IonQ has announced an expansion of its long-term partnership with QuantumBasel, strengthening their collaboration around next-generation quantum computing systems and research in Europe. The agreement extends IonQ’s on-site presence in Switzerland through 2029 and increases the total value of the partnership to more than $60 million, underscoring the company’s commitment to building a quantum-ready ecosystem across the region.
Under the expanded contract, QuantumBasel, the quantum initiative of Switzerland’s innovation campus uptownBasel, will take ownership of its existing IonQ Forte Enterprise system and has also secured ownership of IonQ’s forthcoming Tempo system. QuantumBasel serves as IonQ’s official Innovation Center in Europe, providing enterprises, universities, startups, and research institutions with direct access to IonQ’s enterprise-grade quantum hardware.
IonQ Chairman and CEO Niccolo de Masi described the partnership as a cornerstone of the company’s global strategy, highlighting QuantumBasel’s role as a key innovation hub. According to IonQ, the collaboration supports the adoption of quantum computing across a range of sectors, including materials science, defense, artificial intelligence, life sciences, and logistics, by offering both advanced hardware and collaborative research opportunities.
As part of the expanded agreement, IonQ and QuantumBasel are also broadening their joint research initiatives. New workstreams will focus on optimizing large language models and developing hybrid quantum-classical techniques aimed at delivering near-term commercial value. These efforts are intended to explore how quantum systems can complement classical computing, particularly in enhancing AI performance and enabling new algorithmic approaches.
QuantumBasel CEO Thomas Landolt said the on-site IonQ systems play a central role in building a collaborative community at uptownBasel, enabling researchers and industry partners to explore practical quantum applications today while preparing for future advances. IonQ will also increase its physical footprint at the campus and expand its technical and research teams to support both system development and collaborative projects.
Looking ahead, QuantumBasel’s next system, IonQ Tempo, is positioned as a key milestone in IonQ’s roadmap toward higher-performing and fault-tolerant quantum computers. Building on the Forte Enterprise platform, Tempo is expected to support deeper quantum circuits and higher-fidelity operations. According to IonQ, these capabilities are critical for advancing quantum use cases in areas such as finance, materials engineering, drug discovery, and supply chain optimization. The partnership is expected to span four generations of IonQ systems as the technology matures.
The announcement builds on IonQ’s expanding presence across Europe. In recent years, the company has established partnerships and operations throughout the region, including collaborations in Sweden, acquisitions in the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and the formation of IonQ Italia.
