IonQ Hits Quantum Milestone in Protein Folding, Expands With SK Telecom and Korea Deals

IonQ (IONQ), a leader in quantum computing, is deepening its footprint in South Korea while setting a new industry benchmark in quantum problem-solving. The company announced its participation in Quantum Korea 2025, a major government-backed conference in Seoul, and shared plans for several strategic collaborations. At the same time, IonQ is tightening its focus on quantum networking and encryption through recent acquisitions of Oxford Ionics, Lightsynq, and a majority stake in ID Quantique. These deals suggest the company is positioning itself not only as a hardware player but as a full-stack provider across quantum computing and secure communications.

IonQ Widens Asia Ties

Executives from IonQ, including Chief Marketing Officer Margaret Arakawa and Chief Revenue Officer Rima Alameddine, will present an updated technology and business roadmap. The presentation will follow IonQ’s recent market moves, which aim to strengthen IonQ’s capabilities in both quantum computing and secure networking.

IonQ will also support a quantum hackathon with Sungkyunkwan University and demonstrate its latest encryption product, the IDQ Solteris Network Appliance. Beyond the event, IonQ has signed agreements with Seoul National University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Busan Metropolitan City. It also plans a global quantum partnership with SK Telecom. These efforts align with South Korea’s national quantum strategy, demonstrating IonQ’s commitment to education, research, and infrastructure integration.

Technical Breakthrough in Germany

In parallel, IonQ and Germany-based Kipu Quantum revealed a major technical achievement. The two companies successfully solved the most complex protein folding problem ever executed on a quantum computer. Using IonQ’s Forte system and Kipu’s BF-DCQO algorithm, the teams handled a 12-amino acid 3D folding case. The work also included solving dense optimization problems with up to 36 qubits, reaching optimal solutions in each instance.

These results are particularly significant for industries such as drug discovery, where protein folding is a core challenge. IonQ’s trapped-ion hardware, which allows full connectivity between qubits, played a key role. The company’s roadmap includes upcoming 64-qubit and 256-qubit systems that could unlock more advanced applications.

IonQ’s Roadmap to 2030

IonQ aims to scale to 2 million physical qubits by 2030 and continues to offer its systems through major cloud platforms, including AWS (AMZN), Azure (MSFT), and Google Cloud (GOOG) (GOOGL). The company has earned recognition from Forbes, Newsweek, and Built In for its innovation and growth.

IONQ shares have experienced volatility in 2025 but remain closely watched by investors who bet on the long-term potential of quantum computing. The company’s progress in both business expansion and scientific output may help shape its path from early-stage growth to commercial adoption.

Is IONQ a Buy, Hold, or a Sell?

Turning to Wall Street, IonQ is considered a Strong Buy based on five analysts’ ratings. The average price target for IONQ stock is $43, suggesting a 9.25% upside.

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