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Five-year investment spans research and development, manufacturing, M&A and ecosystem expansion as IBM extends its global lead in quantum computing and advances U.S. leadership
ARMONK, N.Y., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years. The investment will span research and development, capital expenditure, manufacturing scaling, ecosystem partnerships, and M&A. Together, these areas are designed to accelerate IBM's quantum roadmap beyond delivering the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in 2029, and advance quantum leadership anchored in the United States.
It builds on the broadest quantum foundation in the industry, including the largest fleet of quantum computers across the globe, the most widely used quantum software, and a client and partner network of more than 340 organizations running real workloads today. This investment funds the next stage of that foundation, carrying IBM's lead from today's commercial quantum computers towards fault-tolerant scale systems.
IBM's quantum leadership today
This investment reinforces IBM's mission to bring useful quantum computing to the world and builds on the most advanced quantum program in the industry:
- Expansive Global Quantum Fleet: IBM operates the world's largest and most powerful fleet of quantum computers. As of today, the company has deployed over 90 quantum systems across the globe via the cloud and dedicated on-site deployments – including more quantum computers than the rest of the industry combined. This fleet includes quantum computers operating at IBM quantum centers in New York and Germany; at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, PINQ in Quebec, The University of Tokyo and RIKEN in Japan, Yonsei University in South Korea, and BasQ in Spain, with additional systems coming soon in Chicago, and at Amaravati Quantum Valley in India.
- Roadmap to the World's First Large-Scale, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer: IBM has a clear path to delivering IBM Quantum Starling in 2029 - the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer which will be capable of executing 20,000 times more operations than today's existing systems. Starling will lay the foundation for IBM Quantum Blue Jay, which will run one billion quantum operations across 2,000 qubits. These systems will deliver the transformative scale needed for quantum to take on the most challenging and currently intractable problems across science and industries.
- Expanding Adoption: Since 2017, IBM's quantum program has signed more than $1.1 billion in contracts with clients to advance their exploration and use of quantum computing. Today, a network of more than 340 IBM Quantum Network members spanning financial services, healthcare, materials science, academia and government are using IBM quantum computers to pursue real-world algorithmic discovery.
- America's First Quantum Foundry: With the support of the United States Department of Commerce, IBM recently announced plans to launch Anderon, the world's first pure-play quantum wafer foundry. IBM will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, alongside significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce.
- Path to Quantum Advantage: IBM is confident that its partners using IBM quantum computers will demonstrate quantum advantage in 2026. The company is seeing accelerated progress on this path as evidenced by recent experiments that confirm quantum as a useful scientific tool, including work with the Cleveland Clinic and RIKEN to model a 12,635-atom protein; a collaboration with national laboratories and universities to accurately simulate magnetic materials; and research with universities to prove the nature of a never-before-seen molecule.
- The World's Most Popular Quantum Software: Developed by IBM, Qiskit is the world's preferred software stack for quantum computing and algorithms research, built to optimize and execute quantum workloads and used by nearly 70 percent of quantum developers today and have executed over 4 trillion quantum circuits on quantum computers.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Brittany Forgione
IBM
Brittany.Forgione@ibm.com
Five-year investment spans research and development, manufacturing, M&A and ecosystem expansion as IBM extends its global lead in quantum computing and advances U.S. leadership
ARMONK, N.Y., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- IBM (NYSE: IBM) has announced plans to invest more than $10 billion in quantum computing over the next five years. The investment will span research and development, capital expenditure, manufacturing scaling, ecosystem partnerships, and M&A. Together, these areas are designed to accelerate IBM's quantum roadmap beyond delivering the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer in 2029, and advance quantum leadership anchored in the United States.
It builds on the broadest quantum foundation in the industry, including the largest fleet of quantum computers across the globe, the most widely used quantum software, and a client and partner network of more than 340 organizations running real workloads today. This investment funds the next stage of that foundation, carrying IBM's lead from today's commercial quantum computers towards fault-tolerant scale systems.
