The SuperMUC-NG supercomputer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre in Munich is set for a significant upgrade. A new project named 'Euro-Q-Exa' aims to integrate a powerful quantum system, enhancing its computational capabilities.
Quantum computers can achieve unprecedented processing power, and Germany is at the forefront of this research. The Munich Quantum Valley (MQV) consolidates efforts from universities, research institutions, and companies in Bavaria, supported by substantial state funding.
The Euro-Q-Exa project has a budget of approximately 25 million euros, financed by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, and the Bavarian Ministry of Science and Art. The first phase will integrate a 54-qubit quantum system into the SuperMUC-NG next year, followed by a 150-qubit system in 2026.
In traditional systems, bits represent information as either 0 or 1. In contrast, quantum computers utilize qubits, which can represent both values simultaneously. This property allows exponential growth in information processing capabilities.
Jan Goetz, co-founder of IQM, highlights the new systems as a milestone in computational performance. The integration of a 20-qubit quantum computer into SuperMUC-NG earlier this year marked a significant achievement in Bavaria.
The acquisition of these new quantum systems positions Bavaria as a leader in Europe, with potential applications in both scientific research and industrial optimization, such as enhancing production processes.