With help from Microsoft and Atom Computing, the Nordic nation plans to leapfrog global rivals in quantum technology
Denmark has unveiled an ambitious plan to build what could become the most powerful quantum computer ever developed, signaling its intent to play a leading role in the global race toward quantum advantage.
The effort is backed by 80 million euros in funding from the Novo Nordisk Foundation and EIFO, Denmark’s state-backed investment fund. The project is called QuNorth and will deploy what is expected to be the first Level 2 quantum computer in the Nordic region.
Microsoft and California-based Atom Computing have been tapped to lead the technical build. Microsoft will contribute its Azure Quantum software platform, while Atom will supply the hardware, based on its neutral atom architecture.
The machine, named Magne after the mythological son of Thor, will include around 50 logical qubits and more than 1200 physical qubits. That puts it in direct competition with current world leaders in both hardware and quantum error correction.
No quantum system to date has achieved both records in a single device. Atom Computing currently holds the record for the largest number of physical qubits in one system, with 1180. Quantinuum leads in logical qubits, having demonstrated 50. If Denmark’s plan succeeds, it will mark a historic technical milestone.
Why Logical Qubits Are the Real Measure of Quantum Power
To understand the weight of the announcement, it helps to break down the difference between physical and logical qubits.
A qubit is the quantum version of a bit. Unlike classical bits, which are either zero or one, qubits can exist in multiple states at once. But they are notoriously unstable and prone to error.
Logical qubits solve that problem. They are error-corrected qubits built from multiple physical ones. The result is more reliable quantum computation. Logical qubits are the key component of a Level 2 machine, which is capable of self-correcting and maintaining coherence during operations.
Level 2 systems are widely seen as the next step toward full-scale quantum advantage, the point where quantum machines outperform classical computers in solving real-world problems.
Areas such as drug development, supply chain optimization, cryptography, and climate modeling are among those expected to benefit most.
Europe’s Quantum Ambitions Just Got Serious
While quantum innovation has been dominated by the United States and China, European countries have struggled to keep pace. Denmark’s government appears determined to shift that narrative.
“Quantum technology comes with enormous potential, and Denmark and the EU must seize this opportunity,” said Morten Bodskov, the Danish minister for business. “With the investment in the world’s strongest quantum computer, we are making a solid shift in the global quantum race.”
Construction on Magne is expected to begin in autumn 2025. The system is projected to go live in late 2026 or early 2027. It will be built and operated in Copenhagen and will be entirely Danish-owned, with equal equity held by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and EIFO.
QuNorth is currently recruiting a chief executive to lead the project. The core team will start with ten staff members, with a broader academic and technical expansion expected by the end of next year.
Microsoft’s Strategic Bet on European Quantum Leadership
For Microsoft, this project is part of a broader push to expand its Azure Quantum ecosystem across Europe. The company is positioning itself as a key infrastructure provider in the coming era of quantum cloud computing.
Atom Computing, meanwhile, gains a prominent international deployment for its neutral atom platform. The technology has shown strong results in lab settings but has yet to be tested at the scale Denmark is proposing.
If the collaboration delivers as planned, Denmark could move from a modest player to a global leader in quantum research and possibly even shape the standards that will govern the next generation of computing.
The race is no longer theoretical. The quantum era is arriving. And Denmark just made it clear that it intends to be in front.