IBM's quantum leadership today
This investment reinforces IBM's mission to bring useful quantum computing to the world and builds on the most advanced quantum program in the industry:
- Expansive Global Quantum Fleet: IBM operates the world's largest and most powerful fleet of quantum computers. As of today, the company has deployed over 90 quantum systems across the globe via the cloud and dedicated on-site deployments – including more quantum computers than the rest of the industry combined. This fleet includes quantum computers operating at IBM quantum centers in New York and Germany; at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in New York, PINQ in Quebec, The University of Tokyo and RIKEN in Japan, Yonsei University in South Korea, and BasQ in Spain, with additional systems coming soon in Chicago, and at Amaravati Quantum Valley in India.
- Roadmap to the World's First Large-Scale, Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computer: IBM has a clear path to delivering IBM Quantum Starling in 2029 - the world's first large-scale, fault-tolerant quantum computer which will be capable of executing 20,000 times more operations than today's existing systems. Starling will lay the foundation for IBM Quantum Blue Jay, which will run one billion quantum operations across 2,000 qubits. These systems will deliver the transformative scale needed for quantum to take on the most challenging and currently intractable problems across science and industries.
- Expanding Adoption: Since 2017, IBM's quantum program has signed more than $1.1 billion in contracts with clients to advance their exploration and use of quantum computing. Today, a network of more than 340 IBM Quantum Network members spanning financial services, healthcare, materials science, academia and government are using IBM quantum computers to pursue real-world algorithmic discovery.
- America's First Quantum Foundry: With the support of the United States Department of Commerce, IBM recently announced plans to launch Anderon, the world's first pure-play quantum wafer foundry. IBM will contribute $1 billion of cash into Anderon, alongside significant intellectual property, assets, and a skilled workforce.
- Path to Quantum Advantage: IBM is confident that its partners using IBM quantum computers will demonstrate quantum advantage in 2026. The company is seeing accelerated progress on this path as evidenced by recent experiments that confirm quantum as a useful scientific tool, including work with the Cleveland Clinic and RIKEN to model a 12,635-atom protein; a collaboration with national laboratories and universities to accurately simulate magnetic materials; and research with universities to prove the nature of a never-before-seen molecule.
- The World's Most Popular Quantum Software: Developed by IBM, Qiskit is the world's preferred software stack for quantum computing and algorithms research, built to optimize and execute quantum workloads and used by nearly 70 percent of quantum developers today and have executed over 4 trillion quantum circuits on quantum computers.
About IBM
IBM is a leading provider of global hybrid cloud and AI, and consulting expertise. We help clients in more than 175 countries capitalize on insights from their data, streamline business processes, reduce costs, and gain a competitive edge in their industries. IBM's breakthrough innovations in AI, quantum computing, industry-specific cloud solutions and consulting deliver open and flexible options to our clients. All of this is backed by IBM's long-standing commitment to trust, transparency, responsibility, inclusivity, and service. Visit www.ibm.com for more information.
Media Contact:
Brittany Forgione
IBM
Brittany.Forgione@ibm.com
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
IBM Commits More Than $10 Billion to Quantum Computing, Funding Its Roadmap from Today's Leading Systems to the World's First Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computers
SAN JOSE, Calif., June 2, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Reallusion announced the 2026 Reallusion 3D Character Contest, offering a $45,000 prize pool, free 3-month access to the full Reallusion software suite, and bi-weekly premium content airdrops to qualified participants. Entries will be judged by an international panel including ZBrush Guide founder Pablo Muñoz and acclaimed visual effects artist Reza Sarkamari. Submissions are open now through August 31, 2026.
Watch this video to explore the groundbreaking designs and artistry of previous contest winners.
10 Years, One Stage for 3D Character Artists
This marks the sixth time Reallusion has hosted its 3D Character Contest. Over the years, the competition has grown into one of the few remaining character art contests still actively run by a 3D software company.
