Nvidia (NVDA, Financial) plans to launch a new quantum computing research facility in Boston, with operations scheduled to begin later in 2025.
The center, named the Nvidia Accelerated Quantum Research Center (NVAQC), will focus on merging advanced quantum hardware with artificial intelligence-powered supercomputers. According to a March 18 announcement, this approach will enable what the company calls accelerated quantum supercomputing.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang revealed the initiative during the company's first Quantum Day, held at its annual GTC conference. He noted that research groups from institutions such as Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology will partner with companies like Quantinuum, Quantum Machines, and QuEra Computing to collaborate within the new facility.
The research lab will use CUDA-Q, Nvidia's open-source hybrid computing platform, to help scientists create new quantum-classical algorithms. CUDA-Q is designed to bridge graphics processing units (GPUs) and quantum processing units (QPUs).
Huang, who previously said useful quantum computers were more than a decade away, acknowledged a shift in his thinking, expressing surprise at how many public companies are now investing in the technology.
Executives from D-Wave Quantum (QBTS, Financial), IonQ (IONQ, Financial), and Rigetti Computing (RGTI, Financial) joined Huang at the event, with IonQ's Peter Chapman remarking that classical systems will increasingly work in tandem with quantum machines.
