Launching the Swiss Quantum Innovation Hub
IBM and Lockheed Martin are establishing a new quantum innovation hub at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, also known as ETH Zurich. The center will feature Switzerland’s first IBM Quantum System Two, slated for installation at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre in Lugano. This facility will serve as a hub for academic researchers, industrial partners, and technology startups across the nation.
Operations at the Lugano site should begin by the end of 2026. IBM will manage the hardware while ETH Zurich will organize access for local institutions. This setup provides Swiss organizations with a direct path to advanced quantum computing resources previously unavailable within the country's borders. The agreement spans three years, securing research capabilities through 2029.
Technical Capabilities of the New Hardware
At the core of this site sits the IBM Quantum System Two, which is the company’s primary modular computing architecture. It represents the foundation of quantum-centric supercomputing by combining cryogenic infrastructure with classical runtime servers. The system is designed to support hybrid workflows that bridge the gap between traditional processing and quantum calculation.
Users at the hub will interact with the IBM Quantum Nighthawk r2 processor. This unit is the most advanced hardware currently offered by the company, boasting 120 programmable qubits. It includes a high-speed reset architecture that enables the execution of more than 100,000 circuits per second. This throughput is 25 times faster than the previous generation of processors in the IBM Quantum Heron family.
Research Focus and Strategic Goals
Collaboration remains the primary goal of this initiative. Lockheed Martin intends to work alongside IBM to study quantum sensing for navigation systems. They also plan to apply quantum techniques to improve the additive manufacturing of metallic alloys. These projects build upon an existing relationship between the two firms in the sectors of artificial intelligence and quantum information science.
Beyond specialized research, the hub seeks to grow the local talent pool. Members will have access to the IBM Quantum Network and various educational programs, including certifications and workshops. By housing the hardware at the Swiss National Supercomputing Centre, researchers can link quantum tasks with the existing Alps supercomputer. This configuration creates a potent environment for simulating complex molecular structures and chemical processes that defy standard classical computation.
Future Implications for Swiss Science
This project continues a long history of cooperation between IBM and Switzerland. The company has maintained a research laboratory in the country for seven decades. This new hub also follows a separate ten-year partnership between IBM and ETH Zurich that targets the development of new algorithms for the quantum and AI eras.
Switzerland maintains a competitive scientific ecosystem that stands to gain from this hardware deployment. As organizations integrate these tools into their workflows, the focus will shift toward scaling practical use cases in finance and materials science. The establishment of this hub provides a concrete infrastructure for researchers to move from theoretical models to verifiable quantum advantage.