March 27, 2025 -- The procurement contract for EuroQCS-Italy, the EuroHPC quantum computer to be located in Italy, has been signed by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) and quantum computing company Pasqal, the selected vendor.

EuroQCS-Italy will be a quantum simulator based on neutral atoms. The first generation processor will provide at least 140 qubits operating in analogue mode and will be upgraded in 2027 to offer a neutral atom quantum simulator operable in a hybrid analogue/digital mode. This upgrade will introduce additional degrees of freedom, enabling the design of more sophisticated Hamiltonians and allowing end-users to implement a wider range of quantum algorithms and use-cases.  

The new quantum computer will be available to a wide range of European users, from the scientific community to industry and the public sector. Utilising arrays of optically trapped atoms and programmable laser interactions, this quantum simulator will enable the exploration of quantum many-body physics, optimisation problems, and machine learning applications. The upcoming quantum computing infrastructure will support the development of advanced simulations in material science, quantum chemistry, and logistics, offering new capabilities for industrial, scientific, and societal advancements in Europe.

Owned by the EuroHPC JU, the processor will be hosted and operated by CINECA in Bologna, Italy and integrated into the EuroHPC pre-exascale system Leonardo, enhancing hybrid quantum-classical computing workflows.

EuroQCS-Italy is co-funded with a total acquisition cost of EUR 13 million. The EuroHPC JU will fund 50% of the costs, while the other 50% will be funded by the Italian Ministry of University and Research (Ministero dell’Università e della Ricerca – MUR) through ICSC, the Italian High-Performance Computing, Big Data e Quantum Computing Research Centre established in the framework of Italy’s National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR/RRF funds). The EuroQCS-Italy consortium is led by CINECA, and includes the Academic and Research Network of Slovenia (ARNES) and the Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) in Germany.  

The installation of the quantum computer will start in 2025.