Quantum computing research helps IBM win top spot in patent race – CNET
An IBM patent shows a hexagonal array of qubits in a quantum computer, arranged to minimize problems controlling the finicky data processing elements.
IBM secured 9,130 US patents in 2020, more than any other company as measured by an annual ranking, and this year quantum computing showed up as part of Big Blue's research effort. The company wouldn't disclose how many of the patents were related to quantum computing -- certainly fewer than the 2,300 it received for artificial intelligence work and 3,000 for cloud computing -- but it's clear the company sees them as key to the future of computing.
The IFI Claims patent monitoring service compiles the list annually, and IBM is a fixture at the top. The IBM Research division, with labs around the globe, has for decades invested in projects that are far away from commercialization. Even though the work doesn't always pay dividends, it's produced Nobel prizes and led to entire industries like hard drives, computer memory and database software.
Get the latest tech stories with CNET Daily News every weekday.
"A lot of the work we do in R&D really is not just about the number of patents, but a way of thinking," Jerry Chow, director of quantum hardware system development, said in an exclusive interview. "New ideas come out of it."
IFI's US patent list is dominated by computer technology companies. Second place went to Samsung with 6,415 patents, followed by Canon with 3,225, Microsoft with 2,905 and Intel with 2,867. Next on the list are Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corp., LG, Apple, Huawei and Qualcomm. The first non-computing company is Toyota, in 14th place.
Internationally, IBM ranked second to Samsung in patents for 2020, and industrial companies Bosch and General Electric cracked the top 10. Many patents are duplicative internationally since it's possible to file for a single patent in 153 countries.
Quantum computing holds the potential to tackle computing problems out of reach of conventional computers. During a time when it's getting harder to improve ordinary microprocessors, quantum computers could pioneer new high-tech materials for solar panels and batteries, improve chemical processes, speed up package delivery, make factories more efficient and lower financial risks for investors.
Industrywide, quantum computing is a top research priority, with dozens of companies investing millions of dollars even though most don't expect a payoff for years. The US government is bolstering that effort with a massive multilab research effort. It's even become a headline event at this year's CES, a conference that more typically focuses on new TVs, laptops and other consumer products.
"Tactical and strategic funding is critical" to quantum computing's success, said Hyperion Research analyst Bob Sorensen. That's because, unlike more mature technologies, there's not yet any virtuous cycle where profits from today's quantum computing products and services fund the development of tomorrow's more capable successors.
IBM has taken a strong early position in quantum computing, but it's too early to pick winners in the market, Sorensen added.
The long-term goal is what's called a fault tolerant quantum computer, one that uses error correction to keep calculations humming even when individual qubits, the data processing element at the heart of quantum computers, are perturbed. In the nearer term, some customers like financial services giant JPMorgan Chase, carmaker Daimler and aerospace company Airbus are investing in quantum computing work today with the hope that it'll pay off later.
Quantum computing is complicated to say the least, but a few patents illustrate what's going on in IBM's labs.
Patent No. 10,622,536 governs different lattices in which IBM lays out its qubits. Today's 27-qubit "Falcon" quantum computers use this approach, as do the newer 65-qubit "Hummingbird" machines and the much more powerful 1,121-qubit "Condor" systems due in 2023.
A close-up view of an IBM quantum computer. The processor is in the silver-colored cylinder.
IBM's lattices are designed to minimize "crosstalk," in which a control signal for one qubit ends up influencing others, too. That's key to IBM's ability to manufacture working quantum processors and will become more important as qubit counts increase, letting quantum computers tackle harder problems and incorporate error correction, Chow said.
Patent No. 10,810,665 governs a higher-level quantum computing application for assessing risk -- a key part of financial services companies figuring out how to invest money. The more complex the options being judged, the slower the computation, but the IBM approach still outpaces classical computers.
Patent No. 10,599,989 describes a way of speeding up some molecular simulations, a key potential promise of quantum computers, by finding symmetries in molecules that can reduce computational complexity.
Most customers will tap into the new technology throughquantum computing as a service. Because quantum computers typically must be supercooled to within a hair's breadth of absolute zero to avoid perturbing the qubits, and require spools of complicated wiring, most quantum computing customers are likely to tap into online services from companies like IBM, Google, Amazon and Microsoft that offer access to their own carefully managed machines.
