IBM, AMD and Oak Ridge develop quantum error-correction research platform

IBM, AMD and Oak Ridge National Laboratory have announced a shared research platform to study how quantum and classical computers can work together on error correction. The November 5 announcement describes a co-design environment, not a demonstrated fault-tolerant quantum computer.

The first deployment brings IBM quantum computers, including the 120-qubit Nighthawk, together with Oak Ridge's Umbra high-performance computing system. Umbra uses AMD server processors and graphics processors. The colocated systems will help researchers investigate architectures, software and workflows for future hybrid machines.

Classical computing has several roles in that work: coordinating resources, running simulations and processing the feedback needed to detect and correct quantum errors. The partners say different parts of the system require different combinations of rapid response, precise timing and parallel computation.

Plans also call for connections with the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility to extend the research environment. Those future links are plans rather than completed capabilities. The project provides a setting to test integration choices, while the harder goal of useful fault-tolerant quantum computation remains to be demonstrated.

Dates: The research-platform announcement was published on 5 November 2026. The supplied briefing is dated 10 November.