San Francisco State University Joins IBM Quantum Networks
IBM Quantum Networks: Opening Up New Computing Ideas SF State University joined an elite worldwide research group first.
SFSU created history by joining the IBM Quantum Network as the first CSU. This groundbreaking admission allows SFSU students and researchers to study quantum computing. This collaboration improves classroom education in this fast-growing area.
The IBM Quantum Network provides cutting-edge quantum computing technologies to institutions. “The trick is you need access to real quantum computing hardware,” said SFSU Department of Computer Science quantum computing leader Professor Wes Bethel. To contribute to this field, educational and scientific organisations need network access because these critical quantum systems are 'not stuff you can buy off the shelf'.
National Laboratories Gateway
SFSU has DOE-backed access to expensive IBM quantum computing machines. For student researchers working with Professor Bethel, two major DOE-supported programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) give access.
The IBM Quantum Network includes various national labs named Quantum Innovation Centres With DOE's help, prominent supercomputing centres like ORNL's Quantum Computing User Program and LBNL's National Energy Research Scientific Computing Centre's Quantum Computing Application Network can use high-end IBM quantum gear.
Last year's DOE award allowed Professor Bethel to access the IBM Quantum Network. A multi-institutional prize funds his quantum computing research. This multi-institutional collaboration is led by LBNL's Talita Perciano, with Bethel at SFSU and Argonne researchers. Grant sponsor is DOE's Office of Advanced Scientific Computing Research. This framework makes clear that researchers like Bethel must be DOE-funded to apply for and be qualified for access through these national lab channels for institutional access to these high-end resources.
Bethel created this method to give his interested pupils a new way to study quantum computing. SFSU computer scientists, researchers, and other students can use these resources through DOE programs to gain practical experience and help progress this emerging technology and sector.
Quantum Workforce Development Must!
Prof. Bethel says the urgent need for “workforce development for quantum computing” drives this effort. The fast evolution of technology has increased demand for skilled and knowledgeable professionals.
Aspiring quantum professionals must understand what quantum computing is, how to write code for these systems, how it differs from classical computing, and the field's inherent software concepts and challenges, Bethel explained. To develop these competencies, the IBM Quantum Network was designed to provide knowledge and resources.
The computer science department has worked under Professor Bethel to improve and expand its quantum computing offerings in recent years. He teaches “CSC 647/747: Introduction to Quantum Computing and Quantum Information Science,” which illustrates quantum computing concepts utilising public resources.
Organisational Growth for IBM Quantum Networks
Recent attention has focused on the IBM Quantum Network as quantum computing moves from theory to actuality. University, lab, entrepreneur, and industry partners comprise this ecosystem. POCs, partnerships, and new participants promote IBM's vision of a quantum ecosystem linked by networked infrastructure and the cloud.
IBM-HSBC Quantum Finance Breakthrough
Financial markets' quantum computing advances are notable. IBM researchers alongside HSBC demonstrated how a hybrid quantum-classical method based on market data could improve algorithmic bond trading. Conventional computers and IBM's Heron quantum processor allowed the experiment to predict transaction fulfilment with 34% higher accuracy than classical methods.
In addition to academic or simulation-based studies, the test uses real trade data to demonstrate quantum potential in finance. These use cases boost IBM Quantum Network value by enabling domain-specific applications across network partners and hardware access.
Networked Quantum Systems and Fault Tolerance Roadmap
IBM's quantum environment relies on its long-term technology plan. IBM announced in June 2025 a proposal to build a large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer (named “Starling”) by 2029. This roadmap addresses modular architectures, FPGA/ASIC-implementable error-correction decoders, flexibility, scalability, and adaptability.
IBM will use the IBM Quantum Network to connect many quantum modules (or units) to increase compute resources while balancing noise, connectivity, and error correction. Network approach is tied to this method. Public assertions indicate that they have “cracked the code” on quantum error correction under their architecture.
Hardware deployments are expanding alongside internal development at IBM. Heron-powered IBM Quantum System Two is flexible and upgradeable. Implementing these systems at partner or client locations disperses the network's computation.
There is momentum but also impediments. Current system challenges include decoherence, scalability, quantum error rates, and economic feasibility. IBM's ambitious strategy includes fault tolerance by 2029 and a quantum edge soon. Financial results are promising, but they do not yet show commercial acceptance.
Increasing academic partners (SFSU, Mizzou, etc.), real-data demos with HSBC, and IBM's public roadmap show that the IBM Quantum Network is evolving from experimental infrastructure to a structured, cooperative, and application-aware environment. More organisations and sectors join the network, promoting networked, scalable quantum computing.