See the original post:
Quantum computing research helps IBM win top spot in patent race - CNET
- Quantum computing gears up for its 'ChatGPT Moment' and a potential talent shortage - Business Insider - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- EPBs Chattanooga Quantum Center Will Offer Quantum Computing and Networking - Telecompetitor - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- QCI ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is Investigating Quantum Computing, Inc. on Behalf of Long-Term Stockholders and Encourages Investors to... - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- European IT professionals fear impact of quantum computing on cybersecurity - techzine.eu - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- IonQ Announces $22M Deal with EPB Establishing Chattanooga, Tennessee as the First Quantum Computing & Networking Hub in the U.S. - Business Wire - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- QUBT Deadline: Rosen Law Firm Urges Quantum Computing Inc. (NASDAQ: QUBT) Stockholders to Contact the Firm for Information About Their Rights -... - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Important Quantum Computing Concerns Are Resolving For The Better (NASDAQ:QUBT) - Seeking Alpha - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- Quantum computing: Revolutionising the future of technology - London Daily News - April 30th, 2025 [April 30th, 2025]
- 3 Reasons to Buy This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Quantum Computing Stock on the Dip - Nasdaq - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- 3 Reasons to Buy This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Quantum Computing Stock on the Dip - Nasdaq - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Yale experts weigh in on the future of quantum computing amid political tension - Yale Daily News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Yale experts weigh in on the future of quantum computing amid political tension - Yale Daily News - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Expert outlines impact of quantum computing | UNC-Chapel Hill - The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Levi & Korsinsky Announces the Filing of a Securities Class Action on Behalf of Quantum Computing Inc.(QUBT) Shareholders - PR Newswire - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Market to Hit $2.2B: Survey - IoT World Today - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing: The war of stories has already started - businesslife.co - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- 3 Reasons to Buy This Artificial Intelligence (AI) Quantum Computing Stock on the Dip - The Motley Fool - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Why CoreWeave, Quantum Computing, and Digital Turbine Plunged Today - Yahoo Finance - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Quantum computing to revolutionise innovation and scientific discovery: Jyotiraditya Scindia - Social News XYZ - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Discover Why Quantum Computing Stocks Are Soaring Today - 24/7 Wall St. - April 25th, 2025 [April 25th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Is a Hot Topic in the Artificial Intelligence Sector. But Which Stocks Will Still be Around Decades From Now? - The Motley Fool - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Quantum computing breakthrough could make 'noise' forces that disrupt calculations a thing of the past - Yahoo - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- JPMorgan Goes Big on Quantum Computing. How It Plans to Use the Technology. - Barron's - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The U.S. just made the discovery of the century, this new superconducting material is set to give quantum computing a major boost. - Farmingdale... - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The dream of quantum computing is closer than ever - USA Today - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Cleveland Clinic hosts forum on quantum computing in healthcare - Cleveland.com - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Cloud-based Quantum Computing Market Share, Value, and Growth Analysis | Scope By 2032 - openPR.com - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- BTQ Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership with QPerfect, Accelerating Neutral Atom Quantum Computing Applications - PR Newswire - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- The Coming Convergence Of AI And Quantum Computing - Forbes - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- BTQ Technologies to Invest Over $2 Million in QPerfect to Advance Neutral Atom Quantum Computing - The Quantum Insider - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing and Drug Development - - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Ep857 The threat and opportunity represented by quantum computing - IBS Intelligence - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- DARPA Just Picked IonQ in a Major Win for the Quantum Computing Company. Is That Enough to Buy IONQ Stock on the Dip? - Barchart.com - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- SPECIAL | The dream of quantum computing is closer than ever - iHeart - April 10th, 2025 [April 10th, 2025]
- Google, Microsoft and IBM are bullish on quantum computing. Are the chips of the future for real? - CNBC - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Levi & Korsinsky Notifies Shareholders of Quantum Computing Inc.(QUBT) of a Class Action Lawsuit and an Upcoming Deadline - PR Newswire - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Cleveland Clinic and CAS to Leverage Quantum Computing and AI in Drug Discovery Effort - HPCwire - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- How Quantum Computing and Advanced AI Are Redefining the Boundaries of Human Thought - Built In - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Bitcoin Developer Proposes Hard Fork to Protect BTC From Quantum Computing Threats - CoinDesk - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- QUBT INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC Announces that Quantum Computing Inc. Investors with Substantial Losses Have Opportunity to... - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Inc. Class Action: The Gross Law Firm Reminds Quantum Computing Inc. Investors of the Pending Class Action Lawsuit with a Lead... - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- QUBT Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Quantum Computing Inc. Securities Fraud Lawsuit with the Schall Law Firm - PR Newswire - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Americans once again make headlines in computing with the discovery of a quantum highway that raises great hopes. - Farmingdale Observer - April 8th, 2025 [April 8th, 2025]
