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IBM Targets Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing by 2029 with IBM Quantum Starling
IBM Targets Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing by 2029 with IBM Quantum Starling
3/15/2025

IBM's roadmap targets fault-tolerant quantum computing by 2029 with IBM Quantum Starling, leveraging resource-efficient "bivariate bicycle (BB) codes" and a modular chip development strategy.

IBM has outlined an ambitious and detailed roadmap towards achieving fault-tolerant quantum computing, with the goal of delivering the IBM Quantum Starling by 2029. This large-scale system is projected to be capable of running 100 million quantum gates on 200 logical qubits. Central to IBM's strategic approach to fault tolerance relies heavily on "bivariate bicycle (BB) codes," a type of quantum low-density parity check (qLDPC) code, which critically require approximately ten times fewer physical qubits than widely studied surface codes for equivalent error correction capabilities, emphasizing resource efficiency. The roadmap includes a series of intermediate chip developments designed to build the necessary components, such as IBM Quantum Loon slated for 2025 (testing qLDPC architecture) and IBM Quantum Kookaburra in 2026 (a modular processor combining quantum memory and logic). Complementing this, IBM is developing Relay-BP, a fast, compact, and flexible error correction decoder, positioning the company for a competitive advantage in the global race to achieve practical quantum advantage and robust fault tolerance by the end of the decade.