“Understanding nature is impossible with a classical computer,” highlights Juan Bernabé-Moreno, research director at IBM. Unraveling the mysteries of life requires quantum computing, which exponentially multiplies the capabilities of binary processing thanks to superposition (an electron can be in multiple states at the same time) and entanglement (the state of one particle is intrinsically related to that of another). regardless of the distance that separates them). But having a quantum computer is complex and expensive; the one who rides Ikerbasque (Basque Foundation for Science) In San Sebastián it will involve an investment of 50.8 million euros for the regional government. The solution is a complex that allows access to this computing from anywhere and IBM has just promoted this Tuesday the European race for this technology with the inauguration in Ehningen (Germany) of its second quantum data center in the world (the first is in USA).
The complex houses two processors Eagle of 127 qubits each (a qubit is the minimum unit of quantum computing) to which another will be added Heron133 qubits, lower error rate, developed for interconnection and based on an architecture known as “tunable coupler” (adjustment of the interaction between two elements in a circuit). If a current supercomputer can perform millions of operations with bytes (the minimum unit in classical computing), a quantum one can execute trillions. The Herons have 16 times the performance of previous quantum processors and offer up to 25 times faster speed, according to the company’s measurements.
“Processing capacity above 100 qubits is essential, since a lower potential would not provide a significant advantage over conventional computing systems,” explains Jay Gambetta, vice president of IBM Quantum.
But the center of Ehningen is much more. In addition to the processors, it includes cooling infrastructure (any alteration in temperature, among other factors, destroys the quantum coherence of the superposition), error correction systems (the greatest challenge of this computing) and networks that integrate the classical processing that is carried out. used all over the world with the new ones.
With these fundamental elements, the German complex is born, which will serve as the center of the cloud (cloud) European which can be accessed by researchers, institutions and business entities. They will also have access to systems installed in Spain, the United States, Japan, Canada and South Korea.
“Europe has some of the most advanced users of quantum computers in the world and interest is growing as we approach the era of utility-scale quantum processors,” defends Gambetta, who assures that “the power of “Quantum computing will allow us to solve some of the world’s most challenging problems.”
“The IBM Quantum Data Center in Ehningen will serve innovation and business growth and enriches the German quantum computing landscape,” said Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, during the inauguration of the facility this Tuesday. Ana Paula de Assis, president of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa, added that the complex “is crucial for the technological development of the region and underlines the key role of collaboration with industry, academia and policy makers to a pan-European quantum ecosystem.”
The more than 250 IBM Quantum Network client organizations already use this technology in materials science, high energy physics, energy transition, sustainability, mobility, and financial, industrial or medical applications. An example of these uses is the agreement between IBM and the biotechnology company Moderna, a pioneer in messenger RNA (mRNA) therapies and vaccines, such as the one developed against covid, to use quantum computing and artificial intelligence in this science that has saved the world. pandemic world.
Another organization in the quantum network is the Ikerbasque of the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC) and BasQ. Its director, Javier Aizpurua, explains: “Enabling our scientists and engineers to address demanding problems in materials sciences, high energy physics and biosciences through quantum computing and providing access to the latest generation will be key to achieving disruptive advances in all those disciplines. A combined use of quantum computing, AI (artificial intelligence) and data science, if widespread, will give rise to a scenario of new possibilities not only in fundamental research, but also in industrial innovation.”
IBM uses programming (software) open source (Qiskit) that facilitates access and its architecture is networked quantum computing, which reproduces the conventional cloud scheme, with access to databases distributed throughout the world. The current usage prices, according to the IBM pagerange from the free offer for 10 minutes per month of the Open Plan, to $96 per minute for sporadic flexible use or to $48 per minute for the subscription to the Premium program.
Microsoft, Intel, Amazon and Google, among other companies, also work with similar foundations. The team of researchers from the latest multinational claims to have achieved significant progress in quantum error correction, a vital technology for the development of practical quantum computing. In an article published in ArXivthe researchers claim to have achieved failure rates below the critical threshold necessary for effective quantum error correction. This achievement marks a critical step toward scalable, fault-tolerant quantum computing.
As a complement to the IBM initiative, the European Commission has grouped 17 countries in this race in the so-called Quantum Technologies Flagshipwhich includes the integration of six EuroHPC quantum facilities into existing supercomputers in the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Spain.
He World Economic Forum believes that the technology is beginning to be mature. Nature includes IBM research showing that quantum computers with processors larger than 100 qubits and effective error mitigation techniques can produce precise results on a scale and with an accuracy that could surpass leading classical approaches. Furthermore, he maintains that the chosen network model encourages collaboration and innovation.
“Quantum computing opens up new possibilities for industry and society,” says Hannah Venzl, coordinator of the Fraunhofer Competence Network for Quantum Computing. «Drugs and vaccines could be developed more quickly, climate models could be improved, logistics and transportation systems could be optimized, or better simulations of new materials could be made. “For all this to happen, to shape the rapid development of quantum computing, we need to build expertise in Europe.”
There is also an economic background. According to a report by M&M’sthe quantum computing market size will be valued at $1.3 billion in 2024 and will reach $5.3 billion in five years.
