IBM has opened its first quantum data centre in Europe, located in Ehningen, Germany.
This is the second quantum data centre that IBM has deployed, and will be available via the cloud to the over 250 enterprises, governments and research institutions in the region.
The quantum data centre includes two new utility-scale, IBM Quantum Eagle-based systems, and will soon feature a new IBM Quantum Heron-based system. These systems are capable of performing computations beyond the brute-force simulation capabilities of classical computers.
IBM Heron is the company’s most performant quantum chip yet, offering up to a 16-fold increase in performance and 25-fold increase in speed over previous IBM quantum computers as they were measured two years ago.
The new IBM Quantum System 2 will consist of three 133-qbit tunable-coupler Heron processors, providing a modular utility-scale quantum computer. Each processor is capable of running 5 000 operations in a single quantum circuit.
The quantum data centre will allow users in business, research and governments to run quantum circuits more accurately than classical computers.
German chancellor Olaf Scholz thanked IBM for choosing the location, which adds to Germany’s already impressive quantum computing credentials.
Since 2020, Germany has spent more than 2-billion Euros on quantum technology, Scholz says. “There is a lot of capacity and willingness to use these facilities for research.”
The right digital skills set is essential, and Germany is at the forefront of this, Scholz adds. “We have the skills, thanks to a good education system.”
Partnering is central to Germany’s vision of the future, he adds, and the country will continue to encourage companies like IBM to invest.
Dario Gill, senior vice-president of IBM, says the new data centre is part of IBM’s goal to accelerate its global quantum computing strategy.
“It demonstrates our commitment to bring state of the art technology to Germany and Europe. This is the first quantum computer we have installed outside of the US, and the community is looking forward to having access to it.”
Jay Gambetta, IBM Fellow and vice-president of IBM Quantum, explains that the more people can use quantum computing facilities like the new data centre in Germany, the more value we’ll realise from the technology.
“We need to get algothms discovered that work for industries, and the only way we can do that is by getting quantum computing into the hands of people.”
Eighty of the 250 members of IBM’s quantum network are in Europe, so there’s a big appetite for the technology on the continent, he adds. “There are so many people has already dedicated to the task of discovering useful algorithms.”
Ana Paula Assis, IBM GM for EMEA, adds that the IBM quantum data centre can help to increase European competitiveness.
And there is tremendous value in the technology, she adds, which is underscored by the fact that Europe is set to invest about 1-billion Euros in quantum computing by next year.
Quantum computing won’t operate in isolation, she adds, but in concert with classical computing. “We believe the future of computing will be hybrid,” Assis says.