SPECIAL FEATURE | Europe enters the Quantum Computing realm

Europe is increasingly moving into quantum computing, both in established data-center hubs and in emerging high-performance computing (HPC), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) markets. The feature explains how quantum computing, rooted in quantum mechanics and computer science, traces back to the 1980s and key work by Richard Feynman and David Deutsch. It highlights advances such as quantum algorithms, including Peter Shor’s factoring approach, which demonstrated potential advantages over classical systems. Instead of classical bits, quantum computers use qubits capable of representing multiple possibilities at once for certain complex problems. The article notes that quantum data centers require highly controlled environments and specialized cooling. It also outlines the idea of Quantum Computing as a Service (QCaaS), enabling access via cloud rather than owning expensive hardware.