“South Korea has emerged as a global leader in quantum computing, driven by substantial government investment, strong industry commitment, world-class universities, high student demand, and innovative startups,” Dr. Martin Roetteler, a distinguished scholar in quantum computing, said during an interview with the Chosun Daily in Seoul on June 25. He visited Korea to participate in Quantum Korea 2024, held at KINTEX in Ilsan from June 25 to 27.
Dr. Roetteler, who led the quantum computing development team at Microsoft until March this year, has a notable career that includes time at NEC’s American research lab. He currently oversees applications at IonQ, a quantum computer development company.
Quantum computing represents a transformative leap in computational power, leveraging quantum bits (qubits) to perform complex calculations at speeds unattainable by classical computers. IonQ leads this frontier with advancements aimed at enhancing system fidelity, speed, and scalability. Their latest system, Forte Enterprise, is poised to integrate quantum capabilities into data centers, marking significant strides toward practical quantum computing solutions. Recently, the company inaugurated the first quantum computing production facility in the United States, expected to significantly enhance the commercial potential of quantum computing technology.
What initially drew you to the field of quantum computing, and what excites you most about your work at IonQ?
“What intrigued me was its fundamentally different computational model from classical computing—it operates as the ultimate parallel computer. Throughout my career at NEC and Microsoft, I focused on developing frameworks to broaden access to quantum computing. What excites me about IonQ is their exceptional qubits and systems, known for their performance, scalability, and commercial readiness, providing a balanced approach for significant advantages. After joining IonQ just three months ago, we’ve already begun developing new applications and engaging with fresh customers. It’s rewarding to bridge the gap between device capabilities and customer needs, aligning their use cases with our technology. IonQ’s role as a cloud provider since its inception aligns with my passion for accessibility. As the first hardware provider on Azure Quantum and available on AWS, Google GCP, and Azure, IonQ offers accessible quantum computing solutions through cloud services or direct system purchases.”
How do IonQ’s partnerships with global enterprises like Hyundai, Airbus, and GE Research drive advancements in quantum applications?
“With Hyundai, we have a longstanding relationship. IonQ’s co-founder Kim Jung-sang’s deep ties with Hyundai and the broader Korean ecosystem, including national labs and government systems, have led us to collaborate on various fronts. This includes image classification for self-driving cars, advancements in vehicle technology, chemistry materials, and lithium battery research. This partnership has resulted in published papers on battery and image detection, leading explorations into generative methods, a significant area of interest in AI. And the chemistry work has sparked new ideas for battery chemistry. With Airbus, we tackle optimization challenges like cargo loading using quantum computing, running the largest-ever variational optimization algorithm. We aim to improve this and find the crossover point with the best-known classical methods. This work helps us understand better the real-world business applications. With GE Research, we collaborate on optimization and quantum machine learning models, furthering our capabilities in practical quantum solutions.”
What potential do you see for quantum computing advancements in South Korea, considering its current position as a latecomer in the global landscape?
“Last year, South Korea became the fifth largest country in the world to invest in quantum computing, thanks to significant investments by the South Korean government. In the past, that might not have been the case, but over the last year, South Korea has rapidly risen in its reputation for quantum computing. The country excels in five key areas that are crucial for success in this field. Firstly, the government invested $2.3 billion into quantum technology. Secondly, there is a strong and committed industry. Large companies like Hyundai, with incredible talent, scientists, and commercial acumen, along with many other companies like Samsung, LG, and others, support these advancements. Thirdly, South Korea boasts world-class universities like SKKU and Seoul National University. Another important factor is the strong demand from students. We need many computer science students to get excited about quantum computing. Lastly, innovative startups are essential for pushing the envelope with new ideas. When these five elements work together, South Korea can leverage and build upon its economy.”
What do you see as essential for South Korea to become a powerhouse in quantum computing?
“There is already amazing research being done in South Korea, supported by strong national labs, institutions with many scientists, and robust universities. This provides a great foundation for building an economy, but to make a truly impactful motion, industry participation is crucial, involving big players and startups to create a vibrant ecosystem. Education and workforce development are equally vital, ensuring ample job opportunities. The workforce must possess relevant degrees and certifications in technologies, programming methods, or simulations.
Last week, we held a hackathon at SKKU with 85 students focusing on projects like image recognition and other machine learning applications. These activities help bring quantum computing knowledge to students and give them hands-on experience with the technology. Building the infrastructure is absolutely critical as well. We’ve seen several cases with customers like Quantum Basel and the Air Force Research Lab, who have invested in the technology itself, rapidly advancing the readiness of their economies. We look forward to working closely with the Korean government, national labs, and all involved entities to bring similar advancements to Korea.”
As a quantum computing expert, how feasible do you perceive the timeline for quantum computing commercialization within the next decade?
“I believe the timeline for commercialization within the next decade appears promising, particularly with the advancements being made at IonQ. We continuously enhance system fidelity for improved performance, emphasizing speed and qubit count. On the commercial front, we aim for self-stabilizing systems that operate autonomously, without constant human monitoring. Our current generation system, Forte, features 36 qubits. Forte Enterprise, our next generation, will integrate into data centers with improved control systems requiring less cryogenic support. Future systems, expected within 18 to 24 months, will exceed classical supercomputer simulation limits with 64 qubits or more, offering multiprocessor architectures and networking-level interconnections.”
What are the next big milestones for IonQ in the realm of quantum computing?
“IonQ’s quantum computing milestones ahead focus on improving performance and expanding commercial capabilities. With our new quantum computing factory in Seattle, we can now build and ship quantum computers worldwide. Our robust technology roadmap consistently delivers, exemplified by upcoming systems like Forte Enterprise and Tempo. Our goal is to demonstrate practical commercial advantages. While quantum computers excel in some academic problems, we aim to validate superior algorithms through real-world applications, crucial for a competitive edge. Understanding scalability and the crossover between classical and quantum methods is pivotal for future advancements. Forte simulates small-scale commercial scenarios, while Tempo nears practical real-world applications by rendering classical simulations impractical. Our upcoming systems will show actual use cases over the next three years.”
