Delft unveils open-architecture quantum computer, Tuna-5
Tuna-5, an open-architecture quantum computer, promotes interoperability and innovation in quantum computing.
Published on May 20, 2025
© Delft quantum ecosystem
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The Delft quantum ecosystem unveiled Tuna-5, an open-architecture quantum computer, via the Quantum Inspire public cloud platform. The system marks an advancement in scalable quantum computing. As an open architecture system that was developed with transparency and allowing external parties to access the design of components, it fosters interoperability, enhancing collaboration between academia and startups.
Quantum computers represent a cutting-edge development in technology, utilizing the principles of quantum mechanics to perform calculations that are impossible or extremely time-consuming for classical computers. Unlike traditional computers that use binary bits to process information sequentially, quantum computers leverage quantum bits, or qubits, which can exist in multiple states simultaneously. This ability, known as superposition, enables these machines to process vastly more information at once.
The Delft quantum ecosystem is a collaborative hub of innovative research and technological advancements in quantum computing. It comprises academic institutions like QuTech and TNO, and an array of pioneering startups, including QuantWare, Qblox, Orange Quantum Systems, and Delft Circuits. This ecosystem strives to develop scalable quantum computing platforms by combining cutting-edge research with entrepreneurial dynamism. Central to these efforts is the HectoQubit/2 project, a key initiative driving advances towards a robust quantum computing infrastructure.
Tuna-5
Tuna-5 is a product of the HectoQubit/2 project, integrating superconducting quantum processors and modular control electronics. With the Python-based software development kit, developers can seamlessly program and operate this sophisticated machine, making it accessible to a broader audience. The open architecture concept behind Tuna-5 sets the system apart from other quantum systems.
The system's quantum processor features tunable couplers–hence the name “Tuna”—which allow for better adjustment of the interaction between qubits. Tuna-5 is hosted in the DiCarlo lab at QuTech. Each startup contributes a vital and interoperable layer to the quantum computer’s architecture. Qblox delivers the control electronics, QuantWare manufactures the quantum chips, and Orange Quantum Systems provides its proprietary quantum toolkit, including the innovative Orange Juice operating system.
National and European synergy for global impact
Launched in April 2023 with funding from Quantum Delta NL and the National Growth Fund, HQ/2 strategically aims to strengthen Dutch leadership in superconducting quantum computing. The efforts in this national project are multiplied by the alignment with OpenSuperQPlus, an EU Quantum Flagship project targeting a 100-qubit quantum computer by September 2026, with Delft as one of three European demonstrator sites.
The release of Tuna-5 follows the February 2025 launch of Quantum Inspire 2.0, which introduced the upgraded Starmon-7 and Spin2+ quantum processors. Quantum Inspire users now have the option to choose from three real quantum hardware backends, namely Tuna-5, Starmon-7, and Spin-2+, in addition to the QX-emulator backend. Notably, Tuna-5 builds on the legacy of Starmon-5, deployed in 2020 on Quantum Inspire 1.0. Many of the scientists and engineers behind Starmon-5 have since co-founded and work at the very startups now contributing to HQ/2—bringing the story full circle as academia and entrepreneurship fuse to realize next-generation quantum computers.