Flapmax, a leading AI infrastructure company, has announced a new collaboration with IBM to accelerate quantum science and artificial intelligence development in Ghana. The initiative is being driven through the company’s research and education arm, FAI Institute, and will see Palm University College host the country’s first quantum-AI summit.
The event will run alongside the IBM Qiskit Fall Fest and is scheduled for November 21, 2025, at Palm University College in Accra, with virtual participation also available. The summit will feature keynote presentations, technical workshops, hands-on programming sessions and a global hackathon designed to give students and innovators practical exposure to emerging quantum computing technologies.
Dr. Peter Carlos Okantey, Founder and President of Palm University College, described the event as a milestone for Ghana’s technology education landscape.
“Hosting Ghana’s most comprehensive quantum computing summit reflects the momentum building at Palm University College and within Ghana’s broader education landscape,” he said. “Through strong collaborations with institutions like IBM, Intel, and Flapmax, our students now have direct access to quantum tools that can shape entire industries.”
Supporting Global Quantum Education Efforts
The summit forms part of the FAST AI Summit: Quantum Computing Ghana 2025 and aligns with the United Nations International Year of Quantum Science and Technology. Through the partnership, IBM Quantum is providing students with guidance and access to quantum development tools, algorithms and real-world applications.
Palm University College was chosen based on its growing focus on STEM innovation and its legacy of academic leadership in West Africa.
Flapmax Eyes Future-Ready Talent Development
Speaking on the partnership, Dr. Dave Ojika, Founder and CEO of Flapmax, said the initiative is designed to build the next generation of African quantum and AI researchers.
“Flapmax is deeply invested in expanding access to transformative technologies—AI, quantum computing, and high-performance scientific tools—across the continent. Our collaboration with IBM and Palm University College accelerates the development of quantum-AI talent capable of advancing frontier research,” he noted.
Already, Ghana is beginning to apply quantum research to real-world challenges. In a previous project supported by Flapmax and Intel, Palm University College students used quantum tools to model cocoa disease resilience—offering early insights that could benefit one of Ghana’s most valuable export crops.
Similar quantum-AI applications could support:
- Materials innovation for next-generation batteries
- Energy grid optimization
- Healthcare modelling and epidemiology
- Climate-resilient agriculture
To support continuous practical learning, students have also launched the Palm University AI & Quantum Computing Club to promote collaboration and mentorship.
Global Recognition and Opportunities
FAI Institute and Palm University College were selected from more than 600 global applicants for the IBM Qiskit Fall Fest, placing Ghana among the top 150 institutions represented worldwide. The Summit will host keynote speakers from IBM, technical breakout sessions, innovation labs and immersive activities celebrating African technological heritage and future potential.
The hybrid hackathon will run alongside the event with challenge tracks in healthcare, agriculture and energy. Winners will receive access to Flapmax’s hybrid Quantum–AI compute platform, while all participants will earn an official IBM certificate.
More than 100 registered attendees from multiple institutions in Accra have already confirmed participation.
For registration and additional event details, participants can visit the official event portal.