According to a press release, in order to give businesses, research institutes and governmental organizations access to cutting-edge quantum computing, IBM announced plans to open its first quantum data center in Europe. The data center will have multiple IBM quantum computing systems, each having utility scale quantum processors, or those with more than 100 qubits, and is anticipated to be operational in 2024. The data center, which will house IBM Quantum's European cloud area, will be situated at IBM's site in Ehningen, Germany. Users from throughout the globe will be able to use the data center to provide services for their cloud-based quantum computing research and exploratory activity.
"Europe has some of the world's most advanced users of quantum computers, and interest is only accelerating with the era of utility scale quantum processors. The planned quantum data center and associated cloud region will give European users a new option as they seek to tap the power of quantum computing in an effort to solve some of the world's most challenging problems," the release stated.
The data center is being developed to assist clients in managing their obligations under European data law, including processing all employment data within the EU. After Poughkeepsie, New York, the facility will serve as IBM's second quantum data center and quantum cloud area. More than 60 organizations in Europe currently use the IBM Quantum Network to access quantum hardware and software. These organizations include Bosch, the Bundeswehr University, Targobank, the European Organization for Nuclear Research, the Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center and T-Systems.
Dr. Raoul Klingner, Director Research, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft said: "We are happy and proud to support the IBM Quantum team's decision to set up their European quantum data center in Ehningen, Germany. The choice of location in the state of Baden-Wurttemberg will further strengthen the ecosystem that Fraunhofer has built with customers and partners from industry and research. We are pleased to further continue our strategic partnership with IBM."
