MareNostrum-Ona will be an «analogue quantum computer» in the form of a quantum annealer. The first-generation system will offer at least 10 physical qubits, with capabilities increasing in both coherence times and number of qubits by the third generation.
The new system will be accessible to a wide range of European users, from the scientific community to industry and the public sector. The upcoming quantum computing infrastructure will enable the development of applications with high industrial, scientific, and societal relevance across Europe, adding new capabilities to the European supercomputing landscape. As Europe’s first quantum annealer, it will complement the quantum technologies available to European researchers, providing unique tools for advanced research and innovation. This addition will support the broader EuroHPC JU strategy to provide European users with access to a diverse range of quantum computing platforms.
Owned by the EuroHPC JU, the system will be hosted and operated by the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) in Spain. MareNostrum-Ona will complement the digital gate-based quantum computer that BSC already hosts, and which was procured under the Quantum Spain initiative. These two quantum systems will be integrated into the EuroHPC world-class supercomputer MareNostrum 5 (MN5).
The name «MareNostrum-Ona» refers to the wave function that represents the quantum state. It is also a woman’s name that evokes the sea, similar to MareNostrum, the name of the supercomputer it will be integrated into.
EuroHPC quantum computer MareNostrum-Ona is co-funded with a total acquisition cost of EUR 8.5 million. The EuroHPC JU will fund 50% of the costs and the remaining 50% will be funded by the EuroQCS-Spain Consortium. The EuroQCS-Spain consortium is led by BSC, and includes Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) from Spain and the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL) in Portugal.
The installation of the system will start in 2025.
Background
Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech has been selected following a call for tender launched in May 2024. Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech will work in partnership with Do IT Now, combining their expertise to advance quantum computing within HPC infrastructure in Europe.
In 2023, the EuroHPC JU selected and signed hosting agreements with six sites across Europe to host and operate EuroHPC quantum computers: in Czechia, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, and Poland.
In 2024, the EuroHPC JU has announced the signatures of the procurement contracts for:
- EuroQCS-Poland quantum computer,
- LUMI-Q consortium’s quantum computer in Czechia,
- Lucy located in France and
- Euro-Q-Exa located in Germany.
In 2024, the EuroHPC JU also selected and signed hosting agreements to host and operate two additional state-of-the art quantum computers: in Luxembourg and in the Netherlands.
The deployment of these quantum computers across Europe aimed to offer the widest possible variety of European quantum computing platforms and hybrid classical-quantum architectures. This approach positions Europe at the forefront of this emerging field while providing European users with access to diverse and complementary quantum technologies.
These eight quantum computers come on top of two analogue quantum simulators procured under the EuroHPC JU project HPCQS and which are based on neutral atoms, supplied by the French company PASQAL. HPCQS aims to develop and coordinate a cloud-based European federated infrastructure, tightly integrating two quantum computers, each controlling 100-plus qubits in the Tier-0 HPC systems Joliot-Curie of GENCI and the JURECA modular supercomputer at the Julich Supercomputing Centre (JSC).
About EuroHPC JU
The EuroHPC JU is a legal and funding entity, created in 2018 to enable the European Union and participating countries to coordinate efforts and pool resources with the objective of making Europe a world leader in supercomputing.
In order to equip Europe with a world-leading supercomputing infrastructure, the EuroHPC JU has already procured nine supercomputers, located across Europe. MareNostrum 5 is currently the 11th most powerful supercomputer in the world according to the latest Top500 list.
Regardless of their location in Europe, European scientists and users from the public sector and industry can benefit from these EuroHPC supercomputers via the EuroHPC Access Calls. This access enables them to advance science and support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance for Europe.
In parallel, the EuroHPC JU funds research and innovation projects to develop a full European supercomputing supply chain: from processors and software to applications to be run on these supercomputers and know-how to develop strong European HPC expertise.
Recently reviewed by means of Council Regulation (EU) 2024/1732, the EuroHPC JU received a new mandate to develop and operate AI factories. These comprehensive open AI ecosystems located around EuroHPC supercomputing facilities will support the growth of a highly competitive and innovative AI ecosystem in Europe. One of the first AI factories will be hosted by BSC following the upgrade of MareNostrum 5.
About BSC
BSC is one of the leading supercomputing centres in Europe and hosts one of the most powerful supercomputers in the world, MareNostrum 5. It specialises in HPC and has a dual mission: to provide supercomputing infrastructure and services to the Spanish and European scientific communities, and to generate knowledge and technology for transfer to society.
The BSC consortium is made up of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities of the Government of Spain (60%), the Department of Research and Universities of the Government of Catalonia (30%) and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (10%). The centre manages the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES) and is one of the hosting entities of the EuroHPC JU, the European initiative leading large-scale investment and deployment of HPC in Europe.
About Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech
Qilimanjaro is a full-stack quantum computing company based in Barcelona and founded in 2019 to maximise current technology capabilities to provide a practical quantum advantage in a shorter time frame by following a unique strategy.
Qilimanjaro uses the analog model of quantum computation, with high-quality superconducting flux qubits and versatile qubit-qubit interactions to build app-specific quantum devices (QASIC), in a co-design approach that brings the design of the quantum chip closer to the use-case.
Qilimanjaro offers an exclusive Quantum as a Service that allows for remote access to our distinctive quantum computing platforms and a boutique service for deployment and integration of on-premise quantum computers for HPC centers and clients’ facilities, as well as consultancy services for the tailored development of quantum algorithms.
About Do IT Now
The Do IT Now Group has been founded to deliver a higher level of High-Performance Computing services. Do It Now is a market leader and shares a passion and enthusiasm for facing new challenges of HPC technologies together. Do IT Now deals with the complexity of HPC providing simple solutions to scientists and engineers.
The added value of Do it Now is to offer a deep understanding of the most advanced technologies in HPC, along with high-quality customer and user support. They offer solutions for different IT sectors like quantum computing, Big Data, artificial intelligence, cloud computing or storage.