On 19 August 2025, the United States Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced that it has selected the IQM Radiance 20-qubit upgradeable full stack superconducting quantum computer. It will be the first on-premises quantum computer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, to be integrated with the laboratory’s high-performance computing systems. Delivery is scheduled by the third quarter of 2025, and the installation is intended to support hybrid quantum-classical application development.
The Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory announced it has selected IQM Radiance as its first-ever purchased on-premises quantum computer to be integrated into high-performance computing systems at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Today’s announcement follows an earlier announcement of Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s Quantum Computing User Program leveraging the IQM Resonance cloud platform for advanced quantum research.
IQM Quantum Computers is a Finland-headquartered provider of superconducting quantum computers with a global presence. The company supplies on-premises full stack systems and provides a cloud platform to access its computers. Its customers include leading high-performance computing centres, research laboratories, universities, and enterprises. IQM has over 300 employees, with headquarters in Finland and offices in France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Poland, Spain, Singapore, South Korea, and the United States. Since entering the US market, IQM has been leveraging its leading global market position, state-of-the-art technology, and partnerships to drive quantum research, adoption and education.
“ORNL has a decades-long history in high-performance computing and is today one of the leading research institutions in the US for quantum computing,” said Travis Humble, advisor to the QCUP and director of the Quantum Science Center at ORNL. “IQM’s on-premises installation will allow our researchers hands-on access to cutting-edge quantum computing technology as we explore how quantum computers will be integrated with HPC systems to tackle early quantum advantage.”
“We are excited that ORNL has selected IQM Radiance as their first-ever purchased on-premises quantum computer,” said Mikko Välimäki, Co-CEO of IQM Quantum Computers. “This further proves that quantum computers are already today highly useful and in demand. Important research can be done to integrate quantum computers with classical hardware and develop the platform for quantum advantage.”
“We are committed to supporting ORNL’s pioneering efforts to advance quantum computing across the US. Our shared vision to accelerate the integration of quantum and HPC infrastructure has made this journey incredibly rewarding, and we are just getting started. Our long-term goal is to collaborate closely with ORNL’s researchers in quantum application areas like fluid dynamics, particle physics and electronic structure simulations.” says Jan Goetz, co-founder and co-CEO of IQM.
Strategic implications
Locating a quantum system inside a national laboratory high-performance computing environment may shift activity from short, cloud-based trials toward sustained, co-located programmes of work. Proximity could support continuous experiments on hybrid workflows, where compilers, controls, and schedulers are exercised under realistic conditions. Evidence gathered in this setting may inform subsequent design choices and integration practice.
As technical integration deepens, operational policy usually follows. On-site operation could require clear access rules, data-handling procedures, and protections for research networks that reflect a laboratory mission. The experience of implementing such policies may offer practical guidance for governance and security in similar facilities.
Operational lessons tend to translate into shared interfaces and measurements. Day-to-day coordination with supercomputing resources could clarify requirements for orchestration, provenance, audit, and resource allocation. Documented interfaces and reproducible benchmarks may help standards efforts and provide a common basis for performance reporting.
The presence of a resident system often shapes people and skills. Engineers and domain scientists may gain hands-on experience across physics, computing, and systems engineering. That capability can flow into training, curricula, and collaboration models with universities and vendors, strengthening the workforce that supports hybrid computing.
These technical, policy, and human factors usually carry economic signals. An upgradeable platform in a stable facility could support multi-year service and co-development agreements. Local supply chains for cryogenics, microwave control, calibration, and specialised infrastructure may grow as operations mature. Procurement decisions may place greater weight on observed integration outcomes and collaboration results, alongside cloud access models.
Taken together, this installation may indicate steady movement toward hybrid models in publicly funded research, with lessons that extend to the application areas named in the press release and to the wider quantum economy.
Source: IQM press release, “IQM to integrate quantum computer into Oak Ridge National Laboratory’s HPC systems,” 19 Aug 2025.
Disclaimer: Quantum Universum reports are prepared for informational purposes only. Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. No liability is assumed for errors or omissions. The analysis reflects the editorial team’s perspective and does not represent official positions of Oak Ridge National Laboratory, the United States Department of Energy, or IQM Quantum Computers.
