AI · 2026-11-04
IBM’s Next-Gen Quantum Processor ‘Nighthawk’ Arrives at Yonsei University in Songdo, a Global First
Yonsei University has introduced IBM’s next-generation processor, ‘Quantum Nighthawk,’ to its IBM quantum computer at the Songdo campus in Incheon. Designed to improve connectivity between qubits and handle complex calculations more efficiently, it is said to process up to 25 times more quantum circuits per second than the existing ‘Heron’ processor.
Quantum computers are still not a technology most people encounter in everyday life, but universities and research institutes continue to explore ways to use them in real research. With IBM’s next-generation quantum processor being introduced for the first time in the world at Yonsei University’s International Campus in Songdo, Incheon, South Korea’s quantum research infrastructure has gained a new piece of equipment.
On the 4th, Yonsei University held a “next-generation quantum computing platform launch ceremony” and unveiled IBM’s new quantum processor, “Quantum Nighthawk.” The processor has been installed on IBM’s quantum computer, “Quantum System One,” which was introduced to Yonsei University in 2024. According to a report by Incheon Ilbo, Yonsei University is the first IBM customer in the world to adopt Nighthawk.
The key feature of the new equipment is improved connectivity between qubits, the basic units of computation in a quantum computer. Unlike the bits in conventional computers, which represent states only as 0 or 1, qubits process information by taking advantage of quantum-mechanical states. How qubits are connected to one another and take part in operations is a crucial factor in running quantum circuits. According to the report, Nighthawk can process up to 25 times more quantum circuits per second than the previous-generation Heron processor.
This kind of performance improvement may help researchers carry out complex quantum calculations more efficiently and reduce errors that arise during computation. That said, a better processor does not automatically solve the difficult problems of drug development or advanced materials research. To turn hardware improvements into real research outcomes, error correction, algorithms, and the research environment all need to advance together.
Yonsei University said it plans to expand quantum-computing research in biopharmaceutical fields such as drug development, while also strengthening cooperation with domestic and international research institutions and companies based on the new platform. President Yoon Dong-seop also explained that quantum computing could open up new possibilities for problems that are difficult to solve with existing technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotech, drug development, and new materials.
The industrial use of quantum computers is still in development. Even so, when the latest processors are introduced into university research settings, researchers gain more opportunities to explore calculation methods and possible applications using real equipment. How this Songdo introduction will translate into research results remains to be seen, but it is meaningful in that it strengthens the research foundation connecting AI, biotech, and quantum technology. (Source: Incheon Ilbo)
On the 4th, Yonsei University held a “next-generation quantum computing platform launch ceremony” and unveiled IBM’s new quantum processor, “Quantum Nighthawk.” The processor has been installed on IBM’s quantum computer, “Quantum System One,” which was introduced to Yonsei University in 2024. According to a report by Incheon Ilbo, Yonsei University is the first IBM customer in the world to adopt Nighthawk.
The key feature of the new equipment is improved connectivity between qubits, the basic units of computation in a quantum computer. Unlike the bits in conventional computers, which represent states only as 0 or 1, qubits process information by taking advantage of quantum-mechanical states. How qubits are connected to one another and take part in operations is a crucial factor in running quantum circuits. According to the report, Nighthawk can process up to 25 times more quantum circuits per second than the previous-generation Heron processor.
This kind of performance improvement may help researchers carry out complex quantum calculations more efficiently and reduce errors that arise during computation. That said, a better processor does not automatically solve the difficult problems of drug development or advanced materials research. To turn hardware improvements into real research outcomes, error correction, algorithms, and the research environment all need to advance together.
Yonsei University said it plans to expand quantum-computing research in biopharmaceutical fields such as drug development, while also strengthening cooperation with domestic and international research institutions and companies based on the new platform. President Yoon Dong-seop also explained that quantum computing could open up new possibilities for problems that are difficult to solve with existing technologies in areas such as artificial intelligence, biotech, drug development, and new materials.
The industrial use of quantum computers is still in development. Even so, when the latest processors are introduced into university research settings, researchers gain more opportunities to explore calculation methods and possible applications using real equipment. How this Songdo introduction will translate into research results remains to be seen, but it is meaningful in that it strengthens the research foundation connecting AI, biotech, and quantum technology. (Source: Incheon Ilbo)
Source: IBM 차세대 양자 프로세서, 송도서 세계 최초 도입
Related search terms
#Yonsei University quantum processor#IBM Quantum Nighthawk#Songdo quantum computer#next-generation quantum computing platform#Quantum System One Yonsei#Heron processor comparison#quantum computing research in Korea