On 4 May 2016, IBM made history by placing its first quantum computer on the cloud, enabling global access to real quantum hardware and transforming quantum computing from a niche pursuit into a growing industry. Over the past decade, significant advancements have been made in both hardware and software, with IBM Quantum systems now featuring up to 156 qubits and a mature programming stack. The impact of this decision has been profound, shaping the future of quantum research through the contributions of early users who have become developers, founders, and partners in the field. 'The first time I accessed a real quantum device through the cloud was in 2016, during my master’s,' said Dr. Álvaro Nodar, Quantum Technical Lead at Global Data Quantum. 'It was mind-blowing to take all those pen-and-paper circuits and test them on a real device.' IBM’s decision to make quantum computing accessible via the cloud marked a pivotal shift in quantum information science, allowing access to students, startups, researchers, and developers worldwide. 'Cloud-based quantum computing established a new paradigm in accessibility for quantum information science experiments,' said Travis Humble, Director of the Quantum Science Center at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 'The impact of broad access to real quantum computers on the morale of the community cannot be overstated.' *Source: [ibm](https://research.ibm.com/blog/decade-of-quantum)*