IBM and RIKEN Unveil First IBM Quantum System Two Outside of the U.S.

Rhea-AI Summary

IBM (NYSE: IBM) and RIKEN have unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two outside the United States, marking a significant milestone in quantum computing. The system, powered by the 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron processor, is co-located with RIKEN's supercomputer Fugaku in Japan.

The Heron processor demonstrates remarkable performance metrics, including a two-qubit error rate of 3x10-3 (10 times better than its predecessor) and 250,000 CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second), representing a 10x speed improvement. The system's integration with Fugaku creates a quantum-centric supercomputing environment, enabling advanced research in quantum algorithms and chemistry problems.

This collaboration, supported by NEDO and METI, aims to develop practical quantum-HPC hybrid workflows for both scientific and industrial applications.

Positive

• First IBM Quantum System Two deployment outside the US, expanding global quantum computing access
• Heron processor shows 10x improvement in both error rate and speed compared to previous generation
• Integration with Fugaku supercomputer enables advanced quantum-classical hybrid computing
• System capable of running quantum circuits beyond classical computer simulation capabilities

Negative

• None.

Insights

Quantum Computing Technology Analyst

IBM's deployment of their Quantum System Two in Japan marks a significant global expansion and technological advancement in practical quantum computing.

IBM's deployment of the first Quantum System Two outside the US represents a significant milestone in quantum computing commercialization. The system's co-location with RIKEN's Fugaku supercomputer creates a first-of-its-kind quantum-classical hybrid computing environment that enables entirely new computational approaches.

The 156-qubit Heron processor powering this system delivers exceptional performance metrics - with two-qubit error rates as low as 1×10^-3 (10× better than previous generation) and circuit layer operations at 250,000 CLOPS (another 10× improvement). These aren't just incremental gains; they're transformative improvements that push quantum computing closer to practical applications.

What makes this deployment particularly valuable is the tight integration with classical supercomputing. The fundamental instruction-level connection between Quantum System Two and Fugaku enables researchers to develop parallelized workloads and low-latency communication protocols that leverage the strengths of both computing paradigms. This approach acknowledges that quantum advantage will come through hybrid computing rather than standalone quantum systems.

The recent Science Advances publication on modeling iron sulfides demonstrates the scientific impact already emerging. Sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) techniques are proving that even today's error-prone quantum computers can provide scientific value when properly integrated with classical infrastructure - challenging the conventional wisdom that fault-tolerant quantum computers are required for such applications.

For IBM, this installation strengthens their global quantum computing leadership while creating a powerful innovation testbed that could accelerate the path to quantum advantage across chemistry, materials science, and other fields where quantum-classical hybrid approaches show the most promise.

IBM's next-generation quantum computer, now online in Japan, is also connected to the supercomputer Fugaku to accelerate quantum computational power and accuracy 

KOBE, Japan, June 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) and RIKEN, a national research laboratory in Japan, today unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two ever to be deployed outside of the United States and beyond an IBM Quantum Data Center. The availability of this system also marks a milestone as the first quantum computer to be co-located with RIKEN's supercomputer Fugaku — one of the most powerful classical systems on Earth. This effort is supported by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO), an organization under the jurisdiction of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI)'s "Development of Integrated Utilization Technology for Quantum and Supercomputers" as part of the "Project for Research and Development of Enhanced Infrastructures for Post 5G Information and Communications Systems."

IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN is powered by IBM's 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron, the company's best performing quantum processor to-date. IBM Heron's quality as measured by the two-qubit error rate, across a 100-qubit layered circuit, is 3x10^-3 (with the best two-qubit error being 1x10^-3) — which is 10 times better than the previous generation 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle. IBM Heron's speed, as measured by the CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second) metric is 250,000, which reflects another 10x improvement in the past year, over IBM Eagle.

At a scale of 156 qubits, with these quality and speed metrics, Heron is the most performant quantum processor in the world. This latest Heron is capable of running quantum circuits that are beyond brute-force simulations on classical computers, and its connection to Fugaku will enable RIKEN teams to use quantum-centric supercomputing approaches to push forward research on advanced algorithms, such as fundamental chemistry problems.

