The Government promotes the first quantum computer in Spain with 100% European technology

Barcelona, February 6, 2025.- The Minister for Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López, and the Minister of Science, Innovation and Universities, Diana Morant, participated in the presentation of the first Spanish quantum computer with 100% European quantum technology. The government supports its deployment and connection to the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES) with 8.1 million euros through the Quantum Spain project, an initiative of the ministry through the Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence that aims to develop a solid quantum computing infrastructure in Spain.

The support of the Government will allow this computer, which has been located since September 2024 at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center-National Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS), to be integrated into the BSC supercomputer IllaNostrum5 and the rest of the RES, which will allow research groups and Spanish industrial sectors to use their powerful processing capabilities (much superior to that of conventional computers) for experimentation and development of products and applications.

This milestone coincides with the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology, proclaimed by the United Nations, and with the ongoing work of the Government in the National Strategy of Quantum Technologies, which will be presented soon.

“Until now, access to quantum computing was mainly provided by technological giants, with limited options and high prices. Now, Spain puts it within the reach of academia, industry and the public sector, eliminating barriers to innovation,” said Minister López in the presentation. “Quantum computing has the potential to make extraordinary advances in such important fields as disease prediction, air traffic optimization, ultra-secure communications, and the development of new drugs and materials.”

For its part, Morant has celebrated this milestone with a Spanish seal that is put at the service of the whole society to promote the technological autonomy of our country and Europe. “We are taking a decisive step to consolidate Spain’s leadership in quantum research, the future of computing,” he said.

The minister also highlighted the commitment of the Spanish Government to assume public leadership of the most disruptive technologies, those that entail greater financial risk and have greater impact on economic and social development, as well as the commitment of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities for the Barcelona Supercomputing Center, to which, in the last 5 years, it has contributed more than 170 million euros, an amount greater than the total allocated during the previous 15 years (130 million euros).

The BSC-CNS coordinates the RES, composed of 14 nodes located in different universities and research institutions throughout Spain. It has been chosen by the European Commission as one of the seven AI Factories of the European Union. His supercomputer PaulNostrum 5, the 11th most powerful on the planet, has served - among many other projects - for the development of ALIA, the first model of Artificial Intelligence language with an important component in Spanish and other co-official languages, published last January.

Innovation in the Free Trade Zone

During his official visit to Barcelona, the minister also participated in the opening of the conference “Innovation dynamics: challenges and solutions for industry”, within the framework of the DFactory initiative, launched by the Consortium of the Free Zone of Barcelona (CZFB) for the promotion and development of industry 4.0.

In his speech, López stressed the importance of public-private collaboration in industrial matters, and highlighted in this regard the role of the Spanish Society for Technological Transformation (SETT), “a ‘fund of funds’ intended to promote investments in disruptive technologies and high added value, which has 16 billion euros to finance impact initiatives and is currently in search of strategic co-investment projects”, encouraging innovative companies to take an interest in this initiative.