Next-Generation Quantum Computer Arrives in South Korea, Expanding Research to Tackle AI and Biotech Challenges

Yonsei Replaces Processor with IBM's Latest "Nighthawk" and Begins Operations
Circuit Throughput Up 25-Fold... Expanding Error-Correction Research

The latest IBM Quantum Nighthawk processor, newly installed on Yonsei University's quantum computer. Photo by IBM

As the performance of quantum computers in South Korea improves, expectations are growing for expanded research to tackle challenging problems in artificial intelligence (AI) and biotechnology.

Yonsei University held a ceremony on November 4 to launch its next-generation quantum computing platform at the Quantum Computing Center on its International Campus in Songdo, Incheon. The university replaced the core processing unit of its existing IBM Quantum System One with IBM's next-generation Quantum Nighthawk processor and began full-scale operations. This is the first time IBM's latest quantum processor has been installed on a university campus anywhere in the world.

The newly introduced Nighthawk R2 consists of 458 quantum components in total, including 120 qubits used for computation and components for connectivity and initialization. Its two-qubit gate operations have an accuracy of approximately 99.7%. In particular, it can rapidly reset qubits after computation, enabling it to run more than 100,000 quantum circuits per second. This represents an increase of up to 25 times in circuit throughput compared with the previous-generation Heron processor.

IBM has led the development of superconducting quantum computing technology, with its Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, New York, at the forefront. In addition to increasing computing power, IBM is focusing on developing technologies to address computational errors, a persistent problem for quantum computers. The upgrade at Yonsei University brings IBM's latest technology into a South Korean research setting.

Yonsei University plans to expand research on quantum error correction, which reduces computational errors, and fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC), which enables reliable computation even when errors occur, using Nighthawk. The system will also be used to tackle complex computational problems in AI and biotechnology.

“This will provide a foundation for taking on problems that are difficult to solve using existing methods,” said Jeong Jae-ho, head of Yonsei University's Quantum Business Unit.

Meanwhile, Yonsei University is also holding Yonsei Quantum Week 2026 from November 2 to 10. Global quantum companies, including IBM, IonQ, and D-Wave, will take part in the international conference, which runs from November 4 to 6.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.