The Basque Government and IBM have unveiled Europe’s first IBM Quantum System Two at the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center in San Sebastián, Spain. The system is powered by a 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron processor and is a milestone in the partnership between the two parties, which began in 2023 within the framework of the BasQ – Basque Quantum initiative.
This installation, only the second such deployment outside the U.S., is designed to enable the execution of utility-scale algorithms and to support global scientific collaborations. The first IBM Quantum System Two was installed at in Kobe, Japan, at the RIKEN Center for Computational Science. Researchers are using the system to model subatomic behavior related to the strong nuclear force and to study two-dimensional time crystals. Jay Gambetta, Director of IBM Research, noted that the collaboration has already led to research results in materials science and high-energy physics.
The BasQ initiative is intended to make the Basque Country a hub for quantum technologies by advancing quantum science, developing talent, and attracting investment. Imanol Pradales, President of the Basque Government, commented that the initiative is a magnet for generating knowledge and attracting talent, positioning the region to align with Europe’s reindustrialization strategy. The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center is intended to promote the use of advanced quantum technologies and foster an ecosystem of excellence.
The launch is intended to open up opportunities for the technology’s application in strategic sectors such as the design of new materials, the optimization of industrial processes, biomedical simulation, and the improvement of artificial intelligence algorithms. The partnership also includes training programs aimed at positioning the Basque Country as a source of quantum talent.
Read the full announcement from IBM here, the Basque Quantum initiative here, and the IBM Quantum blog post for more details here.
October 14, 2025
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