IQM selected to deliver the LUMI-IQ quantum computer

The LUMI AI Factory chooses IQM Quantum Computers to deliver LUMI-IQ, an advanced experimental quantum computer to be located in CSC’s data center in Kajaani, Finland. The IQM Halocene H4 quantum computer will have a QPU with 150 high-quality qubits, followed by a series of upgrades delivered in multiple phases. LUMI-IQ will bridge high-performance computing and AI capabilities with emerging quantum technologies, and the system will be available for research, development, and innovation (RDI) projects in both academia and industry.

The LUMI AI Factory is taking the lead in Europe’s hybrid computing landscape. With LUMI-IQ, world-leading quantum computing capability will be tightly integrated into the LUMI AI Factory, strengthening the LUMI-AI computing environment’s position as the premier platform combining HPC, AI, and quantum technologies.

The LUMI-IQ quantum computer is a major European investment, bringing together expertise from Finland, Czechia, Norway, and Poland. It is funded jointly by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the participating countries. The system is scheduled for deployment in autumn 2027 at CSC’s new data center in the Renforsin Ranta business park in Kajaani, Finland.

– As part of the LUMI AI Factory, LUMI-IQ will bring together world-leading AI, data, high-performance computing and quantum acceleration in one powerful hybrid environment. By connecting quantum concepts and algorithms with intelligent software tools and real-world applications, it will open new possibilities for scientific discovery and RDI, from materials and health to energy and fundamental science. At the same time, it will help Europe build the knowledge, skills, and capabilities needed for the next era of innovation, including the path toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, tells Kimmo Koski, Managing Director of CSC – IT Center for Science.

Halocene H4 and beyond: advancing toward fault-tolerant quantum computing

Through the LUMI-IQ platform, European researchers will have access to a unique combination of the most powerful classical AI platform tightly integrated with the best European quantum computing technology available.

The IQM Halocene H4 is the first and most advanced on-premises superconducting quantum computer of its kind, combining quantum error correction with high-quality NISQ qubits. The Halocene H4 and the upgraded systems will enable LUMI consortium users, for the first time, to develop and implement Quantum Error Correction (QEC) concepts on a world-leading system.

The system is scheduled for delivery in 2027 with an initial quantum processing unit (QPU) comprising 150 qubits, followed by a series of upgrades delivered in multiple phases, significantly increasing both qubit count and error resilience. Beyond the first system, LUMI AI Factory and IQM will work together on the co-development toward fault-tolerant quantum computing, incorporating advanced quantum error correction methods into the platform. LUMI-IQ will rapidly evolve toward an increasingly capable and reliable quantum system.

– Already the first system delivered in 2027 will come with a state-of-the-art quantum processing unit (QPU) with 150 qubits. This is only the beginning, however. Over the next years, LUMI-IQ will evolve to a fault-tolerant quantum computer through a series of upgrades that increase both qubit count and performance, making the LUMI AI Factory a world-leading European hybrid platform combining AI and quantum computing, tells Mikael Johansson, CSC, Manager of Quantum Technologies.

A new hybrid computing environment for research and innovation

LUMI-IQ will bring quantum computing capabilities to the LUMI AI Factory, extending the LUMI-AI computing environment with a new approach that combines HPC, AI, and quantum computing. By bringing these technologies together, LUMI-IQ will help researchers and companies tackle some of the most complex scientific and industrial challenges, including problems that are beyond the reach of today’s computing methods alone.

The increased qubit count and operational fidelity provided by the regularly upgraded LUMI-IQ infrastructure will enable users to explore quantum-enhanced AI applications that can outperform purely classical methods. As the system evolves, LUMI-IQ will provide a powerful testbed for pursing real quantum advantage, including faster solutions to selected problems, improved optimization and simulation workflows, and new ways to utilize quantum-enhanced AI.

– CSC and the LUMI AI Factory are exactly the kind of partners that defines what production quantum computing looks like in practice — world-class HPC infrastructure, a deep commitment to research excellence, and the ambition to lead rather than follow, says Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder, IQM Quantum Computers.

– Delivering IQM Halocene to CSC means Europe’s most powerful quantum computer will sit at the heart of one of the world’s leading research computing environments. This is a milestone for IQM, CSC, for Finland, and for European quantum ecosystem, he continues.

New RDI horizons for SMEs and startups

For companies, LUMI-IQ will provide access to advanced hybrid computing resources, enabling the development of next-generation AI and quantum applications. These capabilities can support the design and optimisation of safer and more sustainable products and processes across sectors ranging from manufacturing and drug discovery to advanced materials and telecommunications.

– Especially for startups and SMEs, access to a leading AI and quantum platform will be crucial, as they can avoid high-cost initial investments into computing infrastructure and get the expert support needed for getting the most out of the infrastructure, says Pekka Manninen, CSC, Director of LUMI AI Factory.

Beyond the infrastructure itself, LUMI-IQ will offer a range of services designed to help users adopt hybrid computing approaches. These include user support, consulting, training, software tools, development environments, and real-world use case examples across a broad field of applications.

From the launch of the platform, users will have access to a dedicated software library with practical examples for integrating quantum AI into existing AI workflows, making hybrid computing accessible also to non-expert users. Together, these services will help researchers and companies transform quantum technologies into new applications, business opportunities and innovations, while further strengthening Europe’s leadership in quantum technologies and AI.

Media requests:

Pekka Manninen, Director of LUMI AI Factory, CSC. email: pekka.manninen@csc.fi, tel. +358 50 381 2831

Mikael Johansson, Manager of Quantum Technologies, CSC, email: mikael.johansson@csc.fi, tel. +358 40 7526 291

media@lumi-supercomputer.eu

Image on top: CSC’s data center in Kajaani, Finland. Copyright: Mikael Kanerva, CSC.