Quantum computer for the campus: Telefónica and IQM bring first machine to Madrid
A superconducting IQM Spark quantum computer is due to be installed at the Technical University of Madrid before year-end, open to universities, hospitals and start-ups.
Archive image · Photo: Luis García (Zaqarbal) / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 es (cropped and resized)
Spanish telecoms group Telefónica and Finnish manufacturer IQM Quantum Computers plan to give the Madrid region its first quantum computer. The two companies said on Friday that a superconducting IQM Spark system will be installed at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) before the end of 2026. The compact machine is designed for research, teaching and early-stage development; the partners did not disclose its qubit count. Telefónica said universities, hospitals, research centres and start-ups will be able to use it to develop and test quantum algorithms directly on real hardware.
It is not the partners' first project in Spain: Telefónica has already supplied two IQM systems to the CESGA supercomputing centre in Galicia in the country's northwest. IQM CEO and co-founder Jan Goetz said, according to The Quantum Insider: “Quantum computing becomes truly valuable when it moves beyond remote laboratory environments.” Telefónica is also preparing for the threat future quantum computers pose to encryption. It says it is the first operator in Spain to protect links between its data centres with post-quantum cryptography. It agreed a collaboration on quantum-safe security with IBM in January 2025.