San Sebastian, March 24th, 2023. Fundación Ikerbasque, the Basque Foundation for Science in the Basque Country of Spain, and IBM today presented details of how they are partnering to further establish the Basque Country as a leading technology hub. This includes the adoption of quantum computing through the launch of the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center, which will provide Qiskit Runtime services from a 127-qubit IBM Quantum System One located in San Sebastian and managed by IBM.
IBM and IkerBasque share a common mission on the role of quantum computing as a key element of the Basque Country Government’s Ikur 2030 vision for quantum technologies. This initiative aims to advance quantum research, build a quantum workforce, promote economic development, and provide the necessary quantum computing infrastructure to achieve those goals. The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center will promote the use of advanced technology across all the Basque Country Government and the General Deputations (Araba, Bizkaia and Gipuzkoa), further elevating research institutions by expanding international research collaborations, performing world-class fundamental scientific research, and increasing the quantum-trained talent in the region.
To achieve these goals, the new IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center will focus on collaborations in crucial areas such as materials research, to develop a world-class, leading quantum ecosystem in Southern Europe that will leverage the strengths of its provinces to drive the advancement of science and technology.
This IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center will provide computational infrastructure for researchers from Ikerbasque Foundation and its partners to help researchers meet these goals. Researchers will be able to run quantum programs to explore complex problems, including the modeling of new materials and how quantum computing can be used as part of broader sustainability efforts. The IBM Qiskit Runtime services made available via this collaboration will leverage an IBM Quantum System One to be deployed at the Ikerbasque building located in San Sebastian (Guipuzkoa – Spain). This new center represents a further step in promoting technology development in the region to expand the horizons of computation.
IBM and Ikerbasque will also collaborate to develop workforce programs aimed at building and establishing world-class talent in the Basque Country. The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center programs will drive internal and external awareness, education, and skill building through the development of immersive and integrated learning programs.
“It is very risky to say what the future of quantum computers will bring us. Nobody knows for sure. What we do know for sure is that the Basque Country must be prepared for the future. It is essential to be in a good starting position for when the situation requires it. Euskadi joins today, a select group of IBM Quantum Computational Centers. We will actively collaborate with this Network and we will contribute all our knowledge to continue developing this technology. IBM’s commitment to the Basque Country reflects a new recognition of our science, technology and innovation system. The Basque Country believes in science and invests in it. We do so, convinced that our welfare will come through progress, through scientific advances,” assured the President of the Basque Country Government, Mr. Iñigo Urkullu.
“The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center is further proof of our commitment in building open communities of innovation to tackle the most challenging problems of our time,” said Dr. Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of Research, IBM. “This partnership will bring to bear the full scope of IBM’s quantum technologies to The Basque Country’s world-class scientific and industrial communities. We are proud to be working with the Government of The Basque Country, as well as private sector and academic partners, to take innovation in Spain to the next level.”
The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center is the second such IBM Quantum Computational Center to be announced in Europe. Ikerbasque will join the more than 200 members of the IBM Quantum Network, a global community of Fortune 500 companies, start-ups, academic institutions, and research labs working to advance quantum computing and explore practical applications. These leading institutions have access to IBM’s Quantum-as-a-Service computing resources. Since 2016, IBM has deployed over 60 quantum computers for external use. There are now more than 20 quantum computing systems, including the 433-qubit IBM Osprey processor.