First spin qubit quantum computers for Europe

Two quantum computers using semiconductor spin qubits are to be installed in Europe for the first time.

The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (JU) has selected SURF in the Netherlands to host the first quantum computer in Europe based on spin qubits, with a second spin qubit machine at LuxProvide in Luxembourg.

The €20m Dutch system at the Amsterdam Science Park will be integrated into the Dutch national supercomputer, Snellius, in coordination with QuantumDelta NL and SURF and will be based on semiconductor spin qubits and, in its initial phase, will offer a minimum of 16 physical qubits.

A second system called MeluXina-Q will be hosted by LuxProvide in Luxembourg and integrated into the MeluXina supercomputer there. MeluXina-Q will initially be equipped with a 10-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU) based on spin qubits in a €17m first phase, with upgrades to reach 80 physical qubits distributed among different QPUs.

Semiconductor spin-qubit technology is not yet under deployment in any other EuroHPC quantum computers. This technology will complement the EuroHPC quantum computers being rolled out in Poland, France, Germany and the Czech Republic using other quantum technologies. imec has recently launched its process for building CMOS spin qubits on 300mm silicon wafers in a move to accelerate the technology. 

“I am proud that we as SURF can bring this system to the Netherlands. Not only does this give our researchers and students access to this groundbreaking technology, but at the same time we strengthen the Dutch position in the field of quantum development.” Said Ron Augustus, Chair of SURF’s Executive Board.

The Netherlands has a strong quantum technology cluster centred around the QuTech lab at TU Delft. This has worked closely with Intel on CMOS quantum dot spin qubit devices.

The EuroSSQ-HPC consortium will jointly operate the new EuroHPC quantum computer, handling user support and all integration activities. The consortium brings together seven partners from three countries: the University of Antwerp (BE), GENCI (France), Netherlands eScience Centre (NL), Leiden University (NL), Delft University of Technology (NL), National Institute of Subatomic Physics (NL) and SURF (NL). 

The JU will co-fund up to 50% of the total cost of the quantum computers with a total European Union’s investment of up to €10m.

So far this year, the EuroHPC JU has announced procurement contracts for:

• EuroQCS quantum computer in Poland
• LUMI-Q consortium’s quantum computer in the Cxech Republic
• Lucy in France
• Euro-Q-Exa in Germany.

The selection of these six hosting entities aimed to offer the widest possible variety of European quantum computing platforms and hybrid classical-quantum architectures alongside two analogue quantum simulators from Pasqal using neutral atoms currently being installed in France and Germany. These 100 qubit computers at the Joliot-Curie of GENCI and the JUWELS modular supercomputer at the Julich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) will provide federated quantum computing resources.

Also in the Netherlands, a Dutch consortium called HectoQubit/2 is developing a 50 qubit system, and aiming for 100 qubits. QuTech is working with TU Delft and TNO along with four local startups–QuantWare, Delft Circuits, Orange Quantum Systems, and Qblox. Delft Circuits was formed as a spinoff of the TU Delft Faculty of Applied Sciences, while the other three companies—QuantWare, Orange and Qblox- are spin-offs of QuTech.

QuantWare develops the quantum chips using transmon qubits, Delft Circuits the cryogenic cabling, Qblox the control electronics, and Orange Quantum Systems the enabling software. From QuTech, TNO develops the web interfaces and TUD is the system integrator.