IQM and VTT will deploy a 300-qubit computer in Finland by 2027

By late 2026, Finland will begin operating a 300-qubit superconducting quantum computer, positioning it as Europe’s largest system of its kind. IQM and VTT are collaborating on the project, with the first 150-qubit stage arriving late 2026. This announcement stems from a five-year co-development model; Jorden Senior, who leads VTT’s quantum hardware team, explains, “We know each other’s labs, people and quality standards, so we move fast, and we are candid with each other.” VTT, a research organization owned by the Finnish state, operates Finland’s national quantum infrastructure and pursues higher-risk research alongside IQM’s hardware development. IQM and VTT’s Five-Year Co-Development Model for Quantum Systems This arrangement extends beyond typical vendor-customer relationships, with VTT actively shaping the hardware roadmap and providing operational feedback from deployed systems. Jorden Senior explains that this collaborative approach allows both organizations to mitigate risk. The partnership’s structure is built on a five-year model, originating from shared research at Aalto University, and provides VTT with unique access to quantum hardware. Unlike cloud-based systems, VTT’s on-premises machines allow researchers to analyze individual characteristics and optimize performance at every layer of the stack, from control electronics to algorithms, the company says. This deep access is essential, as quantum processors function as accelerators within larger classical computing pipelines, similar to the role of graphics processing units. VTT is also ensuring broad accessibility to the developing system, with qualifying companies and universities able to apply for computing time through an open access program. This approach mirrors IQM’s broader co-development loop, where operational feedback from users directly influences future product development and raises performance expectations. According to Senior, real expertise requires access to every layer of the quantum stack, including qubit control and error mitigation, and this hands-on experience is invaluable for advancing the field beyond theoretical progress. The organization intends to keep the system accessible regardless of a user’s stage in their quantum computing journey. Since our first co-development project with IQM, we’ve learned that real expertise means having access to every layer of the stack, from control electronics through qubit control and error mitigation to the algorithms and services on top. Jorden Senior, who leads VTT’s quantum hardware team VTT’s 5- to 300-Qubit Progression with National Supercomputing Integration The planned 300-qubit IQM Radiance system, set to operate within Finland’s national supercomputing infrastructure, represents a deliberate step toward distributed quantum computing; two coupled processors form the initial architecture for scaling beyond single-unit systems. This approach mirrors the growth trajectory of classical data centers, allowing for incremental expansion and increased computational power. Because the quantum computer will reside alongside LUMI, Finland’s high-performance computing resource, it will facilitate hybrid quantum-classical workflows already demonstrated by VTT and IQM using their initial 5-qubit system. This co-development model extends accessibility, allowing organizations to begin with smaller IQM Spark systems for internal skill-building and progress to research systems integrated with national HPC resources, all while maintaining a consistent upgrade path and feedback loop. Every new user contributes to the iterative improvement of the hardware, creating a self-reinforcing cycle of development and refinement, which explains a key benefit of the partnership structure. The resulting ecosystem aims to integrate hardware development, research access, high-performance computing, talent cultivation, and commercial spin-offs, fostering a synergistic environment for quantum innovation. This arrangement allows Finland to develop quantum capabilities independently and on its own timeline, offering researchers and companies a dedicated platform for experimentation and advancement, according to VTT. The first 150-qubit stage of the 300-qubit system is expected to arrive late 2026, marking a tangible milestone in Europe’s quantum computing landscape. We know each other’s labs, people and quality standards, so we move fast, and we are candid with each other. FiQCI Infrastructure Drives Research, Training, and Quantum Spin-offs Finland’s national quantum infrastructure fostered over 5,200 QPU-hours of use between 2022 and 2025, directly supporting 63 unique projects and yielding 18 peer-reviewed publications alongside 15 validated applications. This output stems from VTT’s operation of the FiQCI infrastructure in collaboration with CSC and Aalto University, demonstrating a tangible return on investment in national quantum capabilities, the firm reports. The program’s success extends beyond research, with over 300 individuals completing FiQCI’s training program and forming a skilled workforce prepared to utilize the emerging technology. The impact of this investment is visible in the growth of Finnish quantum companies; Arctic Instruments, initially developing amplifiers for earlier systems, now supplies superconducting microwave amplifiers internationally, while SemiQon is focused on silicon-based qubits. Both companies originated as VTT spin-offs, illustrating how publicly funded research can catalyze private sector innovation. An independent assessment ranked the Helsinki region second globally among quantum clusters, and first within the European Union, a position bolstered by the FiQCI program’s comprehensive approach. IQM focuses on delivering 300, and VTT focuses on what comes after. We de-risk each other that way.

Qubit Radiance System Enables Error Correction and Scalable Computing The 300-qubit system arriving in Finland in 2027 utilizes a design of two 150-qubit processors functioning in parallel, a configuration directly addressing the challenge of quantum error correction. Reaching reliable logical qubits, essential for practical applications, demands hardware exceeding current qubit counts, alongside the sophisticated control and decoding algorithms to operate it effectively. This Finnish system provides a dedicated platform for developing these capabilities independently, allowing researchers to tailor solutions to their own machine and timeline. Beyond error mitigation, the dual-processor architecture is a foundational step toward distributed quantum computing. Because the system is integrated with Finland’s LUMI supercomputer, it facilitates hybrid quantum-classical workflows already pioneered by IQM and VTT with their initial 5-qubit system. This co-location extends the possibilities for complex computations, utilizing the strengths of both quantum and classical resources. VTT’s access to the physical machine, operating within its own facilities, provides a level of control unattainable through cloud-based quantum computing, enabling detailed analysis of individual qubit characteristics and optimization of performance. Source: https://iqm.tech/blog/from-5-to-300-qubits-building-europes-largest-quantum-computer/