Europe puts VLQ quantum computers into operation.

Europe has put its VLQ quantum computer into operation, opening up opportunities for technological breakthroughs and strengthening its position in the global artificial intelligence race.

According to the Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Europe, on September 23, in Ostrava, Czech Republic, the European High-Performance Computing Union (EuroHPC JU) officially put into operation its second quantum computer, named VLQ.

This event not only marks a significant step forward in efforts to build Europe's leading-edge supercomputing and quantum infrastructure, but also affirms Europe's determination to maintain its leading position in the global technology race.

The ceremony, held at the IT4Innovations National Supercomputing Center at Ostrava University of Technology, brought together high-ranking representatives from across Europe, clearly demonstrating the transcontinental collaborative nature of the project.

The VLQ system was built with the participation of eight countries: the Czech Republic, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, Norway, Belgium, and the Netherlands. At the ceremony, Mr. Rafal Duczmal, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EuroHPC JU, and Mr. Anders Jensen, CEO of EuroHPC JU, were both present and emphasized the significance of this milestone.

VLQ, operated by IT4Innovations and supplied by the Finnish company IQM Quantum Computers, is based on superconducting qubit technology. The system consists of 24 physical qubits arranged in a star configuration connected to a central resonator, minimizing qubit swapping operations and optimizing the execution of complex quantum algorithms.

Like other quantum computers in the EuroHPC system, VLQ will be integrated with Europe's high-performance supercomputing infrastructure and connected to the Karolina supercomputer. This allows users access to a hybrid architecture combining classical and quantum computing.

Although still in the calibration phase, VLQ is expected to provide computing resources to the European research community by the end of this year, serving advanced applications such as quantum machine learning, which promises to deliver processing speeds far exceeding traditional computing.

According to Anders Jensen, this event demonstrates that Europe is taking a significant step forward in building a world- leading quantum computing ecosystem. The combination of supercomputers and quantum technology is expected to unlock solutions beyond the capabilities of existing systems, and is a testament to the strength of cooperation among European nations.

Branislav Jansik, Director of Supercomputing Services at IT4Innovations and coordinator of the LUMI-Q alliance, emphasized that VLQ computing will serve a diverse range of users, from academia to businesses and the public sector, with the goal of promoting research, innovation, and practical applications.

VLQ, owned by EuroHPC JU, has a total investment cost of approximately 5 million euros (5.9 million USD), with EuroHPC JU funding half and the LUMI-Q alliance covering the remainder. This alliance brings together 13 partners from 8 countries, demonstrating a cross-border collaboration for technological goals.

The name VLQ has multiple meanings: the V stands for Ostrava University of Technology (VSB), the L represents the LUMI-Q alliance, and the Q stands for Quantum. The name also evokes the Czech word "vlk," meaning "wolf," and is associated with the LUMI supercomputer in Finland – one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, notable for its green energy efficiency thanks to the use of hydropower, liquid cooling, and the reuse of waste heat for local heating.

EuroHPC JU has so far acquired six quantum computers across Europe. Prior to VLQ, the PIAST-Q system in Poland was launched in June. In addition, EuroHPC has deployed two analog quantum simulators in France and Germany, and is preparing to tender for another quantum computer in the Netherlands.

EuroHPC JU is a mechanism for collaboration between the European Union (EU) and its member states, aiming to make Europe a leading supercomputing hub in the world. Currently, the organization has purchased 11 supercomputers, including three that are among the top 10 globally: JUPITER in Germany, LUMI in Finland, and Leonardo in Italy.

These supercomputers are being made more accessible to the research community, businesses, and the public through outreach programs, aimed at advancing science , industry, and society.

In addition, EuroHPC JU manages 13 "artificial intelligence (AI) factories" across Europe, providing free support to small businesses and startups, and funding numerous projects to develop the supercomputing supply chain from hardware to software, as well as training human resources.

The VLQ quantum computer demonstrates Europe's long-term vision for combining supercomputing and quantum computing, aiming for technological breakthroughs that could shape the future of science and society globally.

(VNA/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/chau-au-dua-vao-su-dung-may-tinh-luong-tu-vlq-post1063694.vnp