IBM To Build Europe’s First Quantum Computer In Germany

IBM is to build Europe’s first quantum computer in Germany, allowing companies to access the experimental technology without needing to send sensitive data across the Atlantic.

IBM said it would build one of its Q System One machines at the state-backed Fraunhofer Institute near Stuttgart from early 2021, with research labs to be set up around it.

Quantum computers make use of quantum-mechanical phenomena as the basis for systems that are expected to eventually far surpass the performance of classical computers, leading to fundamental shifts in areas such as cryptography.

While they are still at the experimental stage, the computers are functional and organisations have begun making use of them in order to be prepared once the technology becomes more practical to use.

Assembly of IBM’s Q System One quantum computer, currently installed in Yorktown Heights, New York. Image credit: IBM

Q System One

IBM has been offering researchers access to quantum computers since 2016 via the cloud, and its Q System One is based on a fourth-generation processor with 20 qubits.

Qubits are analogous to bits in classical computing, but can hold multiple states, rather than only 0 or 1.

IBM calls the Q System One the world’s first “commercial” quantum computer, though it is still used primarily for research purposes.

Last year researchers at Daimler, maker of Mercedes-Benz cars, used IBM’s quantum computers to help design next-generation lithium batteries for electric vehicles by simulating battery cell chemistry.

European ‘catalyst’

“Quantum computing has the potential to analyse the complex systems in business and industry, to unravel molecular and chemical interactions, to solve complicated optimisation problems and to make artificial intelligence significantly more powerful,” said Fraunhofer president Professor Reimund Neugebauer.

Martin Jetter, chairman of IBM Europe, said an EU-based quantum computer could be “a major catalyst” for Europe’s innovation landscape and research capabilities and would “help shape the future of our European society”.

The German government has pledged 650 million euros (£580m of investment into quantum computing and said the technology is relevant to security policy in areas such as cryptography.

Honeywell said earlier this month it is planning to make a powerful quantum computer available to researchers by June of this year, with JP Morgan Chase as an initial customer.

Major companies such as Google and Microsoft are also working on quantum computers, along with numerous start-ups.

Matthew Broersma

Matt Broersma is a long standing tech freelance, who has worked for Ziff-Davis, ZDnet and other leading publications

Recent Posts

Ericsson To Cut 1,200 Jobs in Sweden Amid ‘Challenging’ Market

Swedish telecoms giant Ericsson blamed “challenging mobile networks market” and “further volume contraction” for job…

2 hours ago

FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried Sentenced To 25 Years In Prison For $8bn Fraud

Dramatic downfall. Sam Bankman-Fried sentenced to 25 years in prison for masterminding $8bn fraud that…

2 hours ago

Elon Musk Orders FSD Demo For Every Tesla US Sale

Fallout avoidance? Tesla buyers in the US must be shown how to use the FSD…

3 hours ago

Amazon Pumps Another $2.75 Billion Into Anthropic

Amazon completes its $4bn investment into AI firm Anthropic, after providing an additional $2.75bn in…

5 hours ago

The Sustainability of AI

While AI promises unparalleled efficiency, productivity, and innovation, questions regarding its environmental impact loom large.…

8 hours ago

Trump’s Truth Social Makes Successful Market Debut

Shares in Donald Trump’s social media company rose about 16 percent after first day of…

8 hours ago