The rapid progress in quantum computing technology is reshaping the technological landscape, marked by significant collaborations and groundbreaking innovations worldwide. Recently, South Korea’s Norma and the US-based Rigetti Computing forged a notable partnership that introduced an 84-qubit quantum cloud service in Korea. This milestone dovetails with Rigetti’s debut of the Ankaa-3, an advanced 84-qubit quantum computer boasting significant improvements in performance and gate fidelity. At the same time, Norma is projecting an ambitious domestic push, aiming to deliver South Korea’s first homegrown quantum computer by the close of the year while securing high-profile export deals. These advancements reflect not only the advancing state of quantum computational hardware and cloud integration but also a strategic positioning of South Korea on the global quantum stage.
Norma’s alliance with Rigetti marks a pivotal moment for Korea’s accessibility to quantum technology. By launching an 84-qubit quantum cloud service that utilizes Rigetti’s cutting-edge Ankaa-3 system, Korean researchers, developers, and enterprises gain remote access to high-performance quantum computing resources through cloud infrastructure. This initiative leverages Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services (QCS), a full-stack quantum computing platform combining hardware and software, to enable quantum program development within a localized ecosystem. Norma intends to meld this platform with its proprietary quantum programming tools, fostering an environment conducive to research and innovative application development domestically.
This democratization of access to quantum hardware addresses a persistent barrier in the quantum computing field—the substantial cost and complexity of acquiring and managing physical quantum machines. By making such resources available via the cloud, Norma and Rigetti open doors for a broader user base within Korea to experiment with quantum algorithms and develop practical quantum solutions without prohibitive upfront investments. The collaboration also boosts Korea’s presence in the international quantum race, equipping local talent with timely and direct access to frontier technology essential for honing skills and nurturing innovation.
At the heart of this partnership is Rigetti Computing’s Ankaa-3, a substantial technological leap in superconducting quantum computing. This 84-qubit system incorporates a thorough hardware redesign aimed at dramatically increasing operational fidelity and speed. Central to its advancement is the median two-qubit gate fidelity of 99.5%, which represents a critical threshold in reducing quantum operation errors—a major stumbling block for practical and scalable quantum computation. The Ankaa-3 boasts several technical refinements, including enhanced cryogenic hardware components that stabilize qubits at ultra-low temperatures to minimize decoherence. Additionally, the machine optimizes circuit layouts to reduce crosstalk and signal interference and employs precision control mechanisms to deliver more consistent quantum gate execution.
The results of these improvements are impressive: gate operation times shrink to roughly 72 nanoseconds, drastically speeding up the execution of complex quantum algorithms. Moreover, Rigetti plans to widen accessibility to the Ankaa-3 platform by integrating it not only with its own QCS but also via major commercial cloud providers like Amazon Braket and Microsoft Azure by early 2025. This multi-cloud strategy promises to broaden the reach of quantum computing technologies, encouraging the formation of a diverse and robust cloud-based quantum ecosystem, which is imperative for accelerating quantum adoption and application development worldwide.
Parallel to this, Norma is vigorously expanding its influence within South Korea’s quantum computing landscape. The company is on track to produce the nation’s first domestically manufactured quantum computer by the end of 2024. This indigenous quantum system, expected to feature superconducting qubits with demonstrated capabilities exceeding 10 qubits, represents a crucial step toward technological self-reliance in a domain largely dominated by global players from the US, China, and Europe. Norma’s commitment extends beyond domestic innovation, evidenced by a significant $18 million contract to supply a quantum computer to Saudi Arabia’s Light Vision IT by mid-2025. Such exports underscore South Korea’s emerging quantum market competitiveness and integration into the international quantum hardware supply chain.
Norma’s collaboration with other global entities, including Finnish quantum hardware firm IQM, signals a strategic approach to embedding itself in the broader global quantum ecosystem. This cross-border cooperation enhances technological exchange and market penetration potential, crucial for scaling innovative quantum solutions and commercializing them effectively. Consequently, South Korea’s quantum technology infrastructure is maturing rapidly, bolstering the country’s strategic autonomy and commercial readiness in one of tomorrow’s most transformative technologies.
Together, these advancements indicate that the quantum computing industry is progressing from laboratory curiosities to practical, scalable platforms. Improvements in quantum gate fidelity and qubit counts are critical markers of this transition, pushing the quantum advantage closer to reality—that point when quantum systems outperform classical counterparts in meaningful, real-world tasks. Moreover, robust quantum cloud platforms promote ecosystem growth by lowering entry barriers for startups, research institutions, and tech enterprises, enabling collaborative development of quantum algorithms tailored to diverse applications such as cryptography, materials science, and complex optimization problems.
In South Korea, Norma’s progress embodies a national commitment to emerging quantum capabilities as a strategic priority. Milestones like Asia’s first known quantum computer export deal and plans for in-country quantum hardware production reflect a shift towards commercial maturity and global relevance. This momentum is likely to stimulate the growth of quantum software ecosystems and cultivate talent pipelines, reinforcing South Korea’s position as a significant player in the global quantum revolution.
In essence, the collaboration between Norma and Rigetti to launch an 84-qubit quantum cloud service, combined with Rigetti’s introduction of the high-performance Ankaa-3 quantum computer, marks a meaningful stride toward scaling and democratizing quantum computing. Together with Norma’s ambition to deliver an indigenous quantum machine, these developments not only enhance hardware capabilities but also improve accessibility and commercial viability. As cloud providers integrate such quantum technologies into their platforms, the field is poised to evolve from highly specialized experimentation to widespread, practical deployment. The coming years promise that quantum computing will profoundly influence sectors ranging from security to materials innovation, with Korea distinctly positioned to contribute at the forefront of this transformative wave.
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