More than a year ago, we got the task to procure a 300-qubit quantum computer to Finland, which would ensure Finland's technological leadership in the development and exploitation of quantum technologies. The challenge was thrown, and we accepted it.
We have already once successfully done an innovative public procurement at VTT when we did the procurement decision of a 50-qubit computer in 2020. Therefore, we knew that it is possible to successfully combine the delivery of a quantum computer with technology co-development within a procurement. This time we, however, raised the bar even higher: How can we simultaneously procure a quantum computer and ensure that we create an ecosystem to Finland that provides growth opportunities for as many as possible?
We started figuring out this complex equation. The tool given for this challenging task was the Finnish innovative public procurement process, with all its intricate legal details. Hence, before rushing into things, it was important for us to define the strategic objectives of the procurement that would strengthen Finland's competitive advantage and enable growth of the entire ecosystem.
But why did we decide to define the strategic and qualitative objectives of the tender as we did?
After all, there were as many possibilities as there were doers. Our challenge and aim was to set strategic goals that were ambitious enough and would achieve maximum impact for Finland. After all, the procurement and development investment itself is in a Finnish scale a huge one focused on a single technology. So, the first thing we felt we had to do was to dare to make choices and to be truly ambitious in our objective of pursuing global technology leadership.
How can quantum technology promote the interests of the Finnish society in the long run, and how can the procurement promote Finland's growth?
First, we considered in which quantum technology fields we have such strong know-how and expertise in Finland, that can be strengthened to make us both European and global technology leaders. It would naturally be great if we could be in the forefront of all quantum technology fields. Unfortunately, this is not possible with the resources of a small country, so we must make choices.
In the quantum computer procurement, we wanted to enable that progress was made on all fronts: in the performance of the quantum computing hardware itself, in the algorithms and applications of quantum computing, in the development of a broad range of skills in relevant fields and in the capability to fabricate quantum devices. We concluded that Finland has particularly extensive expertise in superconducting technologies. Hence, tt was natural to set the first strategic objective of the quantum computer procurement to ensure that Finland is at the absolute forefront of the development and delivery of superconducting quantum computers. In superconducting quantum technology, we also have high-level expertise to handle the procurement with honour. In addition, VTT has the prerequisites to further develop superconducting technology and strengthen Finland’s long-term competitiveness and leadership in this critical technology through intellectual property rights.
Superconducting quantum computers have so far proven to be the best performing quantum computers among the various technology options. The first objective of the procurement was therefore the development of a quantum computer with world-leading performance, and the development of next generation hardware components and fabrication technologies.
The second strategic objective was to accelerate the use of quantum computing and development of quantum applications in the Finnish society – how could this be done most effectively?
From the perspective of businesses and universities, the biggest challenge in quantum computing is probably not the lack of interest but the cost of quantum computing time. Quantum computing time is really expensive. We decided that, from the very start of the project, we should offer limited free quantum computing time for quantum computing application development work carried out in Finland by companies and academia, awarded to applications that meet specified criteria. By publishing these examples of quantum computing applications, we can also inspire others to get involved. In this way we also get a magnitude of quantum computing application examples and can show what added value use of quantum computing can bring to businesses. The procurement also includes a cloud computing platform for the delivered quantum computer, and it will be connected to the Finnish high-performance computing infrastructure to enable hybrid computing to further strengthen the use of quantum computing in the Finnish society.
The third strategic objective was linked to strengthening Finnish top-notch expertise in material design
In Finland, we have world leading expertise in material design and modelling. We already have evidence that certain material modelling algorithms benefit from quantum computing and of hybrid quantum-classical computing, which combines the advantages of both supercomputing and quantum computing. We want to develop this into the next competitive advantage for Finland. Hence, the innovation partnership is exploring how the quantum computer can be optimized to specifically support material modelling algorithms with smooth hybrid computing.
The 300-qubit quantum computer will be delivered by the end of 2027
The multi-phase procurement process, from the request for participation through negotiations to the final offer and selection, has been complex and lengthy, but the process helped to find the best solutions for Finland. The competition focused continuously on strategic objectives, and not a single bit was compromised from the ambitious starting point, to ensure Finland's global technological leadership as a developer and user of quantum technologies.
As a result of the tender, VTT and IQM Quantum Computers recently signed a contract for the delivery of a 300-qubit quantum computer by the end of 2027. In the light of the investments already announced, the quantum computer to be delivered will be of leading edge not only in Europe, but also globally.
This procurement also includes a broader innovation partnership in technology development and application. IQM Quantum Computers has already supplied VTT with a 50-qubit quantum computer with world-leading performance, so our expectations for the new project are high. We dare to claim that the innovation partnership that has now started is very much in line with the strategic objectives of the project. The next step is to work towards achieving the objectives and implementing the plans.
Blog writers
Piia Konstari, Project Manager for VTT’s quantum computer procurement process, Director, Microfabrication services at VTT
Pekka Pursula, Director, Microelectronics and Quantum Research at VTT
