After the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, Europe's largest application-oriented research organization, and the technology company IBM signed a corresponding agreement in March 2020, the quantum computer IBM Quantum System One has now been set up in Ehningen near Stuttgart.
Europe's first quantum computer
The aim is to gain access to the nationwide Fraunhofer competence network to enable the quantum computer IBM Quantum System One (formerly IBM Q System One), which is driven by a Falcon processor with a speed of up to 27 qubits, and thus to advance quantum computing in Germany and Europe in order to strengthen the local economy and science.
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IBM and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft presented Europe's first quantum computer under the motto “Together for Quantum Computing in Germany” in a live stream that can be accessed “on demand”. Chancellor Angela Merkel also spoke in a guest contribution. The first plans for building the first quantum computer in Europe were made in 2019.
IBM Quantum System One (Image: IBM) 
IBM Quantum System One (Image: IBM) According to Hannah Venzl, coordinator of the Fraunhofer Society for Quantum Computing, the tasks of the quantum computer should include the development of drugs and vaccines, the improvement of climate models and the optimization of current transport systems.
As with a supercomputer, partners and interested parties can rent the system and receive “computing time”. According to the FAQ, the monthly rent is currently 11,621 euros. Temporary contracts are not uncommon in the industry, for example, Nvidia recently offered a DGX-A100 system, which normally costs 149,000 US dollars, also for a monthly rent of 9,000 US dollars, and a quantum computer is comparatively cheap for just a little more.
< h2 class = "text-width text-h2" id = "section_more_als_1000_qubits_bis_2023"> More than 1,000 qubits by 2023
After using the 27-qubit Falcon processor in August 2020 “Hummingbird” with 65 qubits followed, this year 127 qubits should be achieved with “Eagle”.
For the coming year, IBM is planning up to with “Osprey” to achieve 433 qubits before “Condor” is expected to deliver more than 1,000 qubits in 2023 for the first time. The official roadmap envisages systems with more than one million qubits in the long term.
IBM Research IBM Quantum Development Roadmap (Image: IBM) The joint press release by IBM and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft in the IBM Think Blog provides more information.