Info Session on EuroHPC Quantum Centres of Excellence (QECs)

With reference to the ongoing open call on European Quantum Excellence Centres (QECs), the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) organised on Friday, 01 March (10:00 CET) a two-hour Information Session focusing on the QECs.

The following topics were discussed:

• Specifics and technological scope of the QECs
• Expected collaboration with existing Quantum Computing infrastructure
• Eligibility criteria for applicants and consortia
• Intellectual property rights
• Details on integration with national/local programs and other EU initiatives (Flagship)

The discussion has been followed by a dedicated open Q&A session.

Background 

The EuroHPC Joint Undertaking has launched on 7 November 2023 a call to establish two European Quantum Excellence Centres (QECs) dedicated to applications for quantum computers (HORIZON-EUROHPC-JU-2023-QEC-05-01). 

The European Quantum Excellence Centres (QECs) will foster the development of an ecosystem of quantum programming facilities, application libraries, and a skilled workforce, ultimately the discovery of new quantum-oriented applications, fostering knowledge and uptake for these new technologies.

The envisaged centres will address applications in multiple domains including science, business and industry. As knowledge hubs for quantum computing, the centres will gather competences of advanced users and leading application developers to foster the development of a quantum computing ecosystem. The Centres will also leverage the efforts of the EuroHPC JU to deploy a European quantum computing infrastructure integrated into supercomputers. They will drive the development of quantum computer programming models, software libraries, algorithms, applications and training of the quantum computing workforce. 

The call is open for submissions until 14 May 2024, 17:00 (CEST). 

More details and all relevant documents concerning the call are available on this dedicated webpage. 

Recording of the session 

Presentation