Denmark will develop what proponents call the world’s most powerful quantum computer through a €80 million ($92.93M) investment announced by the Novo Nordisk Foundation and state-owned Export and Investment Fund (EIFO).
The initiative, named QuNorth, partners with Microsoft for software and Atom Computing for hardware construction.
Scheduled for completion by late 2026, the computer named Magne after Norse mythology’s god of strength aims to revolutionize drug discovery and materials science. It will launch with 50 logical qubits (quantum bits stabilized for reliable processing), scaling toward 1,000 qubits.
Microsoft EVP Jason Zander stated 50 logical qubits achieves “true quantum advantage” over classical systems, while 1,000 could solve currently intractable problems in chemistry and molecular research.
Quantum computing addresses challenges where near-infinite molecular combinations overwhelm conventional computers.
The Novo Nordisk Foundation, controlling pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, emphasizes applications in medicine and chemistry. Construction begins autumn 2025 at Microsoft’s Denmark-based quantum lab, the company’s largest globally.
