Planqc to Build 1000-Qubit Quantum Computer

Quantum computing company planqc has been selected to lead a €20 million ($21 million) project to build and deploy a 1000-qubit quantum computer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Germany. The neutral atom-based quantum computer will be integrated into LRZ’s high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure, serving as an accelerator for scientific research and industrial applications.

The German Federal Ministry of Education and Research is funding the development project supporting the planned quantum computer. The Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System (MAQCS) project specifically aims to install a universally programmable quantum computer that leverages neutral atoms in an innovative multi-core architecture, boosting both computational speed and efficiency. Development is supported by the Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics as the third part of the consortium with planqc and LRZ.

The MAQCS quantum computer will employ neutral atoms in optical lattices as qubits and feature a multi-core architecture with two independent cores of 1000 qubits in total. This parallel processing capability reduces latency by enabling one core to reset while the other continues computations, significantly boosting speed and efficiency. The project also emphasizes the advancement of quantum error correction, considered a critical step toward reliable and fault-tolerant quantum computing.

Planqc will build a 1000-qubit neutral atom quantum computer at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ). The MAQCS (Multicore Atomic Quantum Computing System) project also enlists the development expertise of the Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics. Courtesy of planqc.

“Surpassing 1000 qubits and integrating this system into a supercomputing ecosystem as a co-processor is a major leap forward, bringing the German quantum ecosystem in line with global advancements,” said Alexander Glätzle, CEO and co-founder of planqc. “This milestone brings us closer to developing quantum computers capable of solving complex problems in various industries, such as pharmaceuticals, materials science, and cryptography.”

The MAQCS quantum computer will be integrated into LRZ’s Munich Quantum Software Stack, a hybrid supercomputing environment that tightly links HPC and quantum computing hardware. Users will be able to access the system through both cloud-based interfaces and direct HPC workflows, ensuring broad accessibility and seamless operation.

The planqc system represents the third quantum computing type in LRZ’s portfolio, following a series of systems based on superconducting circuits, including a 20-qubit quantum computer from IQM and a 20-qubit system from AQT based on trapped ions. The project represents the second major government-funded initiative for planqc, following a €29 million order from the German Aerospace Centre last May. The company additionally raised €50 million in a funding round earlier this year.