Europe’s first 50-qubit superconducting quantum computer connected to LUMI

VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland and IQM Quantum Computers, have completed and launched Europe’s first 50-qubit superconducting quantum computer. The quantum computer, called VTT Q50, is integrated with the LUMI supercomputer, making VTT Q50 Europe’s most powerful general-purpose quantum computer connected to a supercomputer.

VTT Q50 and LUMI can be used in hybrid computations, where some parts of the problem are solved using a classical supercomputer and other parts using a quantum computer. Quantum computing enhances classical supercomputing and vice versa, both supporting each other. LUMI enables, among other things, computationally intensive pre-processing and post-processing. For example, researchers can use LUMI’s massive computing capacity to interpret the results calculated by a quantum computer.

This opens up fascinating opportunities in both software development and end-user applications. From a software development perspective, the update enables, among many other things, the development of hybrid algorithms that combine classical and quantum computing, error mitigation techniques, and compilers of programming languages that account for and utilize the characteristics of quantum computers.

The VTT Q50 quantum Computer is part of the Finnish quantum computing infrastructure FiQCI and its service offering. Access to academic use, i.e., researchers affiliated with Finnish higher education institutions and research institutes, is provided through LUMI, within the framework of the FiQCI project. VTT offers companies cloud access to the quantum computer through the VTT QX quantum computing service.

– Quantum computing can be used to answer many open questions and to make completely new scientific discoveries. Hopefully, the Finnish researchers will be among the first to shift the boundaries of science with this development, said Olli Nurmi, Principal Scientist at VTT in CSC’s press release.

For end-users, applications such as quantum-enhanced optimization, simulating molecules and materials, and accelerating machine learning with quantum-classic AI models are gaining new momentum. Now, also parallel quantum computing can also be performed directly in a supercomputer environment.

The first call for the academic use of VTT Q50 was opened today. The call is open until 1 April 2025. Application instructions and a link to the application form can be found on FIQCI’s website.

Read also:

• CSC’s press release
• VTT’s press release
• IQM’s press release
• FiQCI website

Photo: New 50-qubit quantum computer build by VTT and IQM. Copyright: IQM, Peter Franco.