IBM and Lockheed Martin launch Swiss quantum innovation hub

IBM and Lockheed Martin have established a quantum innovation hub at ETH Zurich to bolster Switzerland’s quantum ecosystem. Facilitated by an offset agreement with armasuisse, the Swiss Federal Office for Defence Procurement, the initiative will bring the country’s first IBM Quantum System Two to the Swiss National Supercomputing Center (CSCS) in Lugano.

Expected to be fully deployed by the end of 2026, the system will be powered by the IBM Quantum Nighthawk processor. ETH Zurich will coordinate access to the hardware, providing Swiss academic institutions, startups, and industrial partners with the resources needed to develop algorithms in fields such as chemistry, materials science, finance, and optimization.

The collaboration also includes research projects between IBM and Lockheed Martin focused on quantum sensing for navigation and advancements in the additive manufacturing of metal alloys. Beyond hardware access, the hub aims to foster workforce development through specialized training, workshops, and certifications to build local expertise in quantum technologies.