Europe opens investigation into possible diversion of funds from Barcelona quantum computer project

The European Public Prosecutor's Office has opened an investigation to determine whether any European Next Generation funds may have been diverted away from the first quantum computer in Spain.

Since last September, such machine has been located and in the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre. In February, it was switched on.

The opening of proceedings led Spain's National Police to go to the facilities on Wednesday to collect information on the €8.1 million of Next Generation funds at the centre of the case.

The proceedings were initiated based on a complaint about alleged irregularities that may have been committed in the tender.

At the presentation of the quantum computer, it was explained that the objective was to integrate it into the BSC MareNostrum5 supercomputer and the rest of the Spanish network of supercomputers.

This connection would allow Spanish research groups and industrial sectors to use its powerful processing capabilities to experiment and develop products and applications.

To learn more about the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre and the new quantum computing project launched this year, listen to the episode of our podcast, Filling the Sink, published in March on the topic. 

Spanish government demands explanation

The Spanish government has sent a letter to the director of the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre requesting information about the contract and the European funds at the heart of the investigation.

Authorities will convene an extraordinary governing council to analyze the data collected.

Sources pointed out that the development of the quantum supercomputer was entrusted to the BSC and that the Secretariat of State for Digitalization verified that the conditions required by regulations were met before subcontracting this work.

Ministries have expressed their "full willingness" to collaborate in the investigation.

The Quantum Spain project was endowed with €22 million from the Recovery Plan and aims to create a Spanish quantum ecosystem through the development of a high-performance quantum computer.

Europe refuses to comment

The European Commission has avoided commenting on the investigation, but has warned that it has "zero tolerance for fraud" of European funds.

Sources have confirmed to the Catalan News Agency that the continental executive is aware of the case but say they will not comment on "ongoing investigations."

However, the same sources have warned that protecting the EU budget is a "shared responsibility" and that the member states are "the first line of defense."