRW and is led by the Ministry of Science and ICT and promoted by the National Research Foundation of Korea. The foundation completed the application process last month, conducted a review by a panel of experts, reached this conclusion, and is preparing for the final announcement.

This project involves introducing a world-class quantum computer with more than 50 qubits, qubit fidelity of 99.9% or higher, and entanglement gate fidelity of 99% or higher, and building a hybrid cloud service linked to a high-performance supercomputer (HPC). The goal is to create an ecosystem where domestic researchers can stably utilize quantum computing resources. The total project period is 3 years and 9 months, until January 2029, with a total government budget of 48.2 billion KRW.

Currently, Yonsei University operates "System One," an IBM quantum computer with 127 qubits, but there have been growing calls for the government to introduce additional quantum computers to accelerate research using quantum computing.

As a result, leading quantum computing companies from around the world have formed partnerships with domestic universities and research institutions, engaging in fierce competition to enter the Korean market.

The final selection was IonQ, which partnered with KISTI. IBM teamed up with its existing partner, Yonsei University, to bid for the project. Finland's IQM and the U.S.'s Rigetti Computing also submitted their bids.

IBM, IQM, IonQ, and Rigetti are also participating in the "Quantum Korea 2025" event being held in Seoul starting on the 24th, promoting the strengths of their respective quantum computers.

Within the scientific community, many believed that IonQ, in partnership with KISTI, had the upper hand. This is because KISTI has experience operating the national supercomputing infrastructure and, as the institution responsible for supporting computational science in Korea, has formed a "dream team" for operating hybrid quantum computers.

If KISTI's planned national supercomputer No. 6, which uses NVIDIA GPUs, is launched, it will be possible to develop a "Quantum as a Service (QaaS)" platform that allows users easy access to IonQ's quantum computer. Through this, domestic researchers are expected to accelerate the development of applications and research on quantum algorithms for solving complex problems using a quantum computer installed within Korea.

Attempts to combine quantum computers and supercomputers have already emerged overseas. IBM, together with Japan's national research institute RIKEN, has installed and is operating the IBM Quantum System Two outside the United States for the first time. This system is being used in conjunction with Japan's world-class supercomputer Fugaku to develop integrated quantum and supercomputing utilization technologies. It is a combination of the world's most advanced 156-qubit quantum computer and a supercomputer ranked in the global top 10.

At the Future Enterprise Forum recently hosted by Asia Economy, IBM researcher Hanhee Baek predicted, "The combination of quantum computers and supercomputers will accelerate the practical use of quantum computers."