The University of Tokyo (UTokyo) and IBM have announced plans to enhance the IBM Quantum System One with a 156-qubit IBM Heron quantum processing unit (QPU). This new processor, which will be operational later this year, is set to improve the performance of the system administered by UTokyo for the Quantum Innovation Initiative (QII) Consortium. The Heron QPU features a tunable-coupler architecture and represents a significant upgrade from the previous 127-qubit IBM Eagle QPU installed in 2023.

IBM's Heron-based systems have demonstrated substantial improvements over earlier models, including better two-qubit error rates, enhanced device-wide performance across 100-qubit layers, increased computational speed by 60 percent, and more than 95% system uptime. These advancements are expected to bolster utility-level workloads significantly.

In addition to upgrading the quantum processor, UTokyo plans to link the IBM Quantum System One with its Miyabi supercomputer. This connection aims to create a quantum-centric supercomputer that will provide industry and academic users access to advanced computational capabilities in various fields such as chemistry, bioinformatics, high energy physics, materials science, and finance.

Hiroaki Aihara, Executive Vice President of UTokyo, commented on the update: “This update to an IBM Heron quantum processor, linked to our Miyabi supercomputer will allow us to further develop use cases that leverage quantum and AI capabilities.” Jay Gambetta, Vice President of IBM Quantum added: “By deploying our latest...IBM Heron QPU in UTokyo’s IBM Quantum System One...UTokyo will now join the leading global organizations that are defining the future of supercomputing.”

The collaboration between UTokyo and IBM began with the Japan–IBM Quantum Partnership in 2019. Since then, they have been working towards expanding access to quantum computing in Japan through initiatives like the QII Consortium. The consortium has produced over 140 research papers based on experiments conducted using Japan's IBM Quantum System One.

UTokyo is also part of an international consortium aimed at preparing more than 40,000 students for careers in quantum computing over the next decade.