Quantum Computing News

A historic agreement to deploy a 100-qubit quantum system in South Korea has been finalized by IonQ and KISTI.

100 Qubit Quantum Computer

IonQ has completed an agreement with the Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (KISTI) to provide a 100-qubit IonQ Tempo quantum device, marking a significant change in the worldwide quantum scene. An important step towards the creation of South Korea’s National Quantum Computing Centre of Excellence has been taken with the announcement of this strategic cooperation on December 23, 2025. The partnership aims to provide the knowledge and resources necessary to address the most challenging research and innovation issues facing the country.

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A New Era for South Korea’s National Quantum Strategy

Building on a history of strategic collaboration between the two companies, the finalized arrangement places IonQ as KISTI’s principal supplier of quantum gear. The agreement calls for the deployment of the next-generation Tempo 100 system to assist national research projects in South Korea. This deployment, which aims to generate long-term technological and economic value, is a “defining moment” for the company and the country, according to Niccolo de Masi, Chairman and CEO of IonQ.

KISTI is creating the foundation for a platform that can accommodate both enterprise and academic applications by safeguarding this 100-qubit technology. The partnership marks a “significant leap forward” in the nation’s dedication to developing quantum computing, according to Dr. Sik Lee, President of KISTI.

Onsite Integration with the HANKANG Supercomputer

The integration of the IonQ Tempo system with KISTI-6 (“HANKANG”), presently the biggest high-performance computing (HPC) cluster in South Korea, is a major technical feature of this collaboration. This will result in the nation’s first hybrid quantum-classical onsite integration.

For contemporary researchers who need both the enormous processing capacity of conventional supercomputers and the special problem-solving skills of quantum processors, this hybrid environment is crucial. By facilitating a smooth workflow between classical and quantum resources, the integration into the HANGANG system is anticipated to open the door for ground-breaking research and innovation.

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Expanding Access via Secure Private Cloud

The compute cluster will be accessible via a secure private cloud environment to guarantee that the greatest number of people can take advantage of these cutting-edge capabilities. This infrastructure democratizes access to high-end quantum hardware by enabling remote access to the Tempo 100 system for South Korean academics, academic institutions, and business customers.

Working with Megazone Cloud, a well-known cloud service and infrastructure provider in South Korea, KISTI will oversee the creation and management of this service platform. The goal of this accessibility is to promote “practical solutions to real-world challenges” across a range of industries, such as:

• Healthcare: Quickening medical research and drug development.

• Finance: Improving risk assessment and financial modelling.

• Materials Science: Finding novel materials for industrial usage is known as materials science.

• Cybersecurity and Defense: Using cutting-edge logistics and encryption to bolster national security.

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IonQ’s Strategic Momentum in the Asia-Pacific

The KISTI partnership is a component of IonQ’s larger plan for Asia-Pacific expansion. Through collaborations with government, business, and academic organizations, the company has made a substantial impact. Apart from KISTI, IonQ has worked with a number of well-known South Korean companies, such as Intellian Technologies, Hyundai Motor Company, and SK Telecom.

The business has collaborations with esteemed establishments including Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan University as part of its academic outreach in the area. In addition to Korea, IonQ has partnerships with Toyota Tsusho and the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) in Japan.

Technological Records and the Roadmap to 2 Million Qubits

IonQ’s recent technological advancements support its selection as the main supplier for KISTI. The business achieved 99.99% two-qubit gate fidelity in 2025, setting a new world record for quantum computing performance. The scalability and dependability of quantum algorithms depend on this degree of accuracy.

IonQ is rapidly moving forward with its technical plan. The business plans to offer quantum computers with 2 million qubits by 2030; however, the 100-qubit Tempo device is a significant milestone for the moment. It is anticipated that these systems will be the most potent in the world in the future, propelling additional advancements in medicine development, logistics, and the creation of a “quantum internet”.

IonQ, which operates in Maryland, Washington, Europe, and Asia, has been acknowledged for its quick expansion in Newsweek’s 2025 Excellence Index 1000 and the Fortune Future 50. This most recent agreement with KISTI confirms its position as a pioneer in the global dissemination and impact of quantum technology.

Analogy for Hybrid Computing: Consider the HANKANG supercomputer as an enormous, top-notch library with millions of volumes (data). Even though it is quite good at storing and organizing information, it may take a librarian years to discover a particular, hidden pattern in all those books. Instead of replacing the library, the IonQ Tempo quantum technology gives the librarian a specialized “magic lens” that enables them to perceive connections and patterns that were previously invisible, solving even the most difficult issues in a matter of minutes.

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