IQM Garnet, a 20-qubit quantum processing unit (QPU), is now available on Amazon Web Services (AWS) – the first quantum computer accessible in the European Union via the AWS cloud.
The Finnish quantum hardware startup IQM is based outside Helsinki, Finland. AWS has already entered into partnerships with IonQ, Oxford Quantum Circuits, QuEra and Rigetti for its quantum cloud service called Braket, but this will be the first AWS quantum processor hosted in the EU.
This also means that Amazon's quantum services will be accessible to end users in the AWS Europe (Stockholm) Region for the first time. It is also the first time that IQM's quantum computers will be available in an on-demand structure via the cloud and with AWS pay-as-you-go pricing.
“We are very honored to be part of the Amazon network and to partner with a global technology company,” Jan Goetz, co-CEO and co-founder of IQM, told TNW. “This is a great opportunity for IQM to expand our offering globally and partner with leading end users around the world.”
Goetz added that the joint offering was a “big step forward for cloud quantum computing” and would enable cloud users to test novel algorithms and use cases to grow their businesses.
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Affordability for quantum algorithm startups
As most of our readers probably know, today's “noisy” and error-prone quantum computers cannot really do much yet. However, the technology is currently advancing incredibly quickly. Learning to work with it will not happen overnight.
As a result, an entire business model has emerged that revolves around making organizations and companies “quantum ready” so that they are not caught off guard when quantum applications emerge. Today's smaller qubit systems are also training grounds for software developers, many of whom are working to solve the problem of error correction.
“In the cloud context, IQM Garnet is primarily used by quantum algorithm engineers to develop IP around quantum compilers, algorithms and error correction schemes,” Max Haeberlein, Head of Cloud at IQM, told TNW. “IQM Garnet offers a highly homogeneous layout and state-of-the-art fidelity, allowing users to effectively extend algorithms to the full size of the chip.”
At the same time, says Haeberlein, the company offers IQM Garnet at affordable prices, which is particularly important for the growing startup scene in the field of quantum algorithms.
Founded in 2018, IQM is Europe's leading developer of quantum hardware for superconducting qubits. Early next year, the company plans to expand its portfolio with a high-precision 54-qubit quantum computer called IQM Radiance.
According to Haeberlein, this will enable users to extend quantum algorithms beyond the point where they can still be emulated by supercomputers in the classical way.
“In 2026, we will launch IQM Radiance with 150 qubits, where we will see the first large-scale commercial algorithm applications in finance, automotive, life sciences and chemistry,” he adds.
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