Pasqal has signed a procurement contract with the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) to deliver EuroQCS-Italy, a neutral-atom quantum computer to be hosted at CINECA in Bologna, Italy. The system will initially feature 140 qubits operating in analog mode, with a planned 2027 upgrade to a hybrid analog/digital architecture for enhanced algorithmic flexibility.
The €13 million ($14 million USD) project is equally co-funded by the EuroHPC JU and Italy’s Ministry of University and Research (MUR) through the ICSC research center. The quantum computer will integrate with CINECA’s pre-exascale Leonardo supercomputer, enabling hybrid quantum-classical workflows for scientific and industrial applications.
Key technical specifications include:
- First-generation (2025): 140+ qubit analog processor for quantum simulation
- Upgrade (2027): Hybrid analog/digital operation enabling broader algorithm implementation
- Host integration: Tight coupling with Leonardo (Top500’s 9th most powerful supercomputer)
The system will support research in:
- Quantum many-body physics
- Material science and quantum chemistry
- Optimization and machine learning applications
This contract follows Pasqal’s prior work on the HPCQS project, which deployed two 100+ qubit neutral-atom quantum simulators integrated with European Tier-0 supercomputers. EuroQCS-Italy represents part of Europe’s broader quantum infrastructure development, joining seven other EuroHPC JU quantum computing systems across the continent.
Read the official announcement from Pasqal here.
March 27, 2025
