Authors: Joanna Kowalska, Krzysztof Kurowski, Piotr Rydlichowski, Mateusz Mocydlarz (PCSS)
A millennium ago, the Piast dynasty laid the foundations of the Polish state. Today, a new legacy is taking shape: an AI and Quantum valley located in Poznan, Poland. Discover some of the most important current initiatives led by PCSS and PIONIER-Polish Optical Internet, connecting supercomputing, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and secure networks to drive science, industry and public innovation across Europe and beyond
PIAST AI
PIAST-AI is taking shape in Poznan as part of Europe’s new generation of AI Factories and its unique strength comes from something practical: it is being built on top of an ecosystem that already exists. Coordinated by the Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS) with regional academic partners, it combines a €100 million investment with years of experience in high-performance computing, cloud services and applied digital innovation. While procurement of the new infrastructure is planned for 2027 and full operations for 2028, PCSS already runs large-scale computing and storage platforms, AI models and AI pipelines.
What makes PIAST-AI especially valuable is that it is meant to open the door to AI for many different users, regardless of their starting point. It will support experienced research teams, but also public institutions, SMEs, startups and organisations that are only beginning to explore AI. Some users will need advanced computing power; others will need guidance, testing environments and trustworthy support. PIAST-AI is designed for both. With planned applications in health, cybersecurity, agriculture, culture, education, industry and the public sector, and with strong links to initiatives such as PIAST-Q, it stands out as a connected regional ecosystem rather than a standalone AI supercomputer.
PIAST Q
PIAST-Q is the first operational quantum computing system deployed under the EuroHPC infrastructure in 2025, based on trapped-ion technology providing around 20 physical qubits with high gate fidelity, long coherence times, and full all-to-all connectivity. It uses laser-controlled ion chains in electromagnetic traps to implement universal quantum gates, enabling precise qubit manipulation and efficient circuit execution. Its architecture supports deep circuits with reduced error accumulation, making it suitable for NISQ-era and hybrid algorithms such as quantum machine learning, quantum chemistry, materials science, and optimization. Designed as a modular, room-temperature system deployable in a standard PCSS data center, it maintains low power consumption and is integrated with PCSS HPC infrastructure, initially connected to the Altair/Proxima supercomputer and later to the PIAST-AI system, providing scalable access, application programming frameworks, execution tools, and benchmarking capabilities.
The quantum system is actively used by a diverse community of academic and industrial users within initiatives such as European Quantum Excellence Center QEC4QEA, supporting experimentation and development of quantum-enhanced applications across multiple domains. Through this ecosystem, PIAST-Q contributes to addressing key challenges in quantum computing by enabling access to infrastructure, fostering collaboration, and supporting the development of practical use cases for science, industry, and society.
This time at the TNC26 booth, we will be showcasing not only aspects of quantum computing, but also initiatives exploring other applications of quantum technology.
PIONIER-Q
The PIONIER-Q network establishes a 1770 km nationwide quantum-secured communication backbone designed to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive data across Poland’s high-performance computing (HPC) ecosystem. The QKD infrastructure deployment underscores the maturity, scalability, and operational readiness of quantum-secure solutions. PIONIER-Q project infrastructure will introduce the cross-border connection with Denmark, Germany, Czechia, Slovakia (QCK.dk, QUANT-GPIcz, QCI-AT-CZ-PL, QCI-SK-CZ-PL) and satellite link through PIONIER-Q-SAT project coordinated by NASK. It will connect terrestrial QKD infrastructure in Europe with secure satellite QKD connections. The joint infrastructure is significant contribution to EuroQCI initiative.
GraviQ
Project aims to develop a cutting-edge research infrastructure for high-precision monitoring of Earth’s gravity field using quantum gravimeters. The infrastructure will consist of a network of mobile sensors capable of continuous, long-term measurements, integrated with a central data processing system. Data will be transmitted in near real time via high-performance networks for storage and advanced analysis. A key component will be scalable data infrastructure supporting large-volume datasets and access for multiple stakeholders. The project also foresees the use of advanced data processing methods, including artificial intelligence, to detect and interpret dynamic mass changes, enabling new applications in geoscience, environmental monitoring, and infrastructure stability assessment. GRAVIQ’s infrastructure is also planned to utilize the infrastructure of the PIONIER-Q network and establish possible synergies between quantum communication and quantum sensing projects.
Our booth at TNC26
Join us at TNC26 to explore our newest initiatives mentioned above, as well as other innovative projects supported by the European Union through the European Funds for Smart Economy Programme (FENG), such as ŚWIATOWID, WEDROWNIQ, PLAI4SCIENCE, Q-ChronoS, and many more.
Learn more about PIAST-AI at: www.piast-ai.eu
Learn more about PIAST-Q at: www.piast-q.eu
Visit: www.psnc.pl/tnc26
