The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) and quantum computing company Pasqal signed the procurement contract for EuroQCS-Italy on March 27, 2025. The contract, valued at €13 million, followed a call for tender launched in August 2024. The EuroHPC JU funds 50% of the costs, with the remaining 50% provided by the Italian Ministry of University and Research through ICSC, the national HPC and quantum computing research center established under Italy’s PNRR.
According to the EuroHPC JU announcement, the first-generation EuroQCS-Italy processor will provide at least 140 qubits operating in analog mode using neutral atom technology. A planned upgrade in 2027 will introduce hybrid analog/digital capabilities, enabling a wider range of quantum algorithms. The system will be hosted and operated by CINECA in Bologna and integrated into the Leonardo pre-exascale supercomputer.
Installation was scheduled to begin in 2025. The EuroQCS-Italy consortium is led by CINECA and includes partners from Slovenia and Germany.