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Barcelona to host Oxford Quantum Circuits' major European centre
Barcelona has just added an important piece to its technology landscape. Oxford Quantum Circuits will set up its first major design, development, and manufacturing centre for quantum computers in the European Union in the city, with a planned investment of 92 million euros.
The project will place the Catalan capital in a technological race that is no longer limited to university laboratories. Quantum computing promises to accelerate calculations that are impossible for current computers and open up new applications in artificial intelligence, finance, health, energy, cybersecurity, and advanced industry.
The new space will be called OQC Global Quantum Development & Manufacturing Centre and will be dedicated to applied research, systems integration, engineering testing, and manufacturing related to quantum computers. It will include laboratories, offices, and technical areas to develop technology with an industrial focus.
The arrival of the British company will also have an impact on employment. The forecast is to create 210 jobs over the next five years, especially for scientific, technological, engineering, and advanced management profiles. For Barcelona, the challenge will be not only to attract talent, but also to retain it and connect it with universities, research centres, and local companies.
Oxford Quantum Circuits was founded as a spin-off from the Universidad de Oxford and has become one of the most prominent European names in the sector. Its commitment to Barcelona strengthens the city's role as a destination for high value-added technology projects, beyond tourism, congresses, or the more visible digital economy.
The project is supported by the Generalitat, the State, the Ayuntamiento de Barcelona through the Barcelona Investment Office y Barcelona Global. It also comes with a funding round of nearly 300 million euros, with participation from COFIDES and a contribution of 46 million through the Fondo de Coinversión.
The choice of Barcelona fits into a broader strategy: to gain a stronger European presence in critical technologies and reduce dependence on major external hubs. At a time when technological sovereignty has become a priority for governments and companies, quantum computing is already seen as a future infrastructure.
The arrival of OQC will not change daily life in Barcelona overnight, but it could shape the kind of city it wants to be in the next decade. If the project succeeds, the Catalan capital will not only gain skilled jobs: it will also strengthen its place in an industry that could define much of European innovation in the coming years.