Munster Technological University Launches Ireland’s First Quantum Cloud Platform on AWS to Drive Collaborative Research
QCloud connects 13 research institutes, supporting 11 major quantum computing projects and transforming Ireland’s quantum research landscape.
Industry
Education
Challenge
Create Ireland's first collaborative quantum computing hub, overcoming barriers that restricted research access.
Outcome Rackspace Technology built MTU a landing zone on AWS to utilize Amazon Braket for quantum computing research projects across Ireland. Solutions Public Cloud Platforms Amazon Web Services (AWS)Professional & Managed Services
Professional ServicesCustomer
Founded in 2021, Munster Technological University (MTU) is a multi-campus technological university with six locations across southwest Ireland. As Ireland’s primary cybersecurity hub at the European Union (EU) level, MTU focuses on advancing next-generation technologies with the potential to impact national security and industry resilience. This mission has driven MTU to launch QCloud — a first-of-its-kind quantum cloud computing platform that provides researchers across Ireland with secure and scalable access to quantum computing resources, democratizing access to this critical technology.
"In classical computing, information is stored in binary code, represented by ones and zeroes," said Dr. Hazel Murray, Ph.D., Cybersecurity Lecturer and QCloud Project Lead at MTU. "Quantum computing, however, leverages quantum particles, where information is encoded in the quantum states of electrons or photons, for instance. This enables exponentially greater flexibility in data representation, unlocking the potential to store and analyze information beyond the limitations of classical systems."
Quantum computing enables advanced analysis of complex, probabilistic systems, from the behavior of ocean waves to neural activity in the brain. These capabilities open new frontiers in research and innovation across disciplines, including cryptography, climate modeling and autonomous systems.
"Throughout the process, Rackspace was incredibly supportive. This was my first time applying for major EU funding, and they guided me every step of the way. Rackspace made it achievable, broke it down and gave us the skills to maintain the project ourselves going forward.”
Situation
Before QCloud's inception, researchers in Ireland faced significant barriers to accessing quantum computing resources. "Building a quantum computer can cost upwards of €10 million — not including the ongoing costs for maintenance, updates and the highly specialized skills required to manage and operate it," said Murray. "Beyond those challenges, it has to operate in a sub-zero environment. It’s simply not feasible for small research teams to build and maintain a quantum computer."
The funding application process itself presented a significant challenge. When MTU first identified the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) funding opportunity, they faced complex documentation requirements and tight deadlines. The university would need to demonstrate not just the technical feasibility of its quantum computing platform but its broader impact on research across Ireland.
MTU was also confronting the complex challenge of managing access and costs across multiple institutions while adhering to strict budget constraints. The university needed a solution that allowed researchers to utilize quantum computing resources without exceeding funding limitations.
Access to quantum computing was severely limited globally. Murray noted there are "probably about four" major quantum computers worldwide, restricting their access to most universities and researchers. This scarcity meant many researchers were confined to using simulators, which couldn't account for real-world factors like quantum noise. "If I were to check my quantum cryptography algorithms in a simulator, it might say everything's working perfectly," said Murray. "But in reality, no matter how good your quantum processor is, there's going to be an element of noise."
Beyond these hardware limitations, researchers faced additional barriers to collaboration and education. Teams across different institutions struggled to work together effectively on quantum projects. In addition, a critical educational gap emerged, with some students graduating from computer science, engineering or mathematics programs without exposure to quantum computing concepts — a rapidly advancing field they will likely be working in.
"The collaboration with Rackspace Technology was crucial for setting up the QCloud infrastructure, especially given the technical knowledge required across multiple areas of Amazon infrastructure. The expertise of their team in all these areas was invaluable."
Solution
Experience was a big reason MTU chose Rackspace Technology to partner with it starting with their application for funding through EOSC. Rackspace expertise guided MTU through a successful proposal process, winning funding as the first part of the journey. The technical team then accelerated implementation by creating an AWS landing zone. Using the landing zone accelerator, the Rackspace team designed and deployed an architecture aligned with MTU's objectives and the project's long-term goals.
MTU launched QCloud in February 2024, establishing Ireland's first quantum cloud computing environment with €600,000 in funding from the European Open Science Cloud (EOSC) Future project. This European Union initiative provides strategic funding to connect commercial service providers with researchers through the EOSC ecosystem, supporting projects that make cutting-edge commercial services more accessible via the EOSC Marketplace.
