IBM, the globally-recognised technology firm that specialises in AI, cloud computing, quantum computing, and enterprise solutions, has opened a new quantum data centre in Ehningen, Germany, making it the first Europe-based hub.
The opening of the new location – the firm's first data centre outside of the U.S for IBM and its second quantum data centre globally – is seen as evidence of IBM’s commitment to expanding its fleet of advanced, utility-scale quantum systems available to global users via the cloud. The opening also reflects IBM’s mission to bring quantum computing to the world by heavily investing in deploying advanced quantum hardware architectures.
The landmark moment was celebrated with a ribbon-cutting event and attended by key figures across state and business, reinforcing the importance of quantum computing’s adoption and growth in the region.
Opening a new hub in Ehningen
The new data centre will host two utility-scale, IBM Quantum Eagle-based systems. Additionally, the Ehningen location will soon welcome an IBM Quantum Heron-based system, which is the firm’s most performant quantum chip to date.
Once the IBM Heron-based system becomes available at the IBM Quantum Data Centre in Europe, it will be the third installation of IBM Heron within the company’s quantum fleet system. This system will be accessible to over 250 enterprises, universities, research institutions, and organisations worldwide through IBM’s global quantum network.
While both systems are capable of performing computations beyond the brute-force simulation capabilities of classical computers, IBM Heron will advance the state of offering for users by providing a 16-fold increase in performance and 25-fold increase in speed over previous IBM quantum computers.
Ana Paula Assis, General Manager and Chairman of IBM Europe, Middle East and Africa, commented: “The opening of our first IBM Quantum Data Centre in Europe marks a pivotal moment for the region’s technological development, demonstrates our commitment to Europe, and underscores the key role of collaboration with industry, academia and policymakers for a pan-European quantum ecosystem. This state-of-the-art facility will foster innovation around quantum computing, creating new opportunities for talent attraction and ensuring that Europe remains at the forefront of global technological advancements.”
Olaf Scholz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, echoed the sentiment of excitement, stating: “The opening of the IBM Quantum Data Centre in Ehningen is good news for Germany. It will serve as a location for innovation and business growth, and is an expression of investors’ confidence in the German market. IBM enriches the German quantum computing landscape with this new data centre. The German government is providing targeted support for the development of quantum technologies. It is thereby driving forward the development of competencies and capacities in quantum computing in order to promote a robust ecosystem around the development of quantum computers.”
Expanding the existing quantum data centre in New York
Beyond the new centre in Germany, IBM has also expanded its IBM Quantum Data Centre in Poughkeepsie, New York. The location is home to the highest number of available utility-scale quantum computers at any one site in the world.
These systems are a part of the more than a dozen quantum computers offered to global clients via the IBM cloud, and will also feature the powerful IBM Quantum Heron processor.
According to IBM, users have already been harnessing IBM Heron and IBM utility-scale systems to build quantum algorithms for their industries with Qiskit – IBM’s quantum software stack, which has been built to simplify programming quantum computers.
Commenting on the capabilities in the U.S, Jay Gambetta, Vice President, IBM Quantum, said: “Since IBM made the first quantum computer available on the cloud in 2016, we have broken barriers across quantum hardware and software to build our largest and highest-performing fleet of globally accessible quantum systems. Our quantum data centre in Poughkeepsie is the epicentre of these efforts, with more organisations around the world using our systems here in the Hudson Valley to explore industry-relevant problems on real quantum hardware. As we continue to expand our quantum computers in Poughkeepsie and globally, we will work with our network of more than 250 organisations to accelerate the pace of discovery in quantum computing.”
Further to the quantum systems, IBM intends to continue to utilise the Poughkeepsie location to nurture the broader technology ecosystem in New York, opening up new opportunities across semiconductors, hybrid cloud and AI.
