Quantum computing was the focus of the latest edition of the “8:30 a.m. Tech & Business Breakfast”, held on 26 May at Eurecat Manresa’s premises. The event, organised by Gest and Eurecat with the support of the Cambra de Comerç de Manresa, also served to introduce the QuantIA Lab to the region’s business community.
Under the title “Quantum computing: state of the technology, challenges and future opportunities for business”, Joan Mas, Director of the Digital Technologies Area at the centre, opened the session with a talk on the current maturity of this technology and its potential impact on the business world. He also presented the QuantIA Lab, Eurecat’s new quantum-inspired facility, which will include a Quantum Gate Simulator and a Digital Annealer.
The facility will be located at the centre’s headquarters in Cerdanyola del Vallès and will be rolled out gradually until early 2027. It represents an investment of more than €7 million, of which €1.4 million comes from the Singulars Institucionals programme of the Department of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, and €2.1 million is co-financed by the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme of Catalonia 2021-2027, as part of the Quant-IA project.
Mas’s talk gave way to a discussion in which attendees shared views, experiences and reflections on how to incorporate quantum computing into their organisations’ strategies.
The gathering brought together executives from the companies Masats, Avinent, Grup Condals, Althaia, Friman, eVila Projects and Grup Spirogear, as well as representatives from Gest and Eurecat —led by the chairman and the regional manager, respectively— and the president of the Manresa Chamber of Commerce.
After a year in operation, the “8:30 a.m. Tech & Business Breakfast” has established itself as a benchmark within the Bages business ecosystem. These gatherings, with a small-group format and lasting one hour, bring together senior executives and technology and innovation experts around a topical talk, with the aim of sharing technological and business approaches that add value to the strategy of local companies.
