IBM and ETH Zurich will build a new quantum computer at the Swiss National Supercomputing Center (CSCS) in Lugano, southern Switzerland.

Expected to be operational by the end of 2026, the system will be operated in concert with the facility’s Alps supercomputer to pursue applications across industry, materials science, and chemistry.

DCD has approached both IBM and ETH Zurich for comment.

“IBM has collaborated with institutions in Switzerland for almost 100 years,” said Alessandro Curioni, vice president for algorithms and applications at IBM Research and director of its Zurich Research Laboratory. “As we continue to foster innovation with the Swiss community, we are excited to have the opportunity to put world-class quantum hardware, software and expertise directly into the hands of Switzerland’s thriving academic institutions and industries.”

The quantum computer will be the first version of IBM’s Quantum System Two installed in Switzerland.

Described by IBM as its “flagship” quantum computing system, Quantum System Two harnesses a modular cryogenic infrastructure to take measurements from qubits held at temperatures approaching absolute zero. The new system at CSCS will also utilize IBM’s new “Quantum Nighthawk r2” quantum processor, which contains 120 programmable qubits and an internal architecture capable of executing more than 100,000 circuits per second.

While IBM will be responsible for the assembly of the quantum computer, ETH Zurich and CSCS will provide the requisite infrastructure and coordinate access to the system for Swiss higher education institutions and companies. The installation of a new IBM quantum computer at CSCS arose via an offset agreement between IBM, US defense firm Lockheed Martin, and armasuisse, Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defense Procurement. The collaboration between the two firms will also see both use CSCS’ new quantum computer to explore further applications for quantum navigational sensors and improvements in metallic alloy additive manufacturing techniques.

IBM is one of several US and European technology firms attempting to commercialize quantum computing – a difficult task, given the short list of niche applications currently associated with the technology. However, the firm has announced a series of breakthroughs in August, including collaborating with researchers at the University of Chicago to use quantum computation to solve a mathematical problem intractable for classical computers and a joint effort with Singaporean scientists to devise a new method of assessing drug candidates.

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