SPECTRUM partner SURF, has announced that it will host a cutting-edge quantum computer. SURF’s contribution to quantum computing shows the relevance of their partnership in SPECTRUM, and of the importance of the project’s contribution towards the creation of an Exabyte-scale research data federation and compute continuum, fostering data-intensive scientific collaborations across Europe.
Updated 07/01/2025
Partner News
SURF hosts Quantum Computer at Amsterdam Science Park
"Researchers in High Energy Physics and Radio Astronomy are among the largest users of the Dutch national research-IT infrastructure coordinated by SURF. I am proud that SURF has been selected to host this European quantum computer and that we will be able to interface it with the national supercomputer Snellius. This creates a unique hybrid combination of quantum and regular computing that will accelerate the development and adoption of quantum computing. SURF is excited to work with partners in the SPECTRUM project to create a strategic research, innovation and deployment agenda. We believe that the ground-breaking quantum computing technologies will be transformational for the future of research."
Raymond Oonk, Senior Advisor at SURF
Why quantum?
Quantum computing technology is a key technical development in HPC, and HPC centers are among the early adopters of quantum computers.
In Europe many HPC centers are already in the process of acquiring quantum computers, and some of them already have them. So to keep up in this rapidly evolving Quantum-HPC ecosystem in Europe, it is for the Netherlands strategically important to stay ahead.
To be ready for future operations and support of quantum computing technology it is important to get first-hand experience with installation, integration, operation and use of a quantum computer. Since this is all very different from normal HPC operations as well as use, we need to start getting experience and learning now. For users this will be a low-threshold accessible service. This should lead to acceleration of use and knowledge building in the use of quantum computers as well as application development. A clear, visible, and complementary role in making emerging technology operational and accessible will lead to a good position in the European and Dutch quantum ecosystem.
The overall objective to all this is to get quantum ready.
What does a quantum computer look like?
The largest part of a quantum computer is a “cryostat” (big fridge) with equipment to get to a temperature of around 1 Kelvin (which is minus 272 degrees Celsius). There is liquid helium inside in a closed system, and additionally small amounts of liquid nitrogen are needed. This very low temperature is required for the quantum chips to function that are inside this cryostat. Further there are some racks with electronic control units.
What can you do with it?
Do experiments, gain a lot of expertise, develop applications: it is fair to say that the current quantum computers are not large enough yet to do calculations that outperform large supercomputers. Still, since quantum computing is a completely new paradigm, one needs sufficient time to prepare and test applications and gain experience on current real quantum systems to be ready once larger quantum computers will become available in the coming years. Quantum computers will always be used in a hybrid setup, connected to classical (super)computers. So a quantum system will never replace the Dutch national supercomputer, it will just add unique capabilities.