IBM has announced to provide over-the-cloud access to its quantum computers to students and faculty from top colleges. The initiative will allow select students and faculty to access quantum learning resources and quantum tools over IBM Cloud for education and research purposes. Colleges will then be able to work on actual quantum computers and write codes using the Qiskit open-source framework.
For this project, IBM has chosen Indian Institute of Science Education & Research (IISER) – Pune, IISER – Thiruvananthapuram, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bangalore, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) – Jodhpur, IIT- Kanpur, IIT – Kharagpur, IIT – Madras, Indian Statistical Institute (ISI) Kolkata, Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) Delhi, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) Mumbai and the University of Calcutta.
Quality education with quantum computers
This new collaboration aligns with the tech giant’s Quantum Educators program that lets faculty in the quantum field connect with others. Another aim of the program is to provide resources for quality educational purposes.
“The program offers multiple benefits like additional access to systems beyond IBM’s open systems, pulse access on the additional systems, priority considerations when in queue, and private collaboration channels with other educators in the program,” IBM’s press release reads.
IISER- Thiruvananthapuram, ISI-Kolkata, and IIT-Madras are said to be the first to set up Quantum Computing Lab courses. Undergraduate and postgraduate students will be able to take part in these courses, which will include the use of IBM quantum systems.
Collaboration to benefit many students
IBM estimates that around 100-150 students will benefit from this collaboration each year. They will be able to take part in advanced projects and develop algorithms.
IBM notes that the next few years are expected to witness a steep demand for quantum skills. As per a survey from BurningGlass Technologies, quantum skills demand can grow 135% in the next 5 years.
“Quantum Computing is a paradigm-shifting technology that can power countless innovations in the future. By providing access to our systems over cloud, IBM is enabling India’s brightest minds to learn the skills to prepare for this disruptive future,” said Gargi Dasgupta, Director, IBM Research India.
