IQM Quantum Computer Goes Live at Supercomputing Center CINECA in Italy, Boosting National Compute Infrastructure and Research

BOLOGNA, Italy--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 11, 2026--

The Italian Research Centre on High Performance Computing, Big Data, and Quantum Computing (ICSC) today inaugurated the IQM Radiance 54 quantum computer at CINECA, one of Europe's leading supercomputing centers, enabling advanced applications in optimization, simulation, and machine learning.

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IQM has previously announced its ongoing business combination with Real Asset Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: RAAQ), which will result in IQM becoming a public company in mid-2026.

The installation, located at the CINECA headquarters in the DAMA Tecnopolo in Bologna, represents not just technological progress but a strategic Italian asset providing concrete tools for the scientific community and businesses to foster innovation, accelerate research, and transform knowledge into high-impact applications.

IQM Radiance, named NOX, is being integrated into Leonardo, one of the world's fastest supercomputers to support hybrid high-performance computing and quantum workflows. The objective is to provide researchers with a production-ready environment for experimentation with integrated classical–quantum computing paradigms.

“This installation is what Production Quantum means to us. Quantum computers you own, operate, and build value on. Real infrastructure inside real environments, doing real work,” said Sylwia de Weydenthal, Chief Commercial Officer of IQM Quantum Computers. “The delivery of IQM Radiance to CINECA is a milestone for Italy and for European quantum computing. It reinforces our role as a strategic partner in delivering Europe's HPC–quantum infrastructure on the ground.”

The system is the first on-premises superconducting quantum computer at CINECA and the second IQM quantum computer in Italy, further strengthening the country's position in quantum computing.

This deployment contributes directly to IQM's ambition to drive the global adoption of hybrid computing systems and enable customers to build quantum capability.

IQM has on-premises systems operating at four of the world's top ten supercomputing centers and has sold 23 quantum computers globally, more than any other manufacturer.

“In line with the European strategy, we have invested in building a modern and competitive national infrastructure, capable of providing universities and research institutions with advanced computing tools essential for tackling major scientific, technological, and economic challenges. However, this milestone does not mark the end of our commitment. Several measures have already been launched to ensure continuity of PNRR results and activities, further strengthening the infrastructure and more effectively supporting the transfer of advanced applications and solutions to industry and public administration,” said Anna Maria Bernini, Italian Minister of University and Research.

“This significantly strengthens digital sovereignty and supports national competitiveness. Especially in today’s geopolitical and energy instability, this resource is crucial to avoid falling further behind in the global race for data control and to build a viable and sustainable Italian and European alternative to U.S. technological offerings,” said Antonio Zoccoli, President of the ICSC and the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN).

“With the addition of SOL and LISA, we are delivering an integrated ecosystem built around Leonardo, designed to support a broad spectrum of workloads—from advanced AI applications to traditional HPC and emerging quantum computing. This milestone is the result of a strong national commitment by Italy—through the Ministry of University and Research, CINECA and ICSC—together with EuroHPC, aligning investments and capabilities to strengthen Europe’s technological sovereignty and enable a new generation of cutting-edge assets for research and innovation,” said Francesco Ubertini, Vice-President of the ICSC and President of CINECA.

About IQM Quantum Computers

IQM Quantum Computers is a global leader in superconducting quantum computers, delivering full-stack quantum computers and cloud platform access to research institutions, universities, high-performance computing centers, national laboratories, and enterprises worldwide. IQM's on-premises deployment model gives customers direct ownership and control of their quantum infrastructure. Founded in 2018, headquartered in Finland with major operations in Munich, it has over 400 employees. IQM operates across Europe, Asia, and North America. IQM has previously announced its ongoing business combination with Real Asset Acquisition Corp (Nasdaq: RAAQ), which will result in IQM becoming a public company in mid-2026.

The moment Italy's second IQM quantum computer went live at CINECA in Bologna.

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. applications for jobless aid rose modestly last week, but remain at a historically low level despite economic headwinds brought on by the war in Iran.

The number of Americans filing for unemployment aid for the week ending June 6 rose by 4,000 to 229,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the most since early February, before the U.S. and Israel launched attacks on Iran, but still considered a healthy level. It's also more than the 216,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for U.S. layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

Despite concerns that the conflict in the Middle East could further squeeze a flagging labor market, hiring has picked up in recent months following a miserable 2025 that saw fewer than 200,000 job gains. For comparison, about 1.5 million jobs were added in 2024.

U.S. employers delivered a surprising 172,000 new jobs in May and the economy is averaging 188,000 job gains in the three months since the Iran war began in late February. That’s the best three months of hiring since early 2024. The unemployment rate remains historically low at 4.3%.

Job openings also rose in April as employers posted 7.6 million vacancies, up from 6.9 million in March and the most since May 2024.

The government reported Wednesday that rising gas prices — triggered by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz off Iran’s southern border — pushed U.S. consumer inflation in May to 4.2%, its highest level in three years. Despite recent declines, prices for oil and gas remain elevated, which can squeeze consumers’ budgets and make businesses think twice about hiring.

With inflation well above the Federal Reserve’s 2% target, most analysts expect officials at the U.S. central bank to stand pat on its benchmark interest rate when they meet next week. That meeting will be the first with new Fed Chair Kevin Warsh, who replaces Jerome Powell after his eight-year run as the U.S. central bank’s leader.

Lower interest rates can boost the economy and hiring, but also tend to stoke inflation, leading a number of Fed policymakers to say they are actually willing to consider an interest rate hike this year. That could potentially help bring inflation down, but higher borrowing costs generally make businesses more reluctant to hire.

Optimism over artificial intelligence has also injected a degree of uncertainty about the job market due to the investment required to develop it and because the powerful technology could alter or even replace some jobs.

Among the companies that have cut jobs recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

The Labor Department’s report Thursday showed that the four-week moving average of jobless claims, which evens out some of the weekly volatility, rose by 4,250 to 219,000.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending May 30 jumped by 24,000 to 1.8 million, slightly more than analysts predicted.

FILE - A hiring sign is displayed at a restaurant in Niles, Ill., Thursday, May 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)