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Telefónica and IQM Quantum Computers plan to install an IQM Spark system at the Technical University of Madrid before the end of 2026. The companies say it will give universities, hospitals, research centers and start-ups access to quantum hardware; the timeline, access arrangements and project cost have not been disclosed.
Telefónica and IQM Quantum Computers plan to install an IQM Spark quantum computer at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM) before the end of 2026, a project the companies describe as the first quantum computer in Spain’s Community of Madrid. The planned system is intended for research, education and early-stage development, and would give institutions and companies in the region access to quantum hardware.
The companies say the system will be installed at UPM as an all-in-one platform for users to develop and test quantum algorithms. The stated intended users include universities, hospitals, research centers and start-ups. The announcement does not specify how access will be allocated or whether users will pay to use the computer.
The project is intended to develop local expertise and help organizations explore potential industry applications. Telefónica and IQM say the system will support a wider regional quantum ecosystem, but they have not identified specific research programs, business use cases or expected outcomes tied to the Madrid installation.
The planned Madrid computer would add to two other quantum computers that Telefónica and IQM have provided to the Galician Supercomputing Centre (CESGA), according to the companies. No technical specifications for the new IQM Spark system, project budget or detailed installation schedule were included in the announcement.
Building Madrid’s Quantum Research Capacity
A local system could give researchers and students hands-on access to quantum hardware without requiring them to rely solely on remote facilities. That may help institutions develop practical skills and test algorithms, although the announcement does not establish what performance or research results the computer will deliver.
The project also matters for regional technology policy. Telefónica and IQM present the installation as a way to support industry collaboration and local expertise, while adding infrastructure to Europe’s broader quantum technology ecosystem. Those aims depend on the computer becoming operational and on potential users being able to access it; neither access rules nor a process for connecting research to commercial applications has been detailed.
Quantum computers are still an emerging technology, and the companies have framed this system around education, research and early-stage development. The announcement is not evidence that the installation will produce near-term commercial benefits or replace conventional computing for general workloads.
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A Third Telefónica-IQM Installation
The Madrid plan follows two computer deployments by Telefónica and IQM at CESGA in Galicia, as described in the companies’ announcement. The new project would place a system at a university rather than at the supercomputing center cited for the earlier installations, with the stated focus on research, education and development.
Telefónica also described its work on quantum-related communications and security. Borja Ochoa, the company’s non-executive chairman in Spain and B2B chief executive, said Telefónica offers communications between data centers protected by what he called new post-quantum cryptography standards. That is separate from the Madrid computer deployment: the announcement did not say the IQM Spark system would provide encryption services or be used to protect data networks.
IQM describes itself as a supplier of superconducting quantum computers and says its systems are deployed in Europe, Asia and North America. The companies’ statements about the Madrid project are plans and intended benefits, not independent evaluations of the system’s capabilities or its future impact.
“This project marks another step forward in Telefónica’s close collaboration with the Community of Madrid in deploying quantum technologies.”
— Borja Ochoa, non-executive chairman of Telefónica España and CEO of B2B
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Access, Cost and Delivery Details
The companies have not disclosed the project’s cost, funding arrangements or procurement terms. They also have not provided a more specific installation date than “before the end of 2026,” nor said when the computer is expected to become operational after installation.
It remains unclear which organizations will receive access, how usage will be scheduled, whether access will be free or paid, and what technical support or training will be available. The announcement also does not state the system’s qubit count or other performance specifications, or name specific research projects that will use it.
The claim that this will be the first quantum computer in the Community of Madrid comes from the project announcement. No independent inventory of regional quantum computers was provided in the source material.
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Installation Planned for 2026
The next stated milestone is installation of the IQM Spark system at UPM before the end of 2026. Telefónica, IQM and the university have not published a detailed schedule in the material provided, so further updates would be needed to confirm progress and the date the system begins operation.
Key information to watch for includes the final technical configuration, funding and operating arrangements, user eligibility, and the first research or training programs. The project’s practical impact will become clearer once the computer is installed, access is defined and researchers begin reporting how they use it.
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Key Questions
Where will the planned quantum computer be installed?
Telefónica and IQM say the IQM Spark system will be installed at the Technical University of Madrid (UPM).
When is the computer expected to be installed?
The companies plan to install it before the end of 2026. They have not announced a more specific date or an operational start date.
Who is expected to use the system?
The announcement names universities, hospitals, research centers and start-ups as intended users. It does not explain how access will work or which organizations will be selected.
What will the Madrid quantum computer be used for?
The IQM Spark is described as a system for research, education and early-stage development, including developing and testing quantum algorithms. Specific projects and commercial applications have not been identified.
Has the project’s cost been announced?
No. The announcement does not provide a budget, funding breakdown or access fees.
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