With the new "High-Performance Computer and Quantum Simulator hybrid" (#HPCQS) project, Europe enters the era of high-performance #quantum hybrid computing. The HPCQS project aims to integrate two quantum simulators, each controlling more than 100 qubits, with supercomputers located in two European high-performance computing centers. The Joint Undertaking EuroHPC,
the European Joint Undertaking for High-Performance Computing has selected the project as part of the Research and Innovation Action "Advanced pilots towards the European exascale Supercomputers" call. HPCQS will have a total budget of 12 million euros over the next four years, funded equally by EuroHPC and the participating member states.
Coordinated by Professor Kristel Michielsen of the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC), one of the five participating supercomputing centers, HPCQS aims to develop, deploy and coordinate a federated European infrastructure, tightly coupling two quantum simulators each controlling more than 100 qubits (quantum bits) with the Tier-0 JoliotCurie-level computing systems of the GENCI, operated at the CEA TGCC, and the JUWELS supercomputer at the JSC. Coupling quantum devices with classical computing resources, to create a hybrid system, is an essential step towards using the power of quantum computers in early practical applications.
"HPCQS will represent a first "small step" for European scientific teams, nevertheless preparing the "giant step" expected in the near future towards exceptionally high performance computing. We are extremely pleased to be building this future with our European partners ", says @Philippe Lavocat, President and CEO of @GENCI.
By joining forces with academia and industry, Europe will foster its future competitiveness by engaging in the field of applications related to complex simulations and optimization problems. The two meet, for example, in the design of #materials and #medicines, #logistics and #transportation, as well as in many other relevant use cases. The #HPCQS project will play a key role in enabling research entities and industries to evaluate and then exploit new quantum technologies towards solving complex problems.
The four-year HPCQS pilot project will offer a quantum simulator programming environment, based on two European software developments, @Atos' Quantum Learning Machine (QLM) and @ParTec's Parastation ModuloTM. Together, these technologies will enable the fine (low-latency) integration of quantum simulators into conventional modular HPC systems, a first of its kind.
Find the HPCQS press release here