European quantum computing firm IQM is to deploy a system in Taiwan.
The company saw the Taiwan Semiconductor Research Institute (TSRI), under the National Applied Research Laboratories, announce the acquisition of a five-qubit Spark quantum computer.
The delivery and installation of the system at TSRI’s premises will take place in the second quarter of 2025.
“The acquisition of our first full-stack superconducting quantum computer marks a key step for Taiwan in the global quantum computing race. It aims to assist Taiwan in making progress in quantum computing technology and to demonstrate how Taiwan can leverage its leading position in [the] semiconductor industry to enter this emerging field. The collaboration will strengthen the link between academia and industry, laying a solid foundation for cultivating domestic quantum computing talents,” said Professor Tuo-Hung Hou, director general of TSRI.
“IQM’s mission has been from the ground up to support local quantum ecosystem buildup. Our very first quantum computer shipment into Taiwan also signifies our commitment to this goal,” added Dr. Mikko Välimäki, co-CEO at IQM Quantum Computers. “Taiwan is the recognized world leader in semiconductor technology with a thriving industry and TSRI‘s purchase will set the stage for its technology ecosystem to jump-start into quantum.”
TSRI is a government-funded academic research organization dedicated to the development of semiconductor technology and talent cultivation. Created in 2019 through the merger of the National Nano Device Laboratories and National Chip Implementation Center, it is part of the National Applied Research Laboratories under the Ministry of Science.
Founded in Helsinki, Finland in 2018, IQM builds full-stack quantum computers and applications to HPCs, research institutes, universities, and business enterprises.
IQM launched IQM Resonance, a cloud service to access its quantum machines, in March 2024; it also offers on-premise systems and access through Amazon. IQM customers include Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre, Atos’ Eviden, the US Air Force, and others.
The company recently announced its latest quantum processing unit, the 54-qubit Crystal QPU. The QPU will be available through IQM Resonance, the company's cloud platform, in the first quarter of 2025.
Earlier this year, Taiwanese research institute Academia Sinica unveiled a self-built quantum computer with 5-qubit chips
In other recent quantum news:
-- IBM has launched a quantum computer in South Korea. Yonsei University unveiled the IBM Quantum System One earlier this month at its Songdo International Campus. The system features IBM’s 127-qubit Eagle QPU. It Is the second such system located on a university campus and the fifth on-premise system IBM has deployed.
-- Quantum Brilliance has sold one of its diamond-based room temperature systems to the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF in Germany. It has previously sold a unit to Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
-- Quantum networking firm Lightsynq has secured $18 million in Series A funding. Led by former Harvard and Amazon quantum networking experts, the company is developing optical quantum interconnects to enable hardware providers to link quantum processors.
The round was led by Cerberus Ventures, the venture investing platform of Cerberus Capital Management, with participation from Murata Electronics North America Inc., IAG Capital Partners, Safar Partners, QVT, De Beer’s synthetic diamond unit Element Six, and In-Q-Tel (IQT).
-- Finnish quantum firm SemiQon has unveiled the first CMOS transistor optimized for cryogenic conditions, designed for operation at temperatures of 1 Kelvin or below. The company said the transistors can be mass-produced using existing CMOS fabs, with no new infrastructure required. It plans to deliver the first batch of cryo-optimized silicon transistors to customers in 2025. As well as quantum applications, the company said the chips could be used in HPC or space applications.
-- Quantinuum has partnered with chip-maker Infineon to further develop ion trap QPUs.
-- Quantum networking fiber firm Quantum Corridor has closed its $10 million Series A round. The raise was funded by eight family offices and individual tech investors, and brings Quantum Corridor’s total funding to more than $27 million.
The funds will expand QC’s existing network between the Digital Crossroad data center in Hammond and Digital Realty’s 350 Cermak site in Chicago to reach Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center and Crane West Gate in Southwest Indiana via West Lafayette and Indianapolis.