Tuna-17 is now live on QuTech’s Quantum Inspire platform, giving global users free access to physical superconducting quantum hardware with up to 100,000 shots per batch.
The 17-qubit processor uses 24 tunable couplers in a planar design built for multi-qubit error-correction experiments, surface-code gates and reduced crosstalk during parallel operations.
QuTech said the system supports Qiskit and PennyLane, mid-circuit measurement, automated self-calibration and real-time performance logging, letting researchers run hybrid NISQ workloads without changing codebases.
The release is QuTech’s third system in 12 months after Tuna-5 and Tuna-9, creating a standardized baseline ahead of the planned 28-qubit Tuna-28 deployment.
Backed by Delft-based partners including TNO, Qblox and QuantWare, the project is positioned as a European open-architecture demonstrator under HectoQubit and the EU’s OpenSuperQPlus effort.
Is this 17-qubit computer a breakthrough, or just a footnote in the 'nightmare' of quantum error correction?
Can Europe’s open, collaborative quantum model truly challenge the secretive labs of US tech giants?
Will new error codes make today’s quantum computers obsolete before they are even useful?
Democratizing Quantum Computing: The Launch and Impact of Tuna-17, Europe’s 17-Qubit Open-Architecture Processor
Overview
On July 10, 2026, QuTech officially launched Tuna-17, a 17-qubit superconducting processor that is now freely accessible to the global quantum community through the Quantum Inspire cloud platform. This launch marks a new era for open quantum computing by providing free access to researchers, students, and educators worldwide. By democratizing advanced quantum computing resources, Tuna-17 fosters collaborative innovation and supports a wide range of quantum experiments. Its architecture is designed for scalability and versatility, making it a powerful tool for both research and education, and helping to drive forward the collective progress in quantum technology.