About this Event
Location: Olin 001, F.W. Olin Science Center, Colby College
Time: 7 pm, April 2nd, 2026
For decades, quantum computing has held the promise of solving computational problems that remain fundamentally intractable for even the world’s most powerful classical supercomputers. These challenges, found at the heart of chemistry, materials science, and complex optimization, represent the final frontier of classical computation. However, what was once a purely theoretical vision has undergone a monumental shift.
Over the last decade, the field has transitioned from proof-of-concept laboratory experiments involving only a handful of qubits to an era of global cloud accessibility and large-scale experimentation. Today, quantum workflows are no longer confined to the lab; they are routinely executed via the cloud on processors featuring hundreds of qubits, allowing users to tackle problems at a scale once thought impossible.
In this talk, Borja will walk us through the key milestones of this journey, beginning with IBM’s landmark launch of the first quantum computer in the cloud in 2016, to their current standing on the verge of verifiable quantum advantage in 2026, in what they coined "quantum-centric supercomputing” architectures.
Finally, Borja will provide a glimpse into the near future, where they aim to realize the goal of building a fault-tolerant quantum computer before the end of the decade.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Colby College, 4000 Mayflower Hill Drive, Waterville, United States
USD 0.00
