IBM and ETH Zurich announced a 10‑year partnership on March 31 2026 to develop new classes of algorithms at the intersection of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. The collaboration will create professorships and research projects focused on optimization, differential equations, linear algebra, and complex‑system modeling, aiming to bridge classical computing, machine learning, and quantum systems.
The partnership builds on a long‑standing collaboration between the two institutions, extending previous joint research efforts into a formal, decade‑long program that will deepen the integration of AI and quantum technologies. IBM will support the creation of professorship positions and research projects at ETH Zurich, reinforcing the university’s role as a leading research hub for AI and quantum science.
"Algorithms have always been the true drivers of computing revolutions and are at the core of our history at IBM Research. As AI and quantum computing converge, we are witnessing the dawn of a new algorithmic era," said Alessandro Curioni, IBM Fellow and VP of Algorithms and Applications at IBM Research. "IBM and ETH Zurich have a long and distinguished history of working together at the frontiers of science and technology. With this agreement, we are committing to inventing the algorithmic foundations of the future." "The partnership with IBM reflects our ambition to co‑create groundbreaking technology and to empower the next generation of AI and quantum computing experts," said Prof. Dr. Joël Mesot, President of ETH Zurich.
The collaboration positions IBM at the forefront of AI‑quantum integration, aligning with its hybrid cloud and AI platform strategy. By investing in professorships and research projects, IBM strengthens its talent pipeline and supports its quantum roadmap, which includes a fault‑tolerant module by 2026 and the first fault‑tolerant quantum computer by 2029. The partnership also expands IBM’s ability to develop hybrid algorithmic approaches that combine classical, AI‑driven, and quantum computation, potentially unlocking practical value from today’s quantum hardware and redefining how complex problems are solved in science, industry, and society.
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