The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking has selected SURF to host and operate a state-of-the-art quantum computer in the Netherlands. This will advance Europe’s leadership in quantum technologies and their applications. The system will be located at the Amsterdam Science Park and integrated into the Dutch national supercomputer, Snellius.
The quantum system will be based on semiconductor spin qubits, offering a minimum of 16 physical qubits in its initial phase. Due to the qubits’ smaller physical size, this technology holds great potential for large-scale quantum information processing and allows for high scalability. Key individuals involved include Axel Berg from SURF, Anders Jensen and Rafal Duczmal from EuroHPC JU, and Julia Feddersen from Quantum Delta NL.
The consortium operating the new EuroHPC quantum computer includes seven partners from three countries: the University of Antwerpen, GENCI, Netherlands eScience Center, Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, National Institute of Subatomic Physics, and SURF.
Advancing Europe’s Leadership in Quantum Technologies
The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking has taken a significant step forward in advancing Europe’s leadership in quantum technologies with the selection of SURF as the hosting entity for a new quantum computer in the Netherlands. This move is part of the European Union’s efforts to develop and deploy world-leading supercomputing, quantum computing, service, and data infrastructure ecosystem.
The selected quantum computer will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and by contributions from the relevant EuroHPC JU participating states. The total European Union’s investment is expected to reach up to EUR 10 million. This significant investment demonstrates the EU’s commitment to staying at the forefront of this emerging field.
Diverse Quantum Computing Platforms
The selection of SURF follows the signing of hosting agreements with six sites across Europe to host and operate EuroHPC quantum computers in Czechia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Poland. These agreements aim to offer the widest possible variety of European quantum computing platforms and hybrid classical-quantum architectures.
In addition to these quantum computers, two analogue quantum simulators are being installed in France and Germany as part of the EuroHPC JU project HPCQS. The two quantum simulators are based on neutral atoms, supplied by the French company PASQAL. This approach positions Europe at the forefront of this emerging field while providing European users with access to diverse and complementary quantum technologies.
EuroHPC JU’s Mission
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity created in 2018 with the mission to develop, deploy, extend, and maintain a world-leading federated, secure, and hyper-connected supercomputing, quantum computing, service, and data infrastructure ecosystem. The JU aims to support the development and uptake of demand-oriented and user-driven innovative and competitive supercomputing systems based on a supply chain that will ensure components, technologies, and knowledge limiting the risk of disruptions.
SURF’s Role
SURF B.V. (SURF), the coordinator and hosting entity, is a not-for-profit single working company of the SURF cooperative association of Dutch educational and research institutions. SURF has hosted the Dutch national supercomputer since 1984 and provides the National Competence Centre (NCC) for the Netherlands in the EUROCC framework of national competence centres of EuroHPC.
SURF has a long track record in international collaboration, being a partner in the EuroHPC pre-exascale LUMI consortium, in the EuroHPC exascale Jules Verne consortium, and in the LUMI-Q consortium. The selection of SURF aligns perfectly with the EU’s ambition to provide European users with access to diverse and complementary quantum technologies.
Background
In 2024, the EuroHPC JU announced the signatures of the procurement contracts for several quantum computers, including the EuroQCS-Poland quantum computer, the LUMI-Q consortium’s quantum computer, Lucy located in France, and Euro-Q-Exa located in Germany. These quantum computers come on top of two analogue quantum simulators procured under the EuroHPC JU project HPCQS and currently being installed in France and Germany.
The EuroHPC JU has already procured nine supercomputers located across Europe, with three of these EuroHPC supercomputers ranked among the world’s top 10 most powerful supercomputers: LUMI in Finland, Leonardo in Italy, and MareNostrum 5 in Spain.
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