The CESGA (Galicia Supercomputing Center) has commissioned Fujitsu its quantum supercomputerin which will invest 14 million euros. This is a step that will contribute decisively to the development of the Galician Quantum Technologies Pole, and it is also the most determined commitment to quantum computing in Spain to date. The purchase has been possible thanks to the funds provided by the Galician Agency for Innovation of the Xunta de Galicia, as well as by the European Union, within the framework of the REACT UE Axis of the FEDER Galicia 2014-2020 operational program, part of the response of the EU to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In addition, the purchase of this quantum system is framed in the activities of the Pole of Quantum Technologies of Galicia, which aims to place Galicia in prominent positions in terms of quantum computing. The activity of this Pole is divided into five areas: academy; research and technological centers and singular entities; economy and business; society; and infrastructures.
This supercomputer, when it goes into operation, will be one of the first to be available to the research community in Southern Europe. It will be installed at CESGA throughout 2023 and it will be used to facilitate cutting-edge research tasks for researchers, technology centers and companies.
Among other things, it will be used to generate new quantum algorithms in important areas. Such as the simulation of physical and chemical phenomena, data encryption, the search for optimizations, machine learning and the solution of complex problems, medicine, Artificial Intelligence, robotics, materials science and cybersecurity.
This purchase covers four different elements: a quantum computer, a high-performance computer, a quantum algorithm emulator, and a storage system for the results of the new algorithms for analysis and validation. Its most important element is a quantum computer that is flexible, and that is integrated with other computing elements.
Currently, CESGA is participating in a European R+D+i project, financed by the Quantum Flagship program for the development and deployment of quantum technologies to develop useful algorithms in collaboration with other European entities. Especially with the University of A Coruña, with which he researches algorithms for Artificial Intelligence and finance. In addition, he is also designing test programs to measure the real performance of quantum computers.
Besides, CESGA is also participating in the Quantum Spain Project, which aims to deploy in the Spanish Supercomputing Network the capacities to investigate quantum computing, and the creation of a research community in Spain. On the other hand, Galicia participates in the Complementary Plan for Quantum Communications. This is a collaborative initiative between the Government of Spain and several autonomous communities, which seeks to improve Spain’s position in the lines of quantum information technologies, within the framework of the Quantum Flagship initiative.
