Germany unveils JION quantum computer

German startup eleQtron has unveiled JION, a trapped-ion computer that can be controlled using indigenously developed magnetic gradient-induced coupling (MAGIC) technology. The quantum computer was developed as part of the EPIQ project funded by the local government of the region of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW). It will be connected to the high-performance computing infrastructure at the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC).

Quantum computers are the future of computing and hold the promise of solving problems like climate change, drug discovery, and clean energy. We just have a little problem to solve first: getting quantum computers to work at scale so that researchers can use them to tackle the larger issues.

Interesting Engineering has extensively reported on the different approaches to building quantum computers and how research institutes and startups are both pursuing the same holy grail. Amidst all this, Germany’s approach is a bit unique. Research institutes and startups are busy building different quantum computers. Still, they will all be plugged into the high-performance computing network at JSC to make it available for a broad group of users.

JION is the latest addition.

What is JION?