- Three Canadian companies vying for U.S. quantum computing funding as race to develop technology heats up - The Globe and Mail - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- What will quantum computing actually look like? - Defense One - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Are businesses ready for the disruption of quantum computing? - Kyndryl - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Rigetti Computing Selected to Participate in DARPAs Quantum Benchmarking Initiative - GlobeNewswire - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- IonQ Selected by DARPA for Quantum Benchmarking Initiative (QBI) to Advance Quantum Computing - Business Wire - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Atom Computing selected by DARPA to explore near-term utility-scale quantum computing with neutral atoms - PR Newswire - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Advanced quantum computing could transform particle physics research - Digital Watch Observatory - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- IonQ in focus as DARPA picks it for quantum computing initiative (IONQ:NYSE) - Seeking Alpha - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Shareholders that lost money on Quantum Computing Inc.(QUBT) should contact The Gross Law Firm about pending Class Action - QUBT - PR Newswire - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Top benefits and advantages of quantum computing - TechTarget - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Breakthrough: Photon Router Transforms Microwave Qubits into Light Pulses - The Debrief - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Inc. Secures Quantum Photonic Vibrometer Order with Delft University of Technology - PR Newswire - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Rigetti Computing Has Room to Grow. Why the CEO Is Tempering Expectations for Quantum. - Barron's - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- Cautious Optimism: Evaluating Alphabets Position in the Nascent Quantum Computing Market - TipRanks - April 3rd, 2025 [April 3rd, 2025]
- D-Wave Stock Slips. Why Nvidias Quantum Computing Event Hurt the Shares. - Barron's - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Nvidia Is Going Big on Quantum Computing, and It Isnt Going It Alone - Barron's - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- 6 Top Quantum Computing Stocks to Buy in 2025 - The Motley Fool - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Recommended Reading Evaluating the Performance of Quantum Process Units at Large Width and Depth - Quantum Computing Report - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- When will quantum computing be available? It depends - TechTarget - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Quantum-computing stocks fall again as Jensen Huang and other CEOs temper expectations around the bleeding-edge tech: Not good enough yet for... - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Is quantum computing the future of tech and where to find investment opportunities By Investing.com - Investing.com - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Jensen Huang backpedals on remarks that sent quantum computing stocks spiraling - TechSpot - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- D-Wave Introduces Quantum Blockchain Architecture, Featuring Enhanced Security and Efficiency over Classical Computing - Business Wire - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang says he was wrong about quantum computing. But he might be right - Quartz - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Nvidia will build accelerated quantum computing research center - VentureBeat - March 22nd, 2025 [March 22nd, 2025]
- Quantum Computing Stocks Jump Ahead Of Nvidia GTC Conference Next Week - Investor's Business Daily - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- 5 wild things quantum computing could unlock now that Big Tech believes a breakthrough is within reach - Business Insider - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Want to Invest in Quantum Computing? 3 Stocks That Are Great Buys Right Now. - The Motley Fool - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- How Quantum Computing And The Metaverse Will Transform Your Career - Forbes - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- QUBT INVESTOR ALERT: Bronstein, Gewirtz and Grossman, LLC Announces that Quantum Computing Inc. Shareholders Have Opportunity to Lead Class Action... - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Cloudflare is already selling security tools for the quantum computing era - Quartz - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Norma and Neowiz Partner to Explore Quantum Computing and AI for Game Development - The Quantum Insider - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- China to spend $55 billion on R&D in 2025 Semiconductor, AI and quantum computing fields to benefit - Tom's Hardware - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- D-Wave Quantum leads massive rally in quantum computing stocks as its revenue outlook goes parabolic - Sherwood News - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Arqit leads quantum computing stocks higher ahead of Nvidia's GTC event - Seeking Alpha - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Quantum Computing (QUBT) to Release Earnings on Thursday - MarketBeat - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]
- Nvidia's Jensen Huang to unveil cutting-edge AI and quantum computing processors - Firstpost - March 18th, 2025 [March 18th, 2025]