China starts exporting quantum computers as its systems become more competitive

Chinese companies are rolling out quantum computing services to global markets, including Europe. ChinaLink ESGt, a Shanghai-based venture capital firm led by a Spanish entrepreneur, recently signed an agreement with Origin Quantum, China’s leading quantum computing company, to build a quantum computing center in the Spanish tech hub Malaga. According to official statements, the project will use Origin Quantum’s hybrid quantum cloud platform and hardware technologies, which could include quantum computers, sensors or other quantum devices, though details have not been disclosed. 

Through the arrangement, Spain aims to advance quantum technologies, including quantum-resistant encryption and advanced algorithms for finance, healthcare, and green technology. The agreement follows the launch of Spain’s first National Quantum Technologies Strategy (2025-2030) in April, which came with a EUR 800 million investment. Despite these ambitions, researchers in Spain are most likely to use Origin Quantum’s systems remotely. Exporting physical quantum devices would be subject to strict dual-use export controls in both China and Spain. 

Spain is not alone in Europe. An Italian firm partnered with Shenzhen-based SpinQ Technology to develop quantum computing services for academic institutions and companies. In January, the University of Perugia and the University of Salerno received Chinese quantum computers, albeit smaller systems, which cannot easily be scaled up. Researchers can use them for programming and running algorithms, similar to the cloud-based quantum computer simulations offered by US-based firms like IBM, Nvidia and AWS.

Additionally, QuantumCTek announced that it sold a larger, 25-bit superconducting quantum computer to an undisclosed overseas buyer. Origin Quantum is also preparing to export its Origin SL400 dilution refrigerator, which cools quantum systems, to Belt and Road countries such as South Africa, Russia and Iran. 

Providing access to online quantum services helps Beijing push its narrative that it is a constructive research partner for Europe and the Global South, without sharing much of the underlying technology. These partnerships help China collect user data, improve its quantum services, consolidate its advances and build overseas reliance on Chinese technologies. For Europe, the partnership is a dilemma: It could support local innovation and knowledge diffusion, but it also risks deepening dependencies at a time when governments have scaled down international cooperation on quantum over dual-use concerns. The dilemma is not just about leadership in a promising future technology, but about direct security implications.

Altynay Junusova, Analyst, MERICS: “Partnerships in Spain and Italy show that China’s quantum firms are competing with US firms like IBM in global markets. Europe’s quantum ecosystem, which has historically focused on research, is being outrun by China’s, which excels at scaling and cost efficiency.”