IBM pairs Nighthawk quantum processor with AMD supercomputing cluster at New York site

IBM, AMD, and the Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory have unveiled a co-design platform focused on quantum error correction. Installed at IBM’s facility in Poughkeepsie, New York, the setup co-locates quantum processors—including the 120-qubit IBM Quantum Nighthawk—alongside Umbra, an ORNL high-performance computing system driven by AMD Instinct MI355X GPUs and 5th Gen AMD EPYC CPUs. [1][2]

By placing both architectures in the same data center, the collaboration seeks to eliminate cloud latency that hinders decoding and real-time conditional execution. Nighthawk supplies mid-circuit measurement and square-lattice connectivity, while Umbra provides the classical power to evaluate decoders and orchestrate workloads. However, neither partner has released cluster node counts, exact GPU quantities, decoding latencies, or a formal timeline for external access. [1]

The research aims to support the Department of Energy's Quantum Genesis Mission, which seeks a scientifically relevant quantum computer by 2028. [1]