Announcements from IBM and Quantinuum plus a recent acquisition by Intel show that the race to develop a quantum computer has shifted from focusing just on the qubits to integrating these computers with classical systems and software development platforms.

To start with, IBM, AMD, and the DOE-funded Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory are collaborating on a new research platform that pairs IBM’s 120-qubit Nighthawk quantum computer with a classical computer in order to allow researchers to better explore quantum error correction, the organizations announced.

This is a research platform rather than a commercial product, says IDC analyst Heather West.