D-Wave Quantum has delivered its Advantage2 annealing quantum computer, containing over 4,400 qubits, to Villa Saporiti in Como, Italy, for installation, the company says. The system, named VoltaB1 and funded by Swiss Quantum Technology SA, will give European researchers and businesses access to advanced quantum computing technology.
“Bringing Italy’s first annealing quantum computer to Como marks a historic milestone toward making quantum computing a working capability for Italian innovation and industry,” said D-Wave CEO Dr. Alan Baratz. The installation coincides with events leading up to the bicentennial of Alessandro Volta’s death, recognizing Italy’s long history of contributions to electrical science.
Advantage2 System Installation Advances Quantum Access in Italy
The Advantage2 system’s installation at Villa Saporiti in Como provides a computational capacity exceeding 4,400 qubits. This deployment focuses on increasing qubit count and D-Wave reports the system has demonstrated performance advantages over classical computers on complex materials simulations, solving problems that would require a million years and vast energy resources on conventional supercomputers. The ability to tackle such computationally intensive tasks positions the VoltaB1 as a key resource for both academic exploration and industrial application development.
Dr. “Italy has exceptional scientific talent and industrial strength. Together with SQT and Q-Alliance, we can give Italian teams the technology and hands-on experience to tackle complex problems, develop applications that can move into production, and build expertise in the country. That is how quantum infrastructure becomes industrial advantage.” The installation stems from a €10 million agreement between D-Wave and Swiss Quantum Technology SA, granting SQT 50% access to the system’s capacity for five years with an option to purchase the full system.
Once operational, the Advantage2 system will integrate with D-Wave’s Leap quantum cloud service, which currently maintains 99.9% availability and uptime. Thomas F. Darden, acting CEO of SQT, emphasized the strategic importance of this physical infrastructure. “The arrival of the Advantage2 system in Lombardy puts physical infrastructure behind our vision for Italian quantum innovation,” he said. “Our investment is intended to connect researchers and businesses with advanced computing resources, support the development of useful applications and help build the expertise that will sustain Italy’s role in the quantum economy.”
Bringing Italy’s first annealing quantum computer to Como marks a historic milestone toward making quantum computing a working capability for Italian innovation and industry.
Dr. Alan Baratz, CEO at D-Wave Quantum Inc.
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