The Basque Country has unveiled the first IBM Quantum System Two in Europe at the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center (IQCC), located on the main campus of the Fundación Ikerbasque in Donostia-San Sebastián. Equipped with a 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron processor, the system marks a technological milestone and places Euskadi on the global map of useful quantum computing, meaning capable of executing scalable algorithms that surpass what brute-force classical simulation can achieve.
The inauguration —the second System Two installation outside the U.S.— gathered a wide representation of institutional and scientific stakeholders. Speakers included Lehendakari Imanol Pradales; Jay Gambetta, director of IBM Research; the Minister of Science, Universities, and Innovation, Juan Ignacio Pérez Iglesias; Gipuzkoa’s deputy general, Eider Mendoza; San Sebastián’s mayor, Eneko Goia; and Horacio Morell, IBM president for Spain, Portugal, Greece, and Israel. Attendees also included the President of the Basque Parliament, Bajartxo Tejería; Vicelehendakaris Ibone Bengoetxea and Mikel Torres; and the general deputies of Álava and Biscay, Ramiro González and Elixabete Etxanobe, alongside representatives from academia and industry.
“The Basque quantum strategy today takes a giant leap,” emphasized Lehendakari Imanol Pradales. “It will enable us to attract talent, connect with other hubs of knowledge and innovation, and align with the European strategy of resilience and reindustrialization.”
“After two years of collaboration with BasQ, we are already seeing results in materials science and high-energy physics,” highlighted Jay Gambetta. “With the first System Two in Europe—driven by our best processor Heron—we expect to accelerate what regional teams can accomplish.”
A generation leap: modular design and path to multiple processors
IBM Quantum System Two is the next-generation platform from the manufacturer: a modular, scalable design prepared to integrate multiple processors in the future, with a cryogenic, control, and electronics architecture designed for growth in blocks. The Heron 156-qubit processor installed in the Basque system is among the most efficient and stable IBM processors so far, serving as a bridge toward configurations where multiple chips can work together (multi-QPU), paving the way for larger algorithms and deeper circuits.
For the scientific community and industry, this step isn’t superficial. It means having in Europe quantum capacity with “useful performance”, with error rates and coherence times that allow exploring real problems beyond academic benchmarks: complex optimization, material simulation, biomolecular modeling, or advancements in AI algorithms from a quantum perspective.
BasQ, IKUR 2030, and a national commitment to quantum
The facility is part of BasQ – Basque Quantum, an initiative by the Basque Government’s Department of Science, Universities, and Innovation, together with the provincial councils of Álava, Biscay, and Gipuzkoa. Launched in 2019, the IKUR strategy identified quantum computing — alongside neurosciences, neutrons, and artificial intelligence — as a priority area. In March 2023, the collaboration with IBM to establish a quantum center and deploy a computer locally was announced; this commitment was reinforced in March 2025 with the confirmation that Euskadi would host the first System Two in Europe.
The IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center aims to be more than a clean room with a cryostat: it aspires to be a reference node in southern Europe, with shared access for BasQ network members and the associated academic and industrial community. The dual goal is: cutting-edge research and transfer to strategic sectors —energy, industry, biomedicine, and artificial intelligence— where quantum can offer distinct advantages.
What can be done with System Two in Donostia?
Expected applications span science and industry:
- New materials: design and simulation of catalysts, superconductors, alloys, or battery materials, tackling quantum interactions that classical methods approximate with limitations.
- Optimization: logistics routes, industrial planning, resource allocation, or control in complex processes with thousands of variables and constraints.
- Biomedicine: modeling of proteins and molecular dynamics for drug discovery, protein-ligand interactions, and simulations requiring enormous classical supercomputing power today.
- AI and machine learning: research on hybrid quantum-classical algorithms (variational algorithms), kernel enhancement, and exploring new models leveraging quantum structures for classification or optimization.
The short-term utility will likely be hybrid: combining pre- and post-processing with quantum subroutines where the speed-up is tangible. The Basque system will enable testing these routines at scale on real hardware, evaluating errors and noise, and refining algorithms with measurable impact beyond the lab.
A “complete” ecosystem: talent, training, and international collaboration
The center is dedicated to training and attracting talent. The Basque Government and IBM have developed training programs for students and professionals, with immersive experiences, educational resources, and access to IBM’s development tools (frameworks, runtimes, toolchains). This talent pool is as strategic as the hardware: without people, no quantum ecosystem can thrive.
Furthermore, joining the global IBM Quantum network opens possibilities for collaborations with groups in Europe, Ireland, and the U.S. that are already publishing results in condensed matter, chemistry, or high-energy physics, pushing the limits of Heron. Euskadi gains visibility in this network and can lead projects with a distinct signature and local added value.
A European “first”… and a geopolitical message
Europe unveiling its first System Two in Donostia carries strategic significance. European technological sovereignty depends on reducing reliance on distant, congested extracommunity equipment. Bringing cutting-edge quantum capacity to Europe reduces latency (including administrative), encourages cross-border collaborations, and aligns the region with its discourse on strategic autonomy. For companies, it means access to a unique resource without crossing oceans; for the scientific community, competitive opportunities in European and international calls.
Roadmap: from one Heron to “many Herons”
The modular design of System Two enables scaling toward multi-processor configurations as technology and budgets allow. This introduces new challenges: quantum routing between chips, synchronization, error control, and corrections at larger scales. But it also opens the door to more ambitious algorithms and a benchmarking space that places Euskadi at the frontline of quantum experimentation.
What’s next
- Access and onboarding for IQCC members and BasQ network, supported by IBM and the Basque Government.
- Initial use cases in energy, biomedicine, and industry, aligned with IKUR 2030.
- Training programs and calls for PhD and graduate students to develop talent pipelines.
- International projects testing Heron in hybrid algorithms and real-world applications.
A milestone with practical significance
In quantum computing, announcements often swing between hype and the incomprehensible. This one, however, clears doubts: there is a system installed, operational, and accessible in Europe, backed by a national agreement (BasQ/IKUR), with an industrial purpose and educational vocation. With the Heron processor already delivered—and System Two ready to scale—the milestone becomes a concrete achievement for the scientific community and industry alike.
The Basque Country not only invests in quantum but also invites to use it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is IBM Quantum System Two, and why is it important?
It’s IBM’s next-generation quantum platform: modular, scalable, and ready to integrate multiple processors. Its design facilitates running useful algorithms with improved error rates and stability, and it can expand toward multi-QPU configurations.
What does the 156-qubit IBM Quantum Heron processor contribute?
Heron is among IBM’s most capable quantum processors to date. Its 156 qubits, along with improvements in coherence and fidelity, enable practical algorithms in materials, optimization, biomedicine, or AI.
Who can access the IBM-Euskadi Quantum Computational Center, and how?
Members of the IQCC and entities linked to the Basque quantum strategy (BasQ/IKUR) have access to the system and IBM resources. The center provides support, training, and programs tailored for researchers and companies.
What specific applications are expected in energy, biomedicine, and industry?
In energy: new materials for batteries and network optimization; in biomedicine: protein modeling and drug-target interactions; in industry: process optimization and logistics. All through hybrid quantum-classical algorithms using real hardware.
via: newsroom.ibm