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IBM, AMD and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have joined forces to address one of quantum computing's biggest challenges: correcting errors that can disrupt calculations. The partners announced a new platform on Thursday (November 5, 2026), combining quantum computing systems with high-performance conventional computing hardware.
The initiative aims to make quantum machines more reliable by helping researchers identify and correct errors during complex calculations.
The new platform connects IBM's quantum computers, including its latest 120-qubit Nighthawk processor, with ORNL's Umbra supercomputer. The system uses AMD's Instinct graphics processors and EPYC central processing units to handle conventional computing workloads.
This combination allows researchers to study how classical and quantum systems can work together to improve error correction. Quantum computers use qubits, which can represent information in ways that differ from conventional computer bits. However, qubits are highly sensitive to environmental disturbances. Even small changes can affect their states and produce inaccurate results.
Error correction techniques are designed to detect these problems and compensate for them without losing the information required for calculations. Improving this process is essential for building larger quantum machines capable of handling practical workloads.
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The collaboration also supports a US Department of Energy objective to develop a scientifically useful quantum computer by late 2028. IBM said its ongoing experiments are currently around 230 times short of reaching that target, highlighting the technical work still required before quantum computing can become more widely practical.
The platform will connect to the Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility in Tennessee, allowing researchers to explore closer integration between quantum processors and conventional supercomputers.
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IBM has been investing heavily in quantum technology as it works towards developing a large-scale quantum computer by 2029. In May, the company said it planned to invest more than USD 10 billion in the field.
The latest partnership adds AMD's processing capabilities and ORNL's research infrastructure to IBM's efforts to overcome the reliability limitations holding back quantum computing.