A quantum computing partnership with the University of Chicago and the University of Tokyo

Today, in support of the U.S. and Japanese governments' joint commitment in quantum computing, we're announcing a quantum computing partnership with the University of Chicago and the University of Tokyo, committing together up to $100 million over ten years. Building on the diverse strengths of our three institutions, we will invest in critical research topics to accelerate the development of a fault-tolerant quantum computer, support the exchange of researchers and ideas, promote quantum computing entrepreneurship and business, and train the workforce needed for the next generation.

This partnership is aligned with the mission of Google Quantum AI to build a large-scale quantum computer capable of complex, error-corrected computations. We believe doing so will unlock the potential to bring tangible benefits to the lives of many — from identifying molecules for new medicines to designing more sustainable batteries, providing robust information security, and even catalyzing scientific research advances that haven’t yet been imagined.

Google is committing up to $50 million to this partnership over a ten-year period. Our contribution includes:

• Quantum compute access: In 2019, Google Quantum AI was the world’s first team to demonstrate beyond classical computation, reporting a random circuit sampling experiment that could not be feasibly replicated on a classical computer; and in 2023, the team was the world’s first to report scalable quantum error correction with an experimental demonstration that it is possible to reduce errors by increasing the number of qubits. Both of these milestones are critical to a large-scale error-corrected quantum computer. In support of this partnership, we are making these world-class advanced quantum processors — with up to 72-superconducting qubits and error rates of 0.001 and 0.003 for 1-qubit and 2-qubit gates respectively, run in simultaneous operation — available to researchers from the University of Chicago and the University of Tokyo.
  
• Classical compute access: Many areas of quantum computing research and education can also benefit from simulations, data analysis and benchmarking on classical computers, especially at today’s smaller scales. So we’re also providing Google Cloud credits to university students and faculty to learn how to program and develop algorithms for quantum computers.
  
• Faculty research grants: To encourage new fundamental and engineering breakthroughs in physics, algorithms, materials science, and other areas that may accelerate quantum computing, we’re investing in faculty grants to focus on specific research questions of interest, such as two-level system defects, superconducting materials research, increasing coherence times, benchmarking large-scale quantum systems, and determining quantum advantage for a variety of applications.
  
• Graduate and undergraduate research funding: Many of the scientists who will lead the quantum computing field in the coming years are today highly talented students in universities in the U.S., Japan and elsewhere. By funding these future leaders’ most promising projects, we can support their career development and catalyze their research breakthroughs.
  
• Entrepreneurship and business development: The field of quantum computing will benefit from a robust ecosystem of smaller labs and companies willing to experiment with new approaches, novel applications, and necessary adjacent technologies. So we’re providing the opportunity for startup teams from the greater Chicago and Tokyo areas, selected by the universities, to participate in our Google for Startups bootcamp, with exclusive programming and access to our global partner network.
  
• Workforce development: It’s not just physicists and quantum algorithm specialists that are needed to build a full-scale fault-tolerant quantum computer and figure out the most beneficial ways it can be used — quantum computing will require a wide range of talent across electronics, chip fabrication, wiring and hardware design, systems optimization, software engineering, program and product management, and much more. In this partnership we’ll support hundreds of students to grow these skills, with a focus on expanding the diversity of the quantum computing workforce.

We would like to acknowledge and thank U.S. and Japanese government leaders for their support of this partnership. Advancing the field of quantum computing is an immense task that will require universities, companies and governments working together to ensure responsible development and widespread benefits for society.