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November 3, 2023/News Releases

Cleveland Clinic Launches New Quantum Innovation Program for Start-up Companies

Program to foster access to first quantum computer in healthcare, collaboration with researchers

IBM-Quantum-System-One-at-Cleveland-Clinic_2_Courtesy_-Cleveland-Clinic-crop

IBM Quantum System One at Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic has launched the Cleveland Clinic Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program, a competitive program for start-up companies to explore quantum computing applications in healthcare and life sciences.

Up to four early- and growth-stage life sciences and healthcare technology companies will be selected by Cleveland Clinic through a competitive application process. Awarded start-ups will receive a 24-week immersive experience including: 

  • Access to IBM Quantum System One computer to support their research.
  • Space on Cleveland Clinic’s main campus for embedded experiences.
  • Opportunities to discuss research ideas and projects with Cleveland Clinic clinicians and investigators.
  • Selection to participate in the Quantum Working Group on Healthcare and Life Sciences established by IBM Quantum and Cleveland Clinic.
  • Education offerings, including a technical seminar series, healthcare programs and quantum education.
  • Graduation and Demo Day: The program culminates in a graduation program including a demo day spotlighting the cohort companies to a curated audience of investors, clinical, corporate and ecosystem partners.

Participants will have access to the IBM Quantum System One at Cleveland Clinic’s main campus, the first quantum computer dedicated to healthcare research. In addition, the companies will have the ability to collaborate and consult with researchers from the Cleveland Clinic-IBM Discovery Accelerator team as part of Cleveland Clinic’s and IBM’s 10-year partnership aimed at advancing biomedical research through pioneering applications of quantum and advanced computing.

The Discovery Accelerator constitutes the technology foundation of biomedical research occurring as part of the Cleveland Innovation District, which brings the State of Ohio and JobsOhio together with Cleveland’s healthcare and higher education institutions to create jobs, accelerate research and educate the workforce of the future. 

“Through the Discovery Accelerator, Cleveland Clinic and our partners at IBM are exploring quantum computing’s vast potential to transform medicine, from drug discovery to digital health and biomarker analysis,” said Lara Jehi, M.D., Cleveland Clinic Chief Research Information Officer. “We look forward to welcoming the first class of start-ups to our new Cleveland Clinic Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program and helping them to leverage quantum to make breakthroughs in healthcare as we grow an ecosystem of advanced computation for healthcare and life sciences.”

The application for the Cleveland Clinic Quantum Innovation Catalyzer Program is now open. Proposal submissions are due by January 15 and teams will be selected by March 15. The program will launch in April. Learn more and apply at https://ccf.infoready4.com/#discovery

About Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland Clinic is a nonprofit multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation, Cleveland Clinic has pioneered many medical breakthroughs, including coronary artery bypass surgery and the first face transplant in the United States. Cleveland Clinic is consistently recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for its expertise and care. Among Cleveland Clinic’s 83,000 employees worldwide are more than 6,600 salaried physicians and researchers, and 21,900 registered nurses and advanced practice providers, representing 140 medical specialties and subspecialties. Cleveland Clinic is a 6,725-bed health system that includes a 173-acre main campus near downtown Cleveland, 23 hospitals, 300 outpatient facilities, including locations in northeast Ohio; Florida; Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; Abu Dhabi, UAE; and London, England. In 2025, there were 15.9 million outpatient encounters, 343,000 hospital admissions and observations, and 336,000 surgeries and procedures throughout Cleveland Clinic’s health system. Visit us at clevelandclinic.org. Follow us at x.com/CleClinicNews. News and resources are available at newsroom.clevelandclinic.org.

Editor’s Note: Cleveland Clinic News Service is available to provide broadcast-quality interviews and B-roll upon request.

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