May 19, 2026 -- The Barcelona Supercomputing Center – Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) has taken another step forward in the development of its quantum partition, MareNostrum Ona, with the incorporation of a new 35-qubit chip. This system, developed with 100% European technology and under an open-access model, positions BSC as a benchmark in Europe for the deployment of quantum systems with these characteristics.

Since its launch, the system has undergone a progressive evolution through the addition of various processors, moving from an initial capacity of 5 qubits to reaching its current configuration of 35 qubits, which was recently installed.

This advancement constitutes the final milestone of Quantum Spain, an initiative coordinated by BSC and driven by the Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service, through the Secretariat of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA). The project, which began in 2022, is financed by the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan and is framed within the España Digital 2026 program, as well as the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy (ENIA).

Quantum Spain is a collaborative effort involving 27 benchmark research and supercomputing institutions in Spain, including 14 nodes of the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES) and other institutions such as CSIC, ICFO, and universities like the University of Barcelona, the Autonomous University of Madrid, and the Polytechnic University of Valencia, among many others.

“The addition of this 35-qubit processor completes the technological roadmap we had set for ourselves. Quantum Spain aimed to demonstrate the technological maturity of the field and move from experimental quantum computers to the deployment of an operational machine. But most importantly, all this development maintains its open nature: any research group or company can access real quantum hardware integrated into a supercomputer like MareNostrum 5, something that is still exceptional in Europe,” indicates Alba Cervera, BSC researcher and coordinator of Quantum Spain.

The system was installed and commissioned by the Spanish joint venture (UTE) Qilimanjaro-GMV. Based on superconducting technology, it is integrated into the MareNostrum 5 supercomputer, enabling the exploration of new forms of computing that combine classical and quantum capabilities.

“This system marks the transition from experimental quantum to operational quantum. Qilimanjaro, along with GMV and BSC, has proven that we have the industrial capacity in Spain to produce, deploy, scale, and maintain real quantum systems in production, integrated into one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe. And, above all, accessible from day one for the scientific and industrial community to accelerate adoption and pave the way for the new ideas that will define this new quantum revolution,” states Marta P. Estarellas, CEO of Qilimanjaro.

The scientific community, companies, and public bodies can request its use through the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES) and run their algorithms on real quantum hardware, allowing them to validate results and develop new applications in a real environment.

To date, the RES, as a distributed Unique Scientific and Technical Infrastructure (ICTS), has granted access to its quantum resources to a total of 45 projects. Together, these have accumulated nearly 4,000 computing hours and led to the development of several scientific papers, showcasing the growing interest of the scientific and technological community in this type of infrastructure and its application in real-world environments.

“After months and years of intense work and preparation, we have brought a European quantum computing system into production, which is part of a Spanish ICTS and one of the largest and most complete computing systems in the world. Now, with the system stable, our job is to support the users of this infrastructure,” comments Sergi Girona, Operations Director at the BSC.

Quantum computing promises to revolutionize multiple disciplines by facilitating the analysis of phenomena at the atomic scale. Its potential uses range from chemistry—where it could boost the creation of new materials and pharmaceuticals—to solving complex challenges in fields like logistics or finance.

Furthermore, its capacity to improve process efficiency positions it as a strategic tool, particularly when integrated with artificial intelligence to design more advanced machine learning algorithms. In terms of security, it could redefine cryptography, posing both unprecedented challenges and more secure solutions.

Currently, MareNostrum Ona is being further reinforced with the installation of a new analog quantum computer, which is part of one of the quantum computing nodes of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking. This system will expand and enhance the center’s research capabilities and will also be available to users.