IBM Will Bill Customers Directly for Aqarios Quantum Optimizer

Aqarios GmbH, a wholly owned subsidiary of Aqarios Quantum Technologies AG, signed a further IBM agreement that lets IBM offer and bill for the Constrained Quantum Optimizer through the IBM Quantum Platform. Eligible IBM Quantum customers can use the software under an existing IBM contract.

The customer charge will scale with the size of the optimization problem. IBM will make a license payment to Aqarios for each use. Aqarios disclosed no rates, expected call volume or revenue forecast in its announcement.

The deal follows a Sept. 15, 2026, catalog listing that used a separate licensing route. Customers first obtained licenses from Aqarios, then IBM enabled the software for use with its quantum-computing service. Aqarios will continue to offer direct licenses for fixed periods.

The optimizer is a preview tool for constrained binary optimization. It accepts LP, MPS or Luna Model inputs, and access is limited to IBM Quantum Premium, Flex and On-Prem plan users.