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Preparing Europe for a future of quantum computing

Sometimes even a supercomputer isn’t super enough to get the job done. That’s why this EU-funded project is making the leap towards quantum computing.

“The information technology being developed by the project will place Europe at the vanguard of quantum computing.”

Kristel Michielsen, HPCQS project coordinator

Across industry and science, there is an array of essential computing tasks that classical supercomputers struggle to solve. Examples of such complex problems include the optimisation of traffic flows and fundamental numerical problems in chemistry and physics for the development of new drugs and materials. That’s where quantum computing can help. “The system and application-oriented development of quantum computing opens the door to new approaches to solving these hard-to-compute problems,” explains Kristel Michielsen, a professor at the Jülich Research Centre in Germany. “Because many of these problems have important research and economic consequences, there’s a sense of urgency that currently surrounds quantum computing.” With the support of the EU-funded HPCQS project Michielsen is leading an effort to prepare European research, industry and society for a future of quantum computing. “The project is developing, deploying and coordinating a federated, European quantum computing infrastructure,” she says. To build this infrastructure, HPCQS, part of the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, is using what are called quantum simulators, or QS. “A QS can be viewed as an analogue version of a quantum computer that, because it does not require complete control of each individual component, is simpler to build,” notes Michielsen. The project will procure and coordinate two pilot QS – each capable of controlling over 100 qubits – one located at GENCI/CEA in France and the other at the Jülich Supercomputing Centre. The two sites will integrate the QS into their respective data centres and operate them throughout their lifetime. Special attention will be given to understanding if essential HPC services can be shared. Researchers will also study the effective utilisation of the QS by scientists and engineers. “The information technology being developed by the project will place Europe at the vanguard of quantum computing,” concludes Michielsen. Once finalised, the HPCQS infrastructure will be made readily available via the cloud to public and private European users on a non-commercial basis.

Keywords

HPCQS, HPC, High Performance Computing, Supercomputer, technologies, digital sovereignty, quantum computing, innovation, green computing, energy-efficient, skills, SMEs