Spain prepares for first IQM quantum systems at CESGA
IQM Quantum Computers is set to install its first quantum systems in Spain, following a purchase agreement signed with the Galician Supercomputing Center. The deal will see two full-stack quantum computers deployed by mid-2026, marking an important milestone for Spain’s national computing infrastructure.
For eeNews Europe readers, the news highlights how quantum computing is moving out of pilot labs and into real HPC environments. It also shows how telecoms, supercomputing centres and quantum hardware suppliers are teaming up to build practical hybrid computing platforms that European industry and researchers can actually use.
First IQM systems for Spain
Under the agreement, IQM Quantum Computers will deliver a 54-qubit IQM Radiance system and a smaller 5-qubit IQM Spark. The installation will take place at the Galician Supercomputing Center (CESGA) in Santiago de Compostela, with delivery scheduled by June 2026. Telefónica is also part of the collaboration, supporting the integration and broader ecosystem development.
The larger IQM Radiance system is designed for integration into high-performance computing centres, while the IQM Spark will focus on education and skills development. Together, the systems will be used by the scientific community and made accessible to companies across multiple industrial sectors, enabling early experimentation with hybrid workflows that combine quantum computing, artificial intelligence and classical HPC.
This will be the first installation of IQM quantum computers in Spain, placing CESGA alongside major European sites such as Germany’s LRZ and Jülich, Finland’s CSC and Italy’s CINECA, all of which are already integrating quantum systems into national HPC environments.
Building a hybrid computing ecosystem
The quantum systems will complement CESGA’s upcoming Finisterrae IV supercomputer, which is designed to deliver additional computing power for AI and data-intensive workloads. A new data storage system is also planned, allowing large datasets to be permanently housed and accessed through more advanced data services.
“Delivering production-grade quantum infrastructure into real HPC environments is central to IQM’s mission,” said Sylwia Barthel de Weydenthal, Chief Commercial Officer of IQM Quantum Computers. “By deploying our systems at CESGA, we are supporting the development of a practical quantum ecosystem in Spain and enabling researchers and industry users to begin meaningful experimentation with hybrid quantum-classical computing.”
From Telefónica’s perspective, the project is about preparing future digital infrastructure. “Quantum computing will become an important pillar of future digital infrastructure,” said Sergio Sánchez, CTIO Telefónica España. “Through this collaboration with IQM and CESGA, Telefónica is helping bring advanced computing capabilities closer to researchers and enterprises, while supporting Spain’s position in next-generation technologies.”
With delivery planned for 2026, the CESGA installation is another sign that Europe’s quantum roadmap is increasingly focused on deployment, access and real-world use cases rather than purely experimental systems.
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