CatLab is a €97 million quantum computing research initiative led by Barcelona Supercomputing Center (BSC) that aims to design and build a quantum computer in Catalonia, positioning the region as a leading European hub for quantum technology. The project combines BSC's world-class expertise in high-performance computing with new quantum hardware research laboratories, assembling a multidisciplinary team of physicists, engineers, and computer scientists to tackle the fundamental challenges of building practical quantum processors.
The initiative addresses a strategic gap in Europe's quantum computing landscape. While several European countries have launched national quantum programmes, CatLab is distinctive in its focus on integrating quantum computing capabilities with existing supercomputing infrastructure, enabling hybrid classical-quantum workflows that can tackle problems beyond the reach of either approach alone.
Smart city applications represent a key use case for CatLab's quantum computing research. Traffic flow optimisation in complex urban networks, energy grid management with fluctuating renewable energy inputs, logistics route planning for delivery and waste collection fleets, and materials science simulations for sustainable construction are all problems whose computational complexity exceeds the practical limits of classical computing. Quantum algorithms promise to find optimal or near-optimal solutions to these challenges in a fraction of the time required by current methods.
The project also invests heavily in quantum talent development, training the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers through doctoral programmes, postdoctoral positions, and industry partnerships. Technology transfer activities aim to ensure that research advances are rapidly translated into commercial applications and public-sector tools.
CatLab reinforces Barcelona's position at the frontier of computational science and demonstrates how long-term investment in foundational technologies can create new capabilities for addressing the most complex challenges of urban management, climate adaptation, and sustainable development in the decades ahead.