IonQ Announces $22M Deal with EPB Establishing Chattanooga, Tennessee as the First Quantum Computing & Networking Hub in the U.S.

IonQ

IonQ, the leading commercial quantum computing and networking company, announced the joint development of a new quantum innovation center with EPB of Chattanooga, a leading energy and communications company. This strategic partnership will further establish Chattanooga as the catalyst in Tennessee’s emergence as the national hub for quantum innovation. The EPB Quantum Center will house a state-of-the art IonQ Forte Enterprise quantum computer that will be shared by both companies. In addition, the Center will house the existing EPB Quantum Network which IonQ already supports – establishing Chattanooga, Tennessee as the first quantum computing & networking hub in the U.S.

Through the partnership, IonQ will establish an office in Chattanooga to provide quantum computing, networking, and application development support and training. This will allow IonQ to provide specialized training for quantum developers and the two companies to work closely in jointly creating quantum computing algorithms designed for energy grid optimization.

“This partnership represents more than just a technological milestone, it’s a pivotal step in building a quantum economy and IonQ ecosystem in Tennessee,” said Niccolo de Masi, President and CEO of IonQ. “By delivering our Forte Enterprise-class quantum capabilities to Chattanooga, we’re expanding our quantum access to customers across the state and working together to drive long-term economic growth for Chattanooga.”

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“By establishing Chattanooga as the first U.S. hub for quantum computing and networking, we stand ready to work with companies and researchers across the nation to accelerate the development of real-world applications for quantum technology,” said David Wade, EPB CEO. “Our mission-driven effort to enhance quality of life for our community by playing a catalytic role in the development of new quantum technologies aligns with the national priority of developing quantum technologies for security, business optimization and global competitiveness.”

IonQ’s Forte Enterprise system is a powerful, data center-ready quantum computer designed with a low energy profile, rack-mounted form factor and minimal environmental isolation requirements. As IonQ’s highest performing quantum computer, Forte Enterprise delivers an algorithmic qubit count of #AQ36 and industry-leading gate and measurement accuracy that enable Forte Enterprise to tackle large problems and real-world commercial applications that drive business value.

The addition of an IonQ quantum computer in the EPB Quantum Center adds to IonQ’s growing global footprint, with quantum systems in Basel, Switzerland and Rome, NY, and IonQ data centers in Maryland, Washington state and Switzerland.

Today’s news marks the latest step in IonQ’s continued presence in Tennessee and builds on the company’s longstanding partnerships with local companies and academic institutions, including the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. IonQ and Ansys achieved a major quantum computing milestone with quantum computing outperforming classical computing when designing important life-saving medical devices. The quantum optimization method which this achievement was based on was pioneered at the Tennessee-based Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and successfully implemented on IonQ quantum computers. The company is also the primary technology partner for the EPB Quantum Network further expanding its role in advancing regional quantum networking technologies.

Source: BusinessWire