IBM and Lockheed Martin, through an offset agreement with armasuisse, Switzerland’s Federal Office for Defence Procurement, have established a hub for quantum innovation at ETH Zurich, a prominent public research university.
The new hub plans to host the country’s first IBM Quantum System Two at the Swiss National Supercomputing Center (CSCS) in Lugano.
IBM will operate the IBM Quantum System Two, which will be powered by an IBM Quantum Nighthawk, the company’s most advanced processor.
ETH Zurich will provide expertise, resources and technologies for Swiss industries, startups and academia, including access to the quantum computer. Its delivery is expected to catalyze the development of new algorithms, technical breakthroughs, and industrial use cases, as well as anchor initiatives to foster Switzerland’s workforce and talent.
The project also advances the ongoing strategic collaboration between Lockheed Martin and IBM, combining Lockheed Martin innovations in quantum sensing and additive manufacturing with IBM’s expertise in quantum computing and AI.
“This project extends the strategic relationship between Lockheed Martin and IBM in quantum and AI while positioning Switzerland as a leader in these critical, cutting-edge fields. ,” said Craig Martell, VP and CTO at Lockheed Martin. “It provides resources and expertise, develops skills and enables joint research across the Swiss commercial, defense and academic ecosystem.”
Alessandro Curioni, VP at IBM Research and director of the Zurich Research Laboratory, said their research team at their Zurich lab has led fundamental technology breakthroughs and has been part of the country’s science ecosystem for decades.
“Switzerland will gain access to essential research infrastructure that will enable us to further advance the exploration of this emerging technology and educate the talent needed to support it,” said ETH Zurich president Joël Mesot.
Organizations that join the innovation hub through ETH Zurich will have immediate access to these resources and IBM’s fleet of quantum computers available over the cloud.
Additionally, upon the system’s deployment by the end of 2026, ETH Zurich will provide organizations with access to Switzerland’s own dedicated IBM Quantum System Two.
These capabilities will enable the country’s community of innovators to accelerate scientific and industrial research and build new use cases across chemistry, materials science, optimization, financial services and more.
As part of the collaboration, two planned joint development projects between IBM and Lockheed Martin include the exploration of quantum sensing applications for navigation and the improvement of additive manufacturing of metallic alloys.
These projects also complement ongoing efforts by IBM and Lockheed Martin across a range of advanced technologies focused on aerospace and defense innovation.
This initiative also builds upon a close and long-standing collaboration between IBM and ETH Zurich, including a recently launched 10-year effort to advance foundational algorithmic research.
The quantum education and workforce development effort includes providing the Swiss ecosystem with access to the IBM Quantum Network and IBM Quantum Platform learning offerings, including coursework, certifications, and workshops; as well as event support, such as hackathons, conferences, and partner forums.
