IT service provider Bechtle and superconducting quantum hardware manufacturer IQM Quantum Computers (NASDAQ: IQMX) have been awarded a public contract by the German Aerospace Center’s Quantum Computing Initiative (DLR QCI) to supply cloud-based quantum computing resources and hybrid infrastructure.
Under a multi-year framework agreement running through June 2027, Bechtle will provide DLR QCI research and application teams with managed access to IQM’s production-grade superconducting quantum processors via the IQM Resonance™ cloud platform. The contract expands DLR QCI’s existing hardware portfolio—which already includes ion-trap, neutral-atom, photonic, and NV-center systems—by adding European-built superconducting hardware for application benchmarking in materials science, aerospace engineering, mobility, and security.
| [ Bechtle / IQM DLR QCI Framework Agreement ] | ||
|---|---|---|
| Agreement Pillar | Technical Implementation | Operational Function |
| • Quantum Processing | • IQM Resonance™ Cloud Access | • On-demand computing time on IQM’s superconducting QPUs for DLR QCI application teams. |
| • Hybrid HPC Infrastructure | • Dedicated Classical Server (Munich Data Center) | • Hosts co-located classical nodes for integrated quantum-classical algorithm execution. |
| • Platform Administration | • Bechtle Competence Center Quantum Technologies | • Manages user onboarding, group permissions, security compliance, and platform operations. |
| • Data Sovereignty | • 100% On-Premises EU Infrastructure | • All quantum and classical workloads remain hosted and processed in Germany. |
To support hybrid quantum-classical algorithms and high-performance computing (HPC) workflows, the contract includes a dedicated classical server stationed directly alongside IQM’s quantum hardware at its Munich data center. Bechtle’s IT System House Bonn is responsible for setting up platform governance, account management, and operational user support for DLR QCI researchers.
The award expands upon the commercial partnership established between Bechtle and IQM in 2024, reinforcing national data sovereignty requirements for Germany’s federally funded research programs under the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.
Review the announcement on the Bechtle Pressroom here, inspect the release on IQM Newsroom here, and read executive insights on IQM Blog here.
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