[Heart of Innovation, Corporate Research Labs ③] "Long-Term Investment and Talent Are the Sources of Our Confidence"

Scott Crowder on the Competitive Edge of IBM Watson Research Center
Strength in Multidisciplinary Research
A Legacy of Nobel Laureates and Accumulated Talent as Fundamental Advantages

Scott Crowder, Vice President of IBM, is being interviewed by Asia Economy. Photo by Paek Jongmin, Tech Specialist

These days, the primary focus at the IBM Watson Research Center is the commercialization of quantum computers. While there remains a fair amount of skepticism, IBM continues to move steadily toward the future, undeterred. Scott Crowder, Vice President leading IBM's quantum computing efforts, stated, "We have been consistently following our roadmap for the past 10 years," and expressed confidence that "once we demonstrate the superiority of quantum computers, skepticism will disappear." The following is a Q&A.

- Skepticism about the commercialization of quantum computers persists. Where does IBM's confidence come from?

△ Our confidence comes from the fact that we have consistently followed the path we set and delivered on our promises. While past success does not guarantee the future, we have steadily achieved our roadmap over the past decade. I believe skepticism will fade as quantum computers demonstrate their superiority in real-world problems and as the technology becomes more practical.

- Was there a decisive turning point that led IBM to make quantum computing a core business?

△ From former CEO Ginni Rometty to current CEO Arvind Krishna, the top management has been strong supporters of quantum computing over the past 10 years. This is the result of accumulated belief and ongoing support. If I had to pick a particularly surprising moment, it would be when we first released a quantum computer on the cloud in 2016 and received a much more enthusiastic response than expected. This became a catalyst for us to nurture the quantum computing program intensively, bringing together research, systems, and consulting departments like an "internal startup," and allocating company-wide budgets for its development.

- What are the unique strengths of the Watson Research Center in long-term research?

△ My father was also an IBM researcher who worked in this very building. Personally, I find two things remarkable about this place. First is the long-standing history built by outstanding talents, including Nobel laureates. Second is the fact that we have conducted multidisciplinary research for a very long time. The success of the quantum computing program was made possible by experts from various fields, from semiconductors and systems engineering to even healthcare. This is why it is extremely difficult for other organizations to compete with IBM, and it is our legacy.

- Many tech companies are touting AI. Compared to them, what do you see as IBM's core competitive edge?

△ IBM's broad strength lies not only in technology but also in our deep relationships with industry clients. Specifically in quantum computing, our focus is on multidisciplinary research capabilities and building communities through collaboration with external partners. Our priority is to help our partners succeed. I believe the combination of strong partnerships and research is what makes IBM truly exceptional.