First LUMI AI Factory quantum services now available
5 mins read
The LUMI AI Factory has launched its first services for quantum and hybrid computing workloads. Our quantum services provide an entry point to LUMI-IQ, our upcoming quantum computing platform, where quantum computing is integrated with Europe’s leading AI supercomputing environment. The initial service package combines two complementary offerings: access to powerful hybrid HPC, AI and quantum computing infrastructure, and expert support to help users explore, develop and run their applications.
Quantum computing resources backed by expert support
Quantum computing can transform how complex computational problems are solved. Turning this potential into practical applications is anything but trivial, however. Many organisations lack access to quantum hardware, specialised expertise and the computing environments needed to develop and test quantum-enabled solutions. At the same time, many promising applications require quantum computing to work alongside high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) rather than as a standalone technology. To help bridge this gap, we are introducing two complementary services that combine access to HPC, AI and quantum computing resources with expert guidance.
With the Quantum computing resource access service, users can work in a single environment where quantum computing, HPC and AI are closely integrated. At launch, the service brings together access to the VLQ quantum computer, part of the EuroHPC ecosystem, and the computing power of the LUMI supercomputer. Users can also develop and test applications using simulators before running them on actual quantum hardware and build workflows that combine quantum and classical computing in the same pipeline.
Quantum expert support and consulting works hand in hand with the computing resources to help you make the most of your computing time. Quantum computing and hybrid HPC, AI and quantum workflows can be unfamiliar territory for many users, and the gap between a promising idea and running the first calculations can be wide. With this expert support, you work directly with quantum, HPC and AI specialists to create tailored solutions for your research and development.
The quantum services are available through our service catalogue. Starting now gives you a head start: the skills and hybrid workflows you build today lay the groundwork for LUMI-IQ when the first system arrives in 2027. Whether you work in academia or industry, get in touch to discuss how quantum can enhance your AI journey.
Beyond services: LUMI-IQ is building Europe’s quantum AI ecosystem
The launch of the first services marks only the beginning of the broader quantum initiative within the LUMI AI Factory. As the quantum pillar, the LUMI-IQ platform will create a long-term ecosystem that combines state-of-the-art infrastructure, software, skills development and collaboration between research and industry.
– Quantum computing is moving beyond small-scale, error-prone proofs of concept towards a future in which quantum acceleration is a natural part of science and research. Getting there requires world-class infrastructure where supercomputing, AI and quantum computing work seamlessly together, and that is exactly what the LUMI AI Factory is building with LUMI-IQ. It is more than a computer: it is a testbed for ground-breaking research and development. With an open software stack and fine-grained control over the quantum hardware, researchers and engineers can explore everything from AI-enhanced workflows to deep mysteries of the universe and develop powerful new tools for real-world applications. Europe has a genuine edge in hybrid computing. Now is the time to turn that edge into impact, said Mikael Johansson, Director of Technology Programs at CSC.
Running from 2025 to 2032, the LUMI-IQ initiative is designed to accelerate the adoption of quantum-enhanced AI in Europe. At its heart is the LUMI-IQ quantum computing platform, Europe’s first superconducting quantum computer designed from the start to operate with logical qubits, based on the IQM Quantum Computers’ Halocene. The system will be installed in 2027 and upgraded in stages through 2029, taking users from today’s error-prone operations towards fault-tolerant quantum computing. While access to advanced computing resources is a key element, the project also addresses two critical barriers to adoption: the shortage of specialised expertise and the lack of practical tools and examples that organisations can readily build on.
To strengthen Europe’s quantum skills base, LUMI-IQ will organise training activities that combine theory with hands-on experience on real quantum infrastructure. Annual hackathons and workshops will bring together researchers, developers and industry representatives to explore new applications, share knowledge and foster collaboration between academia and industry.
Alongside training activities, LUMI-IQ will develop the software ecosystem needed to make quantum-enhanced AI more accessible. This includes a complete software stack supporting the platform, as well as a library of practical hybrid computing examples and use cases. By providing open, reusable examples based on real-world challenges, the project aims to lower the barrier to adoption and help organisations understand where quantum computing can provide value. The examples will be published under permissive licences, allowing users to adapt and build upon them for their own research, development and innovation activities.
Where quantum-enhanced AI can make a difference
Quantum computing is still an emerging technology, but researchers and industry are already exploring where it could create value alongside AI and HPC.
Near-term areas of exploration include process optimisation and anomaly detection in complex industrial systems, modelling the properties of small molecules and supporting parts of the drug-discovery workflow, and solving specific optimisation problems in communication networks. Researchers are also investigating potential applications in routing, materials discovery and more energy-efficient computing.
Designed to evolve alongside advances in quantum hardware, the LUMI-IQ platform provides Europe with a competitive environment for developing and testing quantum-enhanced AI applications.
Read more about LUMI-IQ in our latest press releases:
