IBM, Cleveland Clinic Announce Quantum Computing Partnership
IBM announced plans to install its first private-sector, on-premises quantum computing system on Cleveland Clinic's campus in Cleveland.
The two organizations plan a 10-year partnership to establish a “Discovery Accelerator,” a joint Cleveland Clinic/IBM center with the mission of advancing the pace of discovery in healthcare and life sciences through the use of high-performance computing on the hybrid cloud, artificial intelligence and quantum computing technologies.
Quantum computers may be able to solve problems substantially faster than classical computers. IBM said that quantum computing has the potential to have a big impact on key healthcare challenges, such as the discovery of new molecules that can serve as the basis of pharmaceutical breakthroughs and spur the development of new medicines. It also could help enhance the ability to derive deep insight from complex data that is at the heart of some of the largest challenges in healthcare.
The organizations say they hope to build a robust research and clinical infrastructure to empower big data medical research in what they call ethical, privacy-preserving ways, discoveries for patient care and novel approaches to public health threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Through the Discovery Accelerator, the researchers plan to use advanced computational technology to generate and analyze data to help enhance research in the new Global Center for Pathogen Research & Human Health, in areas such as: genomics, single cell transcriptomics, population health, clinical applications, and chemical and drug discovery. That center was announced last month as part of the Cleveland Innovation District. The center, supported by a $500 million investment from the State of Ohio, Jobs Ohio and Cleveland Clinic, brings together a research team focused on broadening understanding of viral pathogens, virus-induced cancers, genomics, immunology and immunotherapies.
"Through this innovative collaboration, we have a unique opportunity to bring the future to life," said Tom Mihaljevic, M.D., CEO and president of Cleveland Clinic, in a statement. "These new computing technologies can help revolutionize discovery in the life sciences. The Discovery Accelerator will enable our renowned teams to build a forward-looking digital infrastructure and help transform medicine, while training the workforce of the future and potentially growing our economy."
In addition to an on-premises quantum system, Cleveland Clinic will also have access to IBM's fleet of currently more than 20 quantum systems, accessible via the cloud. IBM is targeting to unveil its first next generation 1,000+ qubit quantum system in 2023, and Cleveland Clinic is planned to be the site of the first private-sector on-premises system.
