IBM announces quantum computing progress at CES2020 Photo: Wang Yi/GT

IBM, one of the world's frontrunners in the quantum computing sector, announced progress both in computing power and partnership expansion at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on Wednesday (US time). 

Amid accelerating global competition in the sector, a Chinese expert noted that China has largely narrowed its gap with the US in basic research and is expected to launch its first quantum computer within the year.

IBM's quantum computer "IBM Q System One," which is showcased at the trade show, has doubled the Quantum Volume (QV), a hardware-agnostic metric that the company defined to measure the performance of a quantum computer, according to a press release from the company.

The company said it also further expanded its "IBM Q Network," a community to jointly advance quantum computing and explore practical applications in different industries. Delta was included in the community as the first airline at the beginning of this year.

Quantum computers are meant to tackle problems that can't be resolved by classic computers. The quantum computers are particularly suitable to use in sectors like chemistry and finance, Kate Pizzolato, IBM Q Network Global Client Lead, told the Global Times at the CES on Wednesday US time.

IBM's practical approach, which aims to solve real problems in various industries, is actually what China's quantum computing researchers need to improve the most, Guo Guoping, founder and chief scientist of Chinese quantum company Origin Quantum Computing, told the Global Times.

Global competition in the area has been accelerating, experts said.

"To accelerate our progress in quantum computing, it's imperative to better integrate lab research with practical needs in terms of different industries' applications, instead of mainly focusing on lab research," Guo said.

China's Origin Quantum will launch its first quantum computer within this year as planned, and its industrial research alliance is also expanding, Guo added.