Alpine Quantum Technologies (AQT) has announced it will be delivering a PIAST-Q quantum computer to the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC) in Poland.

The procurement contract for EuroQCS-Poland was signed by the EuroHPC JU in July 2024.

Installation of the system will take place this year and will cost €12.28 million ($13.35m), with 50 percent of the project funded by the EuroHPC JU and the remainder funded by the Ministry of Digital Affairs of Poland.

AQT's systems are ion trap-based quantum computers, a method where a linear chain of ions is confined through electric potential using direct current and radio-frequency fields, thus making qubits. The method can be run at room temperature and AQT says that as a result, the quantum computer will consume less than two kilowatts of electrical power, eliminating the need for special cooling, water, or extensive energy infrastructure.

The system will be housed in two standard 19-inch data center racks and was developed in partnership with the University of Innsbruck, the university the company spun out from. AQT says its quantum computer has “demonstrated the highest quantum volume in Europe so far” and has “applications in numerous quantum computing use cases.”

In a statement posted on LinkedIn, AQT said the quantum computer will primarily target research and innovation, supporting the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific, and societal relevance for Europe and adding new capabilities to the European supercomputing infrastructure.

It will be made available to a wide range of European users, from the scientific community to industry and the public sector, the company said.

EuroHPC JU is a joint initiative between the EU, 34 European countries, and private partners to develop a supercomputing ecosystem in Europe.

In June 2023, the EuroHPC JU signed hosting agreements with six sites across Europe to host and operate EuroHPC quantum computers, including the EuroQCS-Poland.