The AI wave has swept across the entire 3D industry, and Reallusion is no exception. To adapt to this trend, the company has introduced AI-powered features across its product line, from Headshot's photo-to-model generation to AI-assisted content workflows. But for this contest, Reallusion is drawing a clear line: entries must be grounded in traditional 3D craftsmanship. Participants are welcome to use AI for concept art, reference generation, or as a creative aid in their process, but final submissions (renders, turntables, and animation clips) must be produced through conventional 3D workflows, not AI-generated output. The goal is simple: a level playing field where artistry and skill speak for themselves.
"The 3D industry is going through extraordinarily tough times in the age of AI. That's exactly why we keep running this contest. We want to give talented artists a stage to show the world what they can do."
— Charles Chen, CEO, Reallusion
Contest Categories: Five Ways to Compete
This year's competition continues the format established in the 2026 contest, with entries judged across five categories:
- Best Character Design (Realistic)
- Best Character Design (Stylized)
- Best Character Animation (Realistic)
- Best Character Animation (Stylized)
- Best AccuRIG Character
All entries in the Character Design and Character Animation categories must use a Character Creator base as their foundation. Beyond that, artists are free to sculpt, retopologize, texture, and animate using any combination of tools in their pipeline.
The Best AccuRIG Character category is designed as the most accessible entry point to the contest. Participants simply rig their own character model using AccuRIG and present three to five posed variations. No additional Reallusion software is required, and the winning entries should best demonstrate the character's persona through these different poses.
Every submission across all categories must include behind-the-scenes documentation showing the creation process, whether through breakdowns, WIP screenshots, 3D wireframe models, time-lapse recordings, or written process notes. This provides the community with direct insight into how each work was made, and allows judges to see structural proof in design for final grading.
All entries will be reviewed and scored by the contest's international judging panel. This year, Reallusion has invited Pablo Munoz Gomez and Martin Klekner to judge on artistic quality, technical execution, and creative process.
Don't own any Reallusion software? That's not a barrier. Reallusion is offering every qualified participant free access to its full professional suite.
Portfolio Artist Program: Experience the Full Suite Software & Premium Content Airdrops
To welcome new talent and remove any barrier to participation, Reallusion is offering an exclusive Profiled Artist Program, a free 3-month fully licensed software workgroup to qualified applicants. The workgroup includes the full character creation and real-time animation toolkit, including:
- Character Creator 5 Deluxe
- iClone 8
- Headshot 3
- AccuFACE
- ZBrush Face Tools
- Auto Setup for Unreal, Blender, Maya, Marmoset Toolbag, 3ds Max, Unity, Omniverse
To speed your creation, in a first for the contest, Reallusion is also introducing bi-weekly content airdrops throughout the competition period. Every two weeks, one popular content pack will be added directly into participants' workgroups, giving creators an ever-growing library of production-ready characters, hairstyles, outfits, and motions to fuel their entries. Premium content access, such as Hair Builder, Casual 20, and other best-selling assets, is included in this contest timeframe for approved applicants. To let you experience the full power of the Reallusion ecosystem.
This section is specially designed for an established character artist background, the best chance to let us know you. To apply, simply submit an online form for review. Applications are accepted through July 31, 2026, and workgroup access remains active until the contest concludes. The earlier you apply, the more time that you will have to work with.
A $45,000 Prize Pool Sponsored by Industry Giants
This year's event is backed by a powerhouse roster of industry leaders, offering a combined $45,000 in cash and prizes. Reallusion is honored to partner with NVIDIA, Maxon, Epic Games, Unity, Houdini, MSI, Western Digital, and CenterGrid to provide contestants with the professional hardware, cloud resources, and software support needed to bring their visions to life.
Beyond the Prizes: Career-Defining Exposure
In addition to cash and hardware, distinguished contestants will be featured across popular 3D media outlets and magazines through dedicated articles and promotional highlights. Selected artists may also be invited to join Reallusion's digital content ecosystem to monetize their work or collaborate on official showcase projects. Submit your entry before August 31, 2026, to win big! For more information on rules, prizes, and how to apply for free software and content airdrops, visit the official contest page.
** This press release is distributed by PR Newswire through automated distribution system, for which the client assumes full responsibility. **
The Stage for 3D Artist: 2026 Reallusion's 3D Character Contest Returns with $45,000 in Prizes
