This week, EuroHPC and Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, the selected provider, signed the acquisition contract for the new quantum computer, which is set to be installed at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center- Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) in 2025.

BSC-CNS will feature two quantum systems: the already installed digital quantum computer under the Quantum Spain initiative and the newly acquired EuroHPC system. Both computers will be integrated into the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, the most powerful in Spain and one of the most advanced in Europe, in collaboration with the Institute of High Energy Physics (IFAE) in Barcelona and the Iberian International Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Portugal.

MareNostrum-Ona: a pioneering analog quantum computer

The new MareNostrum-Ona analog quantum computer is the first of its kind (a quantum annealer) developed in Europe, with a capacity of more than 10 physical qubits that will increase over time. Its name evokes the wave function (“ona” in Catalan language) that represents the quantum state while also alluding to the sea. With this new system, BSC-CNS’s world-class MareNostrum 5 supercomputer will enable the development of applications with significant industrial, scientific, and social impact, both in Barcelona and across Europe.

MareNostrum-Ona will provide unique tools for advanced research and innovation to users throughout Europe, including the industrial sector, the public sector, and the scientific community. This equipment will help solve problems too complex for conventional computing systems, such as traffic flow optimization, smart networks, and the development of new drugs and materials based on more precise quantum mechanical models in chemistry and physics.

An international strategy for deploying quantum technology in Europe

The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) is an initiative between the EU, European countries, and private partners aimed at developing a world-class supercomputing ecosystem in Europe. In October 2022, EuroHPC JU announced, following a call for expressions of interest, the selection of BSC-CNS as one of the six sites to host and operate the first European quantum computers.

In June 2023, the signing of six EuroHPC JU quantum computer agreements took place in Luxembourg. These systems will be integrated into existing supercomputers in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Spain. The selection of these host entities, which will operate the systems on behalf of EuroHPC JU, was made to ensure diversity in quantum technologies and architectures, allowing Europe to stay at the forefront of this still-emerging field and providing European users access to diverse and complementary quantum technologies.