Oct. 1, 2024 — Today, IBM cut the ribbon for Europe’s first IBM Quantum Data Center with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and representatives from partners across Europe in attendance. In this blog post published today, IBM’s Scott Crowder and Steffen Thoß discuss how the new center will provide European organizations with direct access to advanced quantum systems, strengthening local research and industry efforts while ensuring compliance with regional data regulations.

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European organizations have long represented an important component of the IBM Quantum Network and the global quantum computing community. With the launch of Europe’s first IBM Quantum Data Center, we are providing more options to access cutting-edge quantum computing for companies, research institutions, academia and government agencies.

Now, users will be able to execute workloads on utility-scale systems based in Europe, supported by a Europe-based team, using IBM Quantum Platform. Europe-based QPUs are accessible through IBM Quantum Platform via the Premium Plan, as well as through Qiskit Runtime on IBM Cloud through Pay-as-you-go, and IBM is collaborating with regional business partners for third-party offerings.

IBM’s Commitment to Europe’s Quantum Community

Europe is the birthplace of quantum physics, and today European organizations are central to improving our understanding of quantum physics and quantum computing. They’re also engaged with the IBM Quantum community; more than 80 European organizations are accessing IBM quantum computers at present, 850 European developers are certified with IBM Quantum learning badges, and over 100,000 European learners are using IBM Quantum Learning.

Today, organizations in Europe are making a lasting impact on the field of quantum. These include our European Quantum Innovation Centers, industry partners, and other members of our IBM Quantum Network. These organizations are advancing quantum physics through cutting-edge research.

We have long shown our commitment to Europe’s quantum ecosystem. IBM built the first IBM Quantum System One located outside of the United States in Ehningen, Germany. We maintain teams across Europe focused on quantum business, software and firmware development, community building, support, components development, and applications research. IBM maintains additional business and development teams across Europe.

Our European Quantum Data Center is the next stage in that commitment, and an opportunity for world-leading scientific institutions in Europe to continue pushing the boundaries of physics.

Utility-scale Quantum in Europe’s Backyard

Last year, we demonstrated for the first time that quantum computers could extract accurate results from quantum circuits beyond the ability of brute-force classical simulation. New research followed, and organizations around the world began to use 100+ qubit quantum computers to explore problems in materials science, particle physics, chemistry, and more.

Now, we hope to bring utility-scale quantum computing to organizations around the world. The European Quantum Data Center features two utility-scale quantum computers with the 127-qubit IBM Quantum Eagle chip, called ibm_strasbourg and ibm_brussels, and soon, a third based on the 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron chip, called ibm_aachen.

Now, users will be able to execute workloads on utility-scale systems based in Europe, supported by a Europe-based team, using the US-based IBM Quantum Platform. Users will have access to quantum computers that outperform the competition in size and reliability.

IBM Quantum Platform is hosted in the United States, so the data won’t stay entirely in Europe. We have always complied with GDPR, and circuit inputs, executions, and outputs are based in Europe. We encourage clients to talk with IBM and provide us feedback so we can continue to update our services to suit client needs.

IBM’s European Quantum Data Center Is Live!

The European Quantum Data Center formally launched today in a ceremony attended by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and representatives from our European partners like Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale, T-Systems, SAP, and Fraunhofer. Our Europe-based IBM Quantum Network members have already started exploring utility-scale applications using these utility-scale systems.

“Our collaboration with IBM for the ‘scaling’ phase of quantum computing is progressing according to plan. We are working to develop concrete applications that improve the experience of our customers and members, and create value for the Group’s businesses,” said Frantz Rublé, President of Euro-Information and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Crédit Mutuel Alliance Fédérale.

“The availability of this quantum data center on European soil addresses our constraints in terms of processing proximity and regulatory compliance. And it also means we can look forward to the next stages of the quantum project with confidence at Crédit Mutuel, CIC and then at Targobank,” he said.

To learn more, explore our offerings here.

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Source: Scott Crowder and Steffen Thoß, IBM Quantum