ETH Zurich, a public university in Zurich, Switzerland, is to install Switzerland’s first IBM Quantum System Two at its Swiss National Supercomputing Centre (CSCS) in Lugano, expanding the country’s infrastructure for Quantum Computing research and education.
The system, powered by IBM’s Nighthawk processor, is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 and will be located alongside CSCS’s AI-enabled Alps supercomputer.
ETH Zurich will coordinate access, making the quantum computer available to researchers across the ETH Domain, other Swiss universities and selected companies.
Research applications are expected to include materials science, chemistry and Quantum Computing, including the development of algorithms and investigation of complex materials, molecules and chemical processes that are difficult to simulate using conventional computers.
“Switzerland is gaining access to essential research infrastructure that will enable us to further advance quantum research and educate future talent,” said Joël Mesot, President, ETH Zurich.
The infrastructure will also give students and researchers direct experience of Quantum Computing.
IBM will install, maintain and operate the system, while ETH Zurich and CSCS will provide infrastructure including power, cooling and security and manage the allocation of computing capacity.
The agreement initially runs until 2029. Its funding forms part of an offset agreement between Lockheed Martin and armasuisse, Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement.
ETH Zurich and IBM also announced a 10-year initiative earlier this year to develop algorithms at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.
