Barcelona launches Europe’s new analog quantum computer at BSC

The Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC-CNS) has launched EuroQCS-Spain, its third quantum computer, at the renovated Torre Girona chapel in Barcelona. Funded by the European Commission and the Government of Spain, the new system brings analog quantum computing technology and further strengthens Europe’s high-performance computing infrastructure.

EuroQCS-Spain, backed by a €9.8 million investment, adds to the quantum systems already at BSC. It will be open to researchers, companies, and public administrations throughout Europe. The new system is part of MareNostrum 5, making it one of the few supercomputers in the world to combine classical computing with both digital and analog quantum technologies.

This system is now part of the European network of quantum computers created by the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU). EuroHPC has acquired six quantum computers across Europe, with systems already launched in Poland, Czechia, Germany, and France.

These technologies support the European Quantum Strategy, which aims to make Europe a global leader in quantum computing by 2030 and strengthen technological independence, industrial competitiveness, and security.
 

The project was co-funded by the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and Spain’s State Secretariat for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA), which provided €4.8 million. Out of the total investment, €8.5 million went to installing the machines, with EuroHPC and the Spanish government each covering half, plus extra support from Portugal. The rest of the funds were used to connect the quantum and classical computing systems.

EuroQCS-Spain is now located in the renovated Torre Girona chapel, which previously hosted the first four versions of the MareNostrum supercomputer.

After major renovations, the chapel now houses the three quantum computers that form MareNostrum Ona, occupying about a third of the building. The rest of the space is used to expand the artificial intelligence capabilities of MareNostrum 5.

The new system was officially presented during an event attended by Mateo Valero, Director of BSC; Francesc Torres, Rector Magnificus of the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC); María González Veracruz, Secretary of State for Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence of Spain; Juan Cruz Cigudosa, Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Universities of Spain; Núria Montserrat, Minister of Research and Universities of Catalonia; Óscar Díez, Head of Quantum Computing at the European Commission; Daniel Opalka, Head of R&D at EuroHPC JU; and Marta Estarellas, CEO of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech.

Although EuroQCS-Spain is still being integrated, MareNostrum Ona has been running since February 2025 and has already delivered 4,200 computing hours. Thanks to two calls from the Spanish Supercomputing Network (RES) in July and December last year, 53 research projects have used the infrastructure, helping to improve its performance in just over a year.

Developed with European technology

The whole development of EuroQCS-Spain, from chip design to software programming, was done by the Catalan company Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, together with Do It Now. The only part handled outside the group was the chip’s physical manufacturing, which was done in Gothenburg, Sweden.
This project is an important step for the technology sectors in Catalonia, Spain, and Europe. It supports the goals of EuroHPC and BSC to achieve technological independence, strengthen European autonomy, and fit with the European Commission’s plan to rely less on critical infrastructure from outside Europe.

Combining digital and analog quantum computing

MareNostrum Ona now includes two digital quantum computers and one analog quantum computer, all of which use superconducting quantum bits, or qubits. The digital quantum computers in MareNostrum Ona are especially well-suited for mathematical calculations, cryptography, and search algorithms such as Shor’s and Grover’s. The new analog system is expected to help with logistics optimization, Quantum Machine Learning, and training artificial intelligence models.

By using both approaches in the same system, BSC can access a wider range of quantum computing abilities. This opens up new possibilities for research and innovation and helps develop applications that can have a big impact on industry, science, and society across Europe.

Source: Barcelona Supercomputing Center