uptownBasel Opens Switzerland's First Commercially Usable Quantum Computing Hub
On Thursday, 8 December 2022, the uptownBasel Group announced the opening of Switzerland's first commercially usable quantum computing hub. To make this possible, uptownBasel founded uptownBasel Infinity Corp., which — led by CEO Damir Bogdan and together with IBM, D-Wave Systems and other national and international partners — operates the Center of Competence for Quantum and Artificial Intelligence, "QuantumBasel."
Companies in pharma, medtech, industrial production and logistics benefit, as do startups, universities and universities of applied sciences. With this unique service, uptownBasel strengthens its international positioning as a forward-looking development and production location.
Access to technology few companies could build alone
Under the QuantumBasel brand, companies gain access to expertise and technology that would be difficult for most organisations to build on their own. Workshops and training sessions teach customers how to apply these technologies, with ongoing support throughout their projects. To deliver this, uptownBasel Infinity is building a team of around 20 quantum and AI specialists, data analysts, business IT experts, technologists and trainers.
Quantum as a Service
Technology access runs through uptownBasel's own hyperscaler in Arlesheim, which also offers substantial data storage capacity on the campus. Through it, QuantumBasel provides access to IBM's 433-qubit quantum computer — making it the first competence centre in Switzerland to offer companies this level of access to quantum technology.
The foundation for future innovation
Quantum computers make possible complex simulations that push conventional computing to its limits. Combined with machine learning and artificial intelligence, this opens the door to innovative solutions for the future. "We are convinced that QuantumBasel will act as an accelerator for many research projects, strengthening Basel — and Switzerland as a whole — as a business location," says Damir Bogdan, CEO of uptownBasel Infinity.
Partnerships with IBM and D-Wave
To mark the occasion, uptownBasel and IBM published a joint press release on their global agreement — unique for Switzerland — with IBM New York. The partnership declaration with D-Wave in Canada was announced the same day. Further partnerships are in development and will be announced in the coming months.
Source: uptownBasel Infinity press kit