QCloud provides a secure, scalable infrastructure that enables researchers across Ireland to access real quantum computers via the cloud instead of relying on basic simulators. By centralizing quantum computing resources, QCloud removes institutional barriers while supporting both security and cost control. "The QCloud project provides free, scalable access to quantum computing for any researcher in Ireland," said Murray.
Collaboration between MTU, Rackspace Technology® and Amazon Web Services (AWS) resulted in a comprehensive quantum research environment that includes:
- A centralized platform providing quantum computing access to eight universities and 13 research institutes
- AWS Control Tower landing zone with Account Factory for streamlined project management
- Custom quantum cost control dashboard for Amazon Braket using Amazon Identity and Access Management (IAM), AWS Cloud Development Kit (CDK), Amazon EventBridge and Amazon CloudWatch
- Real-time cost tracking with automated budget alerts and management systems
"The collaboration with Rackspace Technology was crucial for setting up the QCloud infrastructure, as it required expertise across multiple areas of AWS," said Dr. Anila Mjeda, Ph.D., Cybersecurity Lecturer, MTU. "The Rackspace team's technical expertise in all these areas was incredibly helpful."
With access to QCloud’s quantum computing capabilities, researchers can explore advanced applications like autonomous systems security, laying the groundwork for a quantum-powered future. "Access to quantum computing empowers us to advance quantum software engineering and nurture the next generation of innovators," Mjeda added.
The solution also includes innovative cost-control mechanisms that prevent overspending and allow researchers to monitor their quantum computing resource usage in real time. It integrates with Ireland's quantum key distribution network, extending from Dublin to Waterford and Cork. AWS subject matter experts worked with Rackspace architects to hone the AWS Quantum Cost Control Solution for the particulars of the QCloud environment.
AWS was a supportive collaborator in this effort and facilitated comprehensive architecture immersion days to deliver specialized training for researchers and graduate students. These sessions included hands-on experience with Amazon Braket and instruction in quantum computing programming, bridging the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical application.
"The Quantum Cloud project enables researchers to explore the untapped potential of quantum computing," said Murray. "We offer upskilling access and a trusted research environment for any research team."
A key component of QCloud’s educational mission is the QuantumEd project, one of 11 projects supported by the platform. Led by MTU in collaboration with the University of Limerick (UL), Technological University Dublin (TUD), University College Dublin (UCD) and Maynooth University (MU), QuantumEd focuses on enhancing the quality and accessibility of quantum education resources. Through this initiative, researchers, educators and students gain access to practical, hands-on quantum computing labs and environments.
"From the initial vision to building the infrastructure, Rackspace Technology supported us every step of the way," said Murray. "No matter what we needed, they could provide it or connect us with someone who could."
QCloud connects 13 research institutions across Ireland, enabling 11 innovative quantum computing projects and supporting 12 startups since its February 2024 launch.
Outcome
QCloud has transformed Ireland's quantum research landscape, connecting eight universities, 13 research institutes, and supporting 12 startups to date. Eleven major research projects have launched since inception, with five new students accessing quantum resources directly.
The impact extends beyond numbers. "It is so important that our infrastructure, processes and systems are capable of keeping that data secure," said Murray. "Ireland stores a large percentage of the EU's data. We’re at the forefront of cybersecurity and pushing the boundaries of what happens next."
The platform has significantly strengthened Ireland's position in quantum research. Researchers can now test theories on actual quantum computers instead of simulators. Universities provide hands-on quantum computing experience to students, while the platform fosters international research partnerships. Projects span quantum cryptography, quantum internet development and future-focused infrastructure for security.
"Throughout the process, Rackspace was incredibly supportive,” said Murray. “This was my first experience applying for major EU funding, and they guided me every step of the way. Rackspace made it achievable, broke it down for us and gave us the skills to maintain the project ourselves going forward."
Looking ahead, MTU aims to make QCloud sustainable and expand its impact. "Our goal is to make quantum computing access the status quo," said Murray. "It shouldn't be seen as a 'nice to have' — it should be fundamental that, as a quantum computing researcher, you run your code on quantum computers."
The university expects to double its research projects in the coming year and welcomes new participants. "This is a remarkable time for innovation in quantum computing," said Murray. "We’re finally seeing ideas evolve into commercial and societally beneficial products, while exploring new possibilities."
Through QCloud, MTU has established Ireland as a quantum research hub, democratizing access to cutting-edge quantum computing resources and fostering the next generation of quantum innovation.
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