Poland in IBM Quantum Network
In February 2022 IBM Quantum Network was joined by Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS) in Poland to become the first quantum hub in the Central and Eastern Europe. “This is an important day for the Polish science and technological transformation” said Janusz Cieszyński, Secretary of State for Digital Affairs.
The first European member of the Network – IBM Quantum System One - was Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft from Ehningen in Germany, which joined it in March 2020. So far the Network has over 180 members, including Fortune 500 companies, universities, laboratories and start-ups. They can benefit from IBM’s knowledge, tools and systems, including the revolutionary 127-qubit processor Eagle that leads quantum computing into a new area.
Unlike ordinary computers based on bites that are either “0” or “1”, quantum computers are based on qubits in the so-called superposition, in which 0” and “1” exist at the same time. First quantum calculations took place in mid 1990s and the first operations on 7-cubit computer were presented by IBM and Stanford University in 2001.
IBM launched its commercial quantum IT solutions in 2019. System One was based on 27-qubit Falcon processor. Monthly access to quantum computing in Europe costs about 12 thousand euros.
PSNC is affiliated to the Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry at the Polish Academy of Sciences. It intends to deploy advanced quantum solutions in artificial intelligence, space technologies, metrology and crisis modelling.
“Launching IBM Quantum Hub in Poland is a disruptive step towards expanding our quantum ecosystem. Cooperation with IBM opens enormous analytical possibilities” said Marcin Gajdziński, IBM General Manager for Poland.