IBM Quantum Computing Market Investigation & Strategic Partnership Proposals

Client:
IBM

Project Date:
February 2019

Objectives:
Conduct comprehensive market research to gauge the potential of integrating IBM Z capabilities with IBM Quantum technology. Subsequently, generate innovative project proposals that would capitalize on this integration, ensuring IBM's continued leadership in the era of quantum computing.

Situation & Tasks:
As quantum computing promises to redefine the tech industry's paradigms, IBM recognized the need to proactively position its flagship IBM Z platform in this new domain. The primary challenge was to explore how IBM Z's established strengths could complement and enhance the emerging capabilities of IBM Quantum, creating a robust and futuristic product ecosystem.

Actions:

• Industry Research: Initiated a thorough examination of the current quantum computing landscape, identifying key players, emerging trends, and potential areas of synergy between IBM Z and Quantum.

• Expert Interviews: Conducted interviews with IBM Quantum specialists, tech industry experts, and current IBM Z clients to garner insights into the anticipated needs, challenges, and opportunities in a quantum-integrated environment.

• User Experience Workshops: Organized workshops with potential users of the integrated solution to understand their expectations, concerns, and suggestions, ensuring the proposals were user-centric.

• Scenario Development: Formulated multiple scenarios outlining how IBM Z could be utilized in a quantum world, factoring in variables like technological advancements, competitive actions, and market demands.

• Proposal Design: Crafted detailed project proposals based on the gathered insights, focusing on seamless integration, maximizing computational power, and ensuring end-user convenience and security.

• Internal Collaborations: Fostered cross-team collaborations between IBM Z and IBM Quantum teams to validate, refine, and prioritize the proposed projects, ensuring technical feasibility and alignment with IBM's broader vision.

• Implementation Roadmap: Developed a phased implementation roadmap detailing the rollout of the proposed projects, complete with timelines, required resources, and potential risks.

Results:
As a result of the research and proposals, IBM Systems green-lit research into three major initiatives with a deep focus on quantum encryption and quantum safe applications. The initiative also solidified IBM System’s commitment to integrating traditional and quantum computing, establishing a working relationship between the two teams in the fields mentioned above. During the launch of IBM’s z16, one of the new platform’s value drivers included quantum safe encryption as outlined in one of the project proposals.