Maryland's IonQ to Advance Hybrid Quantum Computing with New Chemistry Application and NVIDIA CUDA-Q

Showcased via a joint presentation at SC24, the application demonstrates the seamless integration of the core workflow behind several hybrid quantum-classical approaches to calculate the specific properties of a molecule’s electronic structure. These approaches have potential relevance in many chemistry-focused commercial applications, such as identifying how drug molecules might interact with specific proteins in the human body. The achievement captures IonQ’s interest in developing solutions that combine the benefits of quantum processing units (QPUs) with the accelerated, heterogeneous computing capabilities of the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform.

“IonQ is building on its approach of accelerating AI, scientific compute, and other supercomputing workloads with quantum hardware – enabling entirely new ways to approach previously unsolvable problems,” said Dean Kassmann, SVP of Engineering & Technology at IonQ. “Today’s molecular modeling demonstration illustrates why CUDA-Q is a great platform for achieving seamless integration and top-tier performance with our leading quantum hardware.”

Since 2023, IonQ has supported NVIDIA CUDA-Q, a powerful, unified, open-source software stack. CUDA-Q is a hybrid quantum-classical computing platform that enables the integration and programming of QPUs and GPUs in a single workflow. This demonstration was performed using a combination of IonQ Forte, the IonQ Hybrid Services suite, CUDA-Q, and NVIDIA A100 Tensor Core GPUs, which can be deployed to cloud and on-prem environments.

The demonstration at SC24 showcases a novel way to interrogate the properties of specific molecules in a resource-efficient way that has relevance in larger application workflows pertaining to pharma and other commercial domains. The work also sets the stage for IonQ to accelerate even more powerful ways to model molecular dynamics for future biopharmaceutical applications.

“Useful quantum applications will need to draw on both quantum hardware and AI supercomputing resources,” said Elica Kyoseva, Director of Quantum Algorithm Engineering, NVIDIA. “The CUDA-Q platform is allowing researchers and developers to explore these paradigms by accessing NVIDIA accelerated computing alongside IonQ’s quantum processors.”

Today’s news reaffirms IonQ’s commitment to developing hardware and software that leverages a combination of quantum and classical computation to enable efficient, performant, robust solutions that can be deployed at commercial scale.

IonQ’s Hybrid Services suite makes designing and deploying quantum-accelerated applications that take advantage of IonQ’s leading quantum hardware easier than ever. It achieves this via a flexible, easy-to-configure hybrid infrastructure, workflow management, and scheduling for cloud or on-prem installations. Further, it has powerful tools to help application developers explore new applications and use cases, such as prebuilt solvers for problem classes like quadratic optimization and graph partitioning, and out-of-the-box support for a variety of common programming models, including NVIDIA CUDA-Q quantum kernels.

To learn more about IonQ and its latest system news and business developments, visit https://ionq.com/.

About IonQ

IonQ, Inc. is a leader in quantum computing that delivers high-performance systems capable of solving the world’s largest and most complex commercial and research use cases. IonQ’s current generation quantum computer, IonQ Forte, is the latest in a line of cutting-edge systems, boasting 36 algorithmic qubits. The company’s innovative technology and rapid growth were recognized in Fast Company’s 2023 Next Big Things in Tech List and Deloitte’s 2023 Technology Fast 500™ List, respectively. Available through all major cloud providers, IonQ is making quantum computing more accessible and impactful than ever before. Learn more at IonQ.com.

IonQ Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words. Statements that are not historical in nature, including the words “accelerate,” “accelerated,” “acceleration,” “achieving,” “developing,” “enables,” “enabling,” “explore,” “leverages,” “might,” “potential,” “will,” and other similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include those related to the company’s technology driving commercial quantum advantage in the future, the ability for third parties to implement IonQ’s offerings to increase their quantum computing capabilities, the potential commercial relevance of described chemistry-focused applications, whether IonQ’s offerings can or will continue to be integrated with third party systems, the potential benefits of integrating quantum processing units with third party offerings, IonQ’s quantum computing capabilities and plans, access to IonQ’s quantum computers, increases in performance, and the scalability, efficiency, and durability of IonQ’s quantum computing offerings. Forward-looking statements are predictions, projections and other statements about future events that are based on current expectations and assumptions and, as a result, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Many factors could cause actual future events to differ materially from the forward-looking statements in this press release, including but not limited to: market adoption of quantum computing solutions and IonQ’s products, services and solutions; changes in the competitive industries in which IonQ operates, including development of competing technologies; changes in laws and regulations affecting IonQ’s business; IonQ’s ability to implement its business plans, forecasts and other expectations, and identify and realize partnerships and opportunities. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company’s filings, including but not limited to those described in the “Risk Factors” section of IonQ’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and other documents filed by IonQ from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. Readers are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements, and IonQ assumes no obligation and does not intend to update or revise these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. IonQ does not give any assurance that it will achieve its expectations.