EuroHPC Quantum Computers: Europe's Shared Machines Explained
What is EuroHPC?
The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, or EuroHPC JU, is a public body that buys and runs supercomputers for Europe, sharing the bill between the EU and participating countries. Around 2022 it widened its job to include quantum computers, with an unusual twist: instead of building one giant machine in one place, it places smaller quantum computers at existing supercomputing centres in different countries. Researchers and companies across Europe can then apply for time.
The headline numbers
As reported by EuroHPC in 2026, the programme has procured six quantum computers across Europe, with further systems in procurement for SURF in the Netherlands and LuxProvide in Luxembourg. Two analogue quantum simulators, Jade and Ruby, were also inaugurated at the end of 2025, in Germany (Jülich Supercomputing Centre) and France (GENCI), under a related project called HPCQS.
| System | Host | Reported status |
|---|---|---|
| PIAST-Q | Poznań, Poland | Inaugurated June 2025 |
| VLQ | Ostrava, Czechia | Inaugurated October 2025 |
| Euro-Q-Exa | LRZ, Munich, Germany | Inaugurated 12 February 2026 |
| Lucy | TGCC, near Paris, France | Inaugurated 14 April 2026 |
| Netherlands (SURF) | Netherlands | Procurement ongoing |
| Luxembourg (LuxProvide) | Luxembourg | Procurement ongoing |
The dates for PIAST-Q and VLQ come from EuroHPC's own later announcements, which list them as already inaugurated.
Euro-Q-Exa in Munich
Euro-Q-Exa is hosted by the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) and supplied by the Finnish company IQM. It starts with 54 physical superconducting qubits in a square lattice and is integrated with the SuperMUC-NG supercomputer. An upgrade to 150 qubits is planned for the end of 2026, although one remark in the inauguration coverage pointed to early 2027, so treat the timing as uncertain. The total acquisition cost is reported as 25 million euros: 10 million from EuroHPC and 15 million from Germany's federal research ministry and the Bavarian science ministry.
Lucy near Paris
Lucy is a photonic quantum computer, meaning it uses particles of light as qubits. It is Quandela's MOSAIQ-12 system with up to 12 physical qubits, runs at room temperature, and is connected to the Joliot-Curie supercomputer at the TGCC in Bruyères-le-Châtel. The cost is reported as 8.5 million euros, split 50/50 between EuroHPC and France, with EuroHPC owning the system. It is run by the EuroQCS-France consortium, which includes GENCI, CEA, the University Politehnica of Bucharest, Forschungszentrum Jülich and ICHEC in Ireland. At the inauguration it was described as in final calibration and expected to open to European users within weeks.
Why many small machines instead of one big one?
- Different technologies: superconducting, photonic, trapped-ion and neutral-atom designs will all be tested, so Europe learns which fit which jobs. See types of quantum computers.
- Shared know-how: each host builds experience in running quantum next to classical systems, a skill every future user will need.
- Spreading benefits: centres in Poland, Czechia and Luxembourg get a seat at the table, not just the big research economies.
Who can use them?
Reporting from Quantum Zeitgeist says the first four systems were due to open to researchers across Europe from 1 August 2026 under a "quantum pilot access mode", with proposals reviewed monthly. Check EuroHPC's access calls for the current rules, because eligibility, forms and deadlines can change. A good first step for any curious beginner is to try the free cloud tools in how to try a quantum computer online.
Honest expectations
These machines have tens of qubits, not millions. They are noisy, which is the territory of NISQ devices. Nobody should expect them to break encryption or revolutionise medicine this year. Their value is as testbeds: places where European scientists and engineers learn to program, calibrate and combine quantum with classical computing. That learning is what makes bigger, error-corrected machines possible later, as described in the error correction guide.
The optimistic read
Four systems inaugurated in under a year, two more being bought, and a shared access model: Europe is turning quantum from a lab topic into public infrastructure. Each upgrade, such as Munich's planned jump to 150 qubits, gives researchers a bigger sandbox. For how this connects to the legal side, see the EU strategy and Quantum Act and the wider European overview.
Sources and further reading
- EuroHPC JU: Lucy inauguration (14 April 2026)
- EuroHPC JU: Euro-Q-Exa inauguration (12 February 2026)
- European Commission: Euro-Q-Exa inaugurated in Munich
- Quantum Zeitgeist: EuroHPC JU funds six quantum computers
Reported as of 2026-10-09. Government budgets and company roadmaps change often, so check the primary documents before relying on any figure. This page is education, not financial advice. The QNT memecoin is independent and is not linked to any company, lab or government named here, including the real company Quantinuum Ltd.
Frequently asked questions
How many quantum computers has EuroHPC bought?
EuroHPC reports six procured across Europe, with systems for the Netherlands and Luxembourg still in procurement.
How big is Euro-Q-Exa?
It starts with 54 physical superconducting qubits, supplied by IQM and hosted in Munich, with a 150-qubit upgrade planned around the end of 2026 or early 2027.
Can companies use EuroHPC quantum computers?
Access is by application through EuroHPC calls. A pilot access mode was reported to open from 1 August 2026, but check the official rules.
Are these machines powerful enough to break encryption?
No. They have tens of qubits and are noisy. Breaking encryption would need far larger, error-corrected machines.
Keep reading
- Europe's Quantum Landscape: Countries, Companies and the Big Picture
A plain English map of Europe's quantum push in 2026: national plans, flagship programs, shared supercomputer-linked machines and the startups behind them. - The EU Quantum Strategy and the Delayed Quantum Act
What Europe has committed to quantum, what the planned EU Quantum Act is meant to do, and why the proposal has slipped. - Neutral Atom Quantum Computers Explained
How do neutral atom quantum computers work? Learn about optical tweezers, Rydberg interactions, flexible layouts and the challenges this approach faces. - How to Try a Quantum Computer Online
You can run real quantum circuits from your browser. Here is a beginner guide to cloud quantum access, simulators, free tiers and what to try first.
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