IBM opened a quantum data center in Germany on Tuesday, the first of its kind outside the United States and the second such facility in the world.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony marked the launch of the new location, with several government and company leaders in attendance, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, IBM Quantum Vice President Jay Gambetta and IBM CEO and Chairman Arvind Krishna.
The data center in the German town of Ehningen will house two of the company’s utility-scale IBM Quantum Eagle-based systems and, soon, a system based on its next-generation IBM Quantum Heron quantum processor. According to IBM, the Heron chipset performs well in advancing the company’s goal of bringing quantum computing to the world and allowing more users to employ complex algorithms to solve real-life issues.
Industry leaders, among them Thomas Kropf, president of corporate sector research and advanced engineering at Robert Bosch, highlighted the boost that the new data center would provide local businesses.
“The European IBM Quantum Data Center allows us to run quantum calculations in close proximity, supporting Bosch’s approach to compliance with European data protection regulations,” the executive said. “This accelerates our research and development efforts … paving the way for advancements in mobility, healthcare and sustainable technologies.”
The relationships anticipated to be forged through the new facility support NATO’s vision of establishing a transatlantic quantum community of governments, industry players and academic experts.