We were taught to think big, and we think very, very big. When we were asked at school what we wanted to be when we grew up, we would answer, with complete certainty: astronaut, scientist or football player. The latter was aiming low for us, so we opted for science and space.

When the “quantum stuff” started, we weren’t even really aware of what we were getting into, but we were of what the consequences would be. And, to be honest, we liked the idea of being one of the starring characters in this progress.

We take the challenge seriously, and are already at the top of the class

Spain already has three nodes in the Quantum Flagship network (in Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao), one of the largest research and innovation initiatives funded by the European Commission to put Europe at the forefront of progress.

If we focus on what is closest to us, Madrid and Biscay are the only ones with access to a universal quantum computer. But, as we like to be the nerds of the class, Biscay’s the only one that offers full quantum access to all the universities in its territory. And then they say that we’re not open-minded in the North.

But, when we do something, we do it well. Biscay’s the only Spanish partner of the European Open Super Q initiative. The UPV/EHU is one of the 10 international partners involved in designing and building the different hardware elements that make up a quantum information system (memory, storage, communications…).

In addition, the European leader in quantum computing, IQM, continues to expand in Europe; from Finland to Germany, and from there to Bilbao. Through this participation, it aims to collaborate with the local research community, quantum experts from academia and industry, to develop a leading Spanish and European quantum ecosystem. We’re joining their international network of partners. In short, we’re in the thick of it.

With so many initiatives, projects and programmes… How are we going to lead this great leap?

Thanks the Government of Biscay’s digital strategy, an initiative that arises from the new solutions that society is crying out for, and that’s supported by 5 verticals, including our protagonist of the day: Quantum Ecosystem. A visionary and transformative commitment.

On reflection, however, we could say that, more than a commitment, it’s a reality.

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Quantum Ecosystem is supported by 5 key pillars, to operate like clockwork:

• Access: Biscay’s access to a universal quantum computer.
• Centre: The European centre of competences in quantum technologies.
• Foundation: The foundation for managing, organising and extracting maximum value from the entire ecosystem.
• Academy: An academy to promote knowledge and specialisation.
• Lab: An open collaboration lab to develop PoCs (Proofs of Concept) and MVPs (Minimum Viable Products).

ACCESS

For quite some time, quantum computing has been developing at the theoretical level, closely linked to academia. We wanted to democratise it and progress from theory to practice. This is why, as its name indicates, we are providing universities and the business and technology communities with access to a universal quantum computer for testing, experimentation and learning.

CENTRE

We needed a space, a place to bring together pioneering minds so that they could ponder a lot of things together. The European centre for quantum technologies was created with the idea of promoting knowledge and research by collaborating with the business and technology communities and drawing on the support of digital dragons (Accenture, IBM and Telefónica). In addition, the centre could house Europe’s second universal quantum computer.

FOUNDATION

To manage this whole ecosystem we are setting up, and in keeping with our open and collaborative philosophy, we will create a foundation chaired by the Government of Biscay and co-founded by the digital dragons. A useful tool to be able to organise everything and do more with less.

ACADEMY

Like other great spheres of endeavour, like Film, Language… we needed an academy. We truly believe that the most beautiful part of our work is sharing discoveries and failures, which are nothing more than lessons learned, iterations and turning points.

We talk a lot about the future, we think a lot about the future, but it doesn’t belong to us, but rather to the people who are being trained now. The academy has been created to promote the generation and dissemination of knowledge about quantum technologies at secondary schools and universities. For those of all tastes and preferences, to enable both formal and non-formal training, with a view to increasing specialised job opportunities.

LAB

And, as lovers of innovation, science and research, we could not create this ecosystem without an experimental area, a laboratory for proof-of-concept and minimum viable product testing of emerging technologies.

Be it hardware, software or a combination of both, these tests will facilitate movement from the theoretical to the practical, from what’s now known as basic research to applied research and constant innovation.

And, as in the previous pillars, we will do so with an open and collaborative innovation model, counting on the “usual suspects” to make this whole ecosystem a reality.

At this point, it’s clear that quantum is the present rather than the future. It’s leading us towards the second quantum revolution. And there we are, at the top of the list of specialised territories. We already have the hardware, the software and a whole plan to continue co-creating with all our national and international partners.

As champions of progress, and in love with our land, we continue to join forces and work together to place Biscay at the forefront of emerging technologies. As we said at the beginning, we were taught to think big, and we dreamed of being what we are now gradually becoming: world leaders in quantum..