The Eurecat technological center has begun developing QuantIA Lab, an innovative pioneering infrastructure for quantum emulation and optimization in Catalonia that will boost research, development, and business innovation through advanced quantum computing and artificial intelligence technologies.
The new facility will be located at Eurecat’s headquarters in Cerdanyola del Vallès, with phased implementation scheduled until early 2027. The project will involve an investment exceeding seven million euros. Of this amount, 1.4 million euros are funded by the Singular Institutional Programs of the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat of Catalonia, while an additional 2.1 million euros are co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for Catalonia 2021-2027, via the Quant-IA project.
Through QuantIA Lab, Eurecat will offer companies the opportunity to develop solutions based on quantum computing using a 34-qubit quantum gate emulator and a digital annealer system, supported by a high-performance computing cluster. According to Myriam García-Berro, Director of Research and Technology at Eurecat, this equipment will facilitate advances in transferring quantum technologies to the business sector and enable the development of pilot projects with tangible competitive advantages.
Meanwhile, lead researcher of the Quantum Computing Research Line at Eurecat, Adan Garriga, highlights that the laboratory will complement the work of a multidisciplinary team specializing in quantum physics, artificial intelligence, and software development. The goal is to provide companies with a stable and secure environment to experiment and validate quantum algorithms before fully operational quantum computers become available.
Joan Mas, Scientific Director of Eurecat’s Digital Area, emphasizes that unlike conventional quantum systems—which require cryogenic conditions and face stability issues—the emulation systems in QuantIA Lab will operate with semiconductor processors. This setup will enable operation under normal environmental conditions, reduce coherence errors, and significantly lower operational costs.
The infrastructure will also incorporate energy sustainability criteria, as it is planned to operate partially using renewable energy generated through photovoltaic panels and energy storage systems aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
Cutting-edge Equipment for Quantum Simulation
The 34-qubit quantum gate emulator at QuantIA Lab will allow the simulation of quantum circuit behavior using classical electronics under standard operational conditions—an achievement not yet realized by current quantum computers, which use physical qubits. This capability will facilitate the design, validation, and optimization of quantum algorithms and Quantum Machine Learning techniques prior to implementation on real quantum hardware. According to Adan Garriga, “This will help reduce costs, risks, and development time.”
Complementing this simulation ability is a digital annealer, capable of solving combinatorial optimization problems with up to 100,000 variables. This technology, unique in Catalonia, will enable tackling complex challenges beyond the reach of traditional classical computing, such as industrial planning, advanced logistics optimization, investment management, molecular simulation, and new material design, among others.
All this infrastructure will be supported by a high-performance computing cluster that will serve as a backbone for advanced AI projects, large-scale data processing, and hybrid solutions combining quantum simulation and high-performance computing.
Accelerating Multisectoral Innovation
The technologies developed at Eurecat’s QuantIA Lab will have multisectoral impacts, especially in healthcare and biotechnology, advancing fields like molecular simulation, drug discovery, and complex genomic analysis.
Similarly, they will influence chemistry and advanced materials for process optimization and custom material development; robotics and manufacturing, for industrial planning, plant logistics, and automation of complex processes; energy, through smart grid management, resource optimization, and sustainable routing; and water and the environment, by optimizing distribution networks, managing treatment plants, and building climate prediction models, among others.
Strategic Quantum Partnership
The deployment of QuantIA Lab coincides with the launch of ARQADE, a Cervera excellence network seeking to apply quantum computing and AI to solve critical security and defense challenges, with solutions that can also be transferred to strategic civilian sectors. Eurecat, as part of this network, contributes expertise in quantum algorithms, AI, and cybersecurity to develop practical applications in complex operational scenarios, such as autonomous navigation without GPS or protecting critical infrastructure.