The EuroHPC JU launched its first quantum computing initiative

With funding from the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU), the project High-Performance Computer and Quantum Simulator hybrid (HPCQS) kicked off today with the objective of integrating quantum simulators in already existing European supercomputers. Hybrid computing, blending the best of quantum and classical HPC technologies will unleash new innovative potential and prepare Europe for the post-exascale era.

The project HPCQS aims to integrate two quantum simulators, each controlling about 100+ quantum bits (qubits) in two already existing supercomputers: 

• the supercomputer Joliot Curie of GENCI, the French national HPC organisation, located in France;
• the JUWELS supercomputer of the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC), located in Germany.

In doing so, HPCQS will become an incubator for quantum-HPC hybrid computing that is unique in the world.

The seamless integration of quantum hardware with classical computing resources will enable research entities and industries to exploit new quantum technologies and find solutions to complex challenges in physics, chemistry and numerical optimisation with practical applications, for example, to materials and drug design, logistics and transportation. 

HPCQS will develop the programming platform for the quantum simulator and offer cloud-based access to users and researchers. The project will build an open and evolutionary infrastructure that aims at expanding in the future by including a diversity of quantum computing platforms at different technology readiness levels in an HPC system and by allowing the integration of other European partners. The HPCQS infrastructure is a first step towards a European quantum computing infrastructure in synergy with the ongoing European efforts to establish a world-leading HPC infrastructure.

Anders Dam Jensen, the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) Executive Director, said:  

“HPCQS is the first quantum computing initiative to be supported by the EuroHPC JU. The HPCQS system will enable the European research communities to develop pioneering algorithms and applications using combined quantum and classical HPC resources.” 

Prof. Kristel Michielsen, the project’s coordinator, explains:

“Enabling access to the HPCQS infrastructure will leverage the broad knowledge and the emerging technological solutions found in the academic and industrial European ecosystem, supported by experts from European HPC centers.

“What is more, HPCQS will strengthen on-going efforts in Europe to support quantum start-ups through the adoption of quantum technology by academic institutions and industries.”

More details

Starting on 1st December 2021, the project HPCQS will run for 4 years with a total budget of €12 million. Half of the budget comes from Horizon 2020, the Research and Innovation funding programme of the EU, while the other half will come from the EuroHPC JU participating countries.  

The project has been selected following the call for proposals EuroHPC-2020-01-b

HPCQS is coordinated by Prof. Kristel Michielsen of the Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC). It brings together leading quantum and supercomputer experts from science and industry from five participating European HPC centres:

• JSC at Forschungszentrum Jülich, German
• GENCI /CEA, France
• Barcelona Supercomputing Center, Spain
• CINECA, Italy
• NUIG-ICHEC, Ireland

More information in the project's press release: Towards a World-Class Supercomputing Ecosystem - HPCQS Pioneers Federated Quantum-Super-Computing in Europe

About the EuroHPC JU

The EuroHPC JU was created in 2018 and recently reviewed by means of Regulation Council Regulation (EU) 2021/1173. 30 European countries are currently taking part in the initiative and pooling their resources with the EU and private partners to enable the EU to become a world leader in supercomputing.

The mission of the EuroHPC JU is to develop, deploy, extend and maintain an integrated world-class supercomputing and data infrastructure in the EU and to develop and support a highly competitive and innovative HPC ecosystem.