A major milestone in European quantum computing is taking shape at the LUMI AI Factory in Finland. The facility will soon welcome LUMI-IQ, a quantum system supplied by IQM Quantum Computers that represents a significant leap forward in reliability and practical utility. Unlike earlier quantum machines that struggle with physical-qubit instability, LUMI-IQ will operate using logical qubits—a technology that harnesses quantum error correction to bundle multiple physical qubits into far more dependable computational units. The system will roll out in phases between 2027 and 2029, with each upgrade bringing enhanced capabilities.
CSC – IT Center for Science, based in Kajaani, will host the machine and weave it into the LUMI AI Factory's broader computing ecosystem. Funding comes from the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking alongside contributions from Finland, Czechia, Norway, and Poland. The arrangement marks the first time Europe will have a superconducting quantum computer architected from inception to work with logical qubits rather than relying solely on error-prone physical qubits.
From physical to logical qubits: towards more reliable quantum computing
Today's quantum computers operate primarily through physical qubits, which remain extremely vulnerable to environmental disturbances and computational errors. Logical qubits take a different approach: quantum error correction merges multiple physical qubits into a single, far more stable computational element. This durability proves essential for executing the lengthy, intricate calculations that real-world quantum applications demand.
LUMI-IQ's deployment will unfold across three stages. The initial 2027 installation brings IQM's Halocene H4 system, equipped with 150 physical qubits and foundational quantum error correction. A 2028 upgrade will strengthen error correction and boost logical-qubit stability. The final 2029 upgrade to the Halocene H5 variant will introduce even more sophisticated logical-qubit performance. This staged rollout enables European researchers to gain hands-on experience with logical-qubit systems as the field matures.
Combining supercomputing, AI, and quantum computing
LUMI-IQ will operate in tight concert with the LUMI AI Factory's classical computing infrastructure. Hybrid workflows can deploy each technology where it excels most: supercomputers handling vast simulations and data processing, AI tackling data analysis and workflow optimization, and quantum systems addressing problems where quantum methods unlock new solutions. This convergence gives European researchers a rare chance to test quantum algorithms in isolation and, more importantly, to explore how quantum computing integrates into practical scientific and industrial workflows.
Owning an upgradeable quantum computer lets CSC and the LUMI AI Factory integrate the system into their own AI and HPC infrastructure. That's what lets a real ecosystem grow: researchers building on infrastructure they control, inside one of the most capable computing environments anywhere.
Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder of IQM Quantum Computers
That kind of ownership is exactly what Europe needs right now — not just access to quantum computing, but the ability to shape its direction, build local expertise, and push the frontiers of advanced computing.
Jan Goetz
By pairing emerging quantum capabilities with some of Europe's most sophisticated AI and supercomputing assets, LUMI-IQ will strengthen European competency in quantum technologies and identify where increasingly dependable quantum computing can deliver genuine scientific and industrial gains.
The greatest potential lies in combining the complementary strengths of AI, high-performance computing, and quantum computing. Logical qubits make quantum calculations more reliable, while AI and HPC provide the scale, data processing and orchestration needed around them. The LUMI AI Factory allows European researchers to develop innovative hybrid approaches in a world-class computing environment.
Kimmo Koski, Managing Director of CSC – IT Center for Science
