VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland has launched a years-long project to establish an ecosystem with companies and universities with a view to acquiring the first quantum computer in Finland, according to a company statement.
The goal of the first, one-year stage of the project is to produce a functioning five-qubit quantum computer while augmenting the country’s ability to design and build quantum computers and creating a foundation for future applications. The ultimate goal, meanwhile, is to produce a considerably more powerful computer in order to cement the country’s footing at the forefront of new technology.
The 20–25 million-euro project will be carried out as an innovation partnership that will be opened to international bidding.
Antti Vasara, CEO of VTT, reminded that advances in quantum technology and computing are expected to enable societies to overcome challenges that are impossible for contemporary supercomputers, including pandemics similar to COVID-19.
“The quantum computers of the future will be able to accurately model viruses and pharmaceuticals or design new materials in a way that is impossible with traditional methods,” he told.
Investments in innovation and future technologies, he added, are important in the current circumstance not only because they promote future competitiveness, but also because they enable economies to recover quicker from the crisis triggered by the pandemic.
“It’s now even more important than ever to make investments in innovation and future technologies that will create demand for Finnish companies’ products and services,” stressed Vasara.
