IBM installs latest quantum processor at Yonsei University, enabling 100,000 circuits per second

"With IBM Quantum Nighthawk, Yonsei University's IBM quantum computer can now execute more than 100,000 circuits per second."

IBM has installed its latest quantum processor, the Quantum Nighthawk, in the quantum computer it built at Yonsei University. The upgrade delivers 25 times the circuit throughput of the previous processor, strengthening South Korea's quantum computing research capabilities. It marks the first time the IBM Quantum Nighthawk has been deployed at a customer institution's own facility anywhere in the world.

Jerry Chow, IBM Fellow and Chief Technology Officer of Quantum-Centric Supercomputing, made the remarks Wednesday at the launch ceremony for Yonsei University's next-generation quantum computing platform, held at the Quantum Computing Center on the university's international campus in Songdo, Incheon. "It will accelerate scientific discovery at Yonsei University with 25 times the circuit throughput of IBM Quantum Eagle," Chow said.

Chow went on to say the announcement demonstrates IBM is supporting researchers, students, businesses and institutions in applying cutting-edge quantum computing capabilities to real-world problems. "Sampling is a key driver of progress in quantum computing, and building on this performance improvement, we can strengthen specialized expertise in the quantum field and create new opportunities for collaboration with industry," he said.

IBM said the new system will support research and education across the broader quantum ecosystem that Yonsei University is expanding. Researchers participating in the Yonsei Bio-Quantum Initiative, for example, will use a classical-quantum hybrid computing approach to explore ways to deepen understanding of biological systems — including joint research on mitochondrial electron transport chain mutations and Leigh syndrome.

Yonsei University will also use the system to strengthen its quantum education programs and support activities across the Quantum Ecosystem Operations Center, the Quantum Computing Technology Support Center and the Quantum Computing Center. Graduate students in the university's quantum information science program will have access to the new processor as well.

The Nighthawk installation represents the first processor performance upgrade for the IBM Quantum System One first introduced in South Korea. The quantum computer was originally built in 2024 based on the 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle processor.

The IBM Quantum Nighthawk is currently the fastest quantum processor IBM has developed. Built on 120 programmable qubits and a high-speed qubit reset architecture, it can execute more than 100,000 circuits per second — 25 times the circuit throughput of the IBM Quantum Eagle previously installed at Yonsei University.

The processor also achieves accurate observable estimation on circuits with more than 7,500 gates, meeting a key technical milestone on IBM's quantum roadmap this year. In early tests on quantum advantage candidate circuits, it demonstrated execution speeds up to 10 times faster with no loss of accuracy.

Jeong Jae-ho, head of Yonsei University's quantum project division, said the adoption of the IBM Quantum Nighthawk processor marks a pivotal moment for the university to establish itself as a global hub for quantum research and industry-academia collaboration, built on its partnership with IBM. "Yonsei University will leverage world-class quantum infrastructure to cultivate the next generation of specialized talent and lead scientific innovation through collaboration with industry and research institutions, including in the biotech sector," Jeong said.