July 17 - Microsoft (MSFT, Financial) and Atom Computing will build one of the world's most powerful commercial quantum computers in Denmark. The €80 million ($93 million) project is backed equally by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and Denmark's Export and Investment Fund.
The new Copenhagen-based company, QuNorth, will operate the system, named “Magne”, which is expected to go live in early 2027. Magne will use logical qubits, a technology layer that enhances stability and error resistance compared with today's raw physical qubits.
Atom Computing, a U.S. startup specializing in neutral‑atom quantum hardware, will supply the quantum processors. Microsoft will provide its Discovery software stack and error‑correction protocols. The partnership builds on Microsoft's recent expansion of its Danish quantum research facilities.
QuNorth aims to give Nordic researchers and companies priority access to Magne for applications in pharmaceuticals, chemicals, logistics and finance. Construction begins late in 2025, and a Nordic quantum summit is planned that fall to detail commercial and academic access programs.
By placing Magne under Danish ownership, the deal strengthens Europe's quantum capabilities. For Microsoft, it deepens its footprint in the region's tech sector; for Atom Computing, it offers a proving ground to scale its hardware for commercial workloads.
