NEWS
Barcelona City Council modernises digital services for employees
Barcelona City Council is developing a new digital service model designed to improve the technology support and services used by thousands of municipal employees.
The Municipal Institute of Innovation and Technology of Barcelona( BIT), which leads the council’ s Digital Transformation, has selected Atos to support the project.
The initiative will introduce greater automation and self-service capabilities alongside Artificial Intelligence and data analytics, with the aim of simplifying processes, reducing response times and improving employees’ experience of accessing technology services.
New face-to-face support spaces will also be introduced, while advanced data analysis will help identify recurring requirements and opportunities to improve services.
The council and Atos will also explore Generative AI to improve knowledge management and make it easier for employees and support teams to access relevant information.
“ The Digital Transformation of an administration does not depend only on the platforms or technology we use, but also on the experience we offer to the people who work every day at the service of citizens. This project represents a further step in our commitment to evolve towards a more agile, closer and more efficient support model, incorporating new capabilities that allow us to simplify processes, improve customer service and continue to promote innovation within Barcelona City Council,” said Emili Rubió, Manager of the Municipal Institute of Innovation and Technology( BIT).
ETH Zurich to host Switzerland’ s first IBM Quantum System Two
ETH Zurich, a public university in Zurich, Switzerland, is to install Switzerland’ s first IBM Quantum System Two at its Swiss National Supercomputing Centre( CSCS) in Lugano, expanding the country’ s infrastructure for Quantum Computing research and education.
The system, powered by IBM’ s Nighthawk processor, is expected to become operational by the end of 2026 and will be located alongside CSCS’ s AI-enabled Alps supercomputer.
ETH Zurich will coordinate access, making the quantum computer available to researchers across the ETH Domain, other Swiss universities and selected companies.
Research applications are expected to include materials science, chemistry and Quantum Computing, including the development of algorithms and investigation of complex materials, molecules and chemical processes that are difficult to simulate using conventional computers.
“ Switzerland is gaining access to essential research infrastructure that will enable us to further advance quantum research and educate future talent,” said Joël Mesot, President, ETH Zurich.
The infrastructure will also give students and researchers direct experience of Quantum Computing.
IBM will install, maintain and operate the system, while ETH Zurich and CSCS will provide infrastructure including power, cooling and security and manage the allocation of computing capacity.
The agreement initially runs until 2029. Its funding forms part of an offset agreement between Lockheed Martin and armasuisse, Switzerland’ s Federal Office for Defence Procurement.
ETH Zurich and IBM also announced a 10-year initiative earlier this year to develop algorithms at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing.
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