The new IBM Quantum System Two is co-located with Fugaku within the RIKEN Center for Computational Science (R-CCS), Japan's premier high-performance computing (HPC) center. The computers are linked through a high-speed network at the fundamental instruction level to form a proving ground for quantum-centric supercomputing. This low-level integration allows RIKEN and IBM engineers to develop parallelized workloads, low-latency classical-quantum communication protocols, and advanced compilation passes and libraries. Because quantum and classical systems will ultimately offer different computational strengths, this will allow each paradigm to seamlessly perform the parts of an algorithm for which it is best suited.

This quantum computer expands IBM's global fleet of quantum computers, and was officially launched during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 24, 2025, in Kobe, Japan. The event featured opening remarks from RIKEN President Makoto Gonokami; Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and Vice President of IBM Quantum; Akio Yamaguchi, General Manager of IBM Japan; as well as local parliament members and representatives from the Kobe Prefecture and City, METI, NEDO, and MEXT.

"The future of computing is quantum-centric and with our partners at RIKEN we are taking a big step forward to make this vision a reality," said Jay Gambetta, VP, IBM Quantum. "The new IBM Quantum System Two powered by our latest Heron processor and connected to Fugaku, will allow scientists and engineers to push the limits of what is possible."

"By combining Fugaku and the IBM Quantum System Two, RIKEN aims to lead Japan into a new era of high-performance computing," said Dr. Mitsuhisa Sato, Division Director of the Quantum-HPC Hybrid Platform Division, RIKEN Center for Computational Science. "Our mission is to develop and demonstrate practical quantum-HPC hybrid workflows that can be explored by both the scientific community and industry. The connection of these two systems enables us to take critical steps toward realizing this vision."

The installation of IBM Quantum System Two at RIKEN is poised to expand previous achievements by RIKEN and IBM researchers as they seek to discover algorithms that offer quantum advantage: the point at which a quantum computer can solve a problem faster, cheaper, or more accurately than any known classical method. This includes work recently featured on the cover of Science Advances, based on sample-based quantum diagonalization (SQD) techniques to accurately model the electronic structure of iron sulfides, a compound present widely in nature and organic systems. The ability to realistically model such a complex system is essential for many problems in chemistry, and was historically believed to require fault-tolerant quantum computers. SQD workflows are among the first demonstrations of how the near-term quantum computers of today can provide scientific value when integrated with powerful classical infrastructure.

About RIKEN

RIKEN is Japan's largest research institute for basic and applied research. Over 2,500 papers by RIKEN researchers are published every year in leading scientific and technology journals covering a broad spectrum of disciplines including physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and medical science. RIKEN's research environment and strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration and globalization has earned a worldwide reputation for scientific excellence. 

Visit www.riken.jp for more information.

About IBM

IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs and gain the competitive edge in their industries. Thousands of governments and corporate entities in critical infrastructure areas such as financial services, telecommunications and healthcare rely on IBM's hybrid cloud platform and Red Hat OpenShift to affect their digital transformations quickly, efficiently, and securely. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service.

Visit www.ibm.com for more information.

Media Contacts

Yohei Kawakami
IBM Japan
Yohei.Kawakami1@ibm.com

Dave Mosher
IBM Research
dave.mosher@ibm.com

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SOURCE IBM

FAQ

What are the key specifications of IBM's new Quantum System Two in Japan?

The system features a 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron processor with a two-qubit error rate of 3x10-3 and 250,000 CLOPS (circuit layer operations per second), representing a 10x improvement over the previous generation.

How does the IBM-RIKEN quantum computing collaboration work?

The collaboration involves the co-location of IBM Quantum System Two with RIKEN's Fugaku supercomputer, connected through a high-speed network to enable quantum-centric supercomputing and advanced algorithm research.

What makes IBM's Quantum System Two at RIKEN unique?

It is the first IBM Quantum System Two deployed outside the United States and the first quantum computer co-located with one of the world's most powerful supercomputers, Fugaku.

What are the practical applications of IBM's quantum system at RIKEN?

The system enables research on advanced algorithms, fundamental chemistry problems, and quantum-HPC hybrid workflows for both scientific and industrial applications, including modeling complex systems like iron sulfides.

When was IBM's Quantum System Two launched in Japan?

The system was officially launched during a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 24, 2025, in Kobe, Japan.