EU deploys first quantum technology in six sites across Europe
The European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (Euro HPC JU) has announced the selection of six sites in Czechia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy and Poland that will host the first European quantum computers. These new cutting-edge technologies will be integrated on-site into existing supercomputers and are expected to be available in the second half of 2023.
What is the European High-Performance Computing Joint Undertaking
Euro HPC JU is a funding entity created in 2018 to enable the European Union, and other 17 countries participating countries, to coordinate their efforts and pool their resources, with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.
The advantages of quantum computers
The new quantum computers will produce a great number of advantages, such as addressing the growing demand for quantum computing resources and potential new services from the European industry and academia and allow academic researchers and the industry, no matter where in Europe they are located, to be able to access these six quantum computers based on state-of-the-art European technology.
Moreover, they will support a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific and societal relevance for Europe, for example:
- Much faster and more efficient development of new medicines, with the creation of a ‘digital twin' of a human body, upon which to conduct virtual drug trials
- Solving complex scheduling problems related to areas such as health, climate change, and logistics while consuming far less energy, in order to help companies to save time and fuel
- The development and testing in a virtual environment of new materials that could store energy indefinitely, like polymers for aeroplanes, catalytic converters for cars, solar cells, or room-temperature superconductors
€100 million for the new quantum computers: a purely European initiative
With a total planned investment of €100 million, half of which comes from the European Union and the other half from the 17 countries participating in the EuroHPC JU, the new quantum computers sign a step towards the Digital Decade goals of having the EU's first computer with quantum acceleration by 2025, as well as being on the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030. Furthermore, it’s noteworthy that this is a purely European initiative: in fact, these machines will consist entirely of European hardware and software, leveraging European technology developed under EU-funded quantum initiatives, national research programmes, and private investments.
To further develop quantum computing, and more specifically quantum software, the Commission is planning to establish Centres of Excellence for Science and Industry focusing on both academic and industrial use cases for quantum computers and simulators, which will provide services, support and libraries to organizations in Europe similarly to the current High-Performance Computing Centres of Excellence.