Julich Supercomputing Centre Launches Hybrid Quantum Strategy with Pasqal

The Julich Supercomputing Centre has made significant strides in advancing its quantum computing capabilities through a hybrid strategy, integrating quantum simulators with exascale supercomputers. This initiative, part of the High-Performance Computing and Quantum Simulator hybrid project, also known as HPCQS, marks a major milestone with the inauguration of two neutral-atom quantum processors, Jade and Ruby, developed by Pasqal. These processors are located at the Forschungszentrum Julich and CEA, representing a federated EuroHPC initiative aimed at integrating quantum computing into Europe's scientific computational landscape.

In conjunction with this, researchers at the Julich Supercomputing Centre, alongside NVIDIA, have set a record by simulating a 50-qubit universal quantum computer on the JUPITER exascale supercomputer. This achievement underscores the challenges faced in classical simulation and emphasizes the necessity for the quantum resources being deployed through HPCQS. The integration of Pasqal processors, which can control over 100 qubits each, allows for hybrid quantum-classical computations, making quantum technology a viable part of high-performance computing infrastructure.

The HPCQS project has developed a specific software stack, including Eviden Qaptiva and the ParityQC Architecture, ensuring seamless interoperability between quantum and classical systems. The milestone reached with the 50-qubit simulation on JUPITER, Europe’s fastest supercomputer, highlights the close coupling of CPUs and GPUs in NVIDIA GH200 Superchips and the advanced simulation software, JUQCS-50, which is necessary to manage the vast amounts of memory required for such simulations. This infrastructure is seen as a cornerstone of Europe’s Quantum Flagship initiative, which aims to reinforce technological sovereignty within the region.

In addition to the HPCQS project, the Julich Supercomputing Centre has also integrated a prototype quantum computer with a capacity of 10 qubits into its JUNIQ infrastructure, as part of the QSolid project. This integration represents a significant step toward establishing a comprehensive quantum ecosystem in Germany, making quantum hardware accessible via the cloud. The prototype will be available for an initial test phase starting November 17, 2025, through the JuDoor cloud platform. The QSolid project is one of Germany's largest quantum computing initiatives, with a budget of 76.3 million Euros and aims to enhance the compatibility between quantum and classical computing components.

This dual-path strategy not only opens up new avenues for research in fields such as battery design, drug discovery, and optimization challenges but also reinforces the momentum of Germany's High-Tech Agenda. As the Julich Supercomputing Centre continues to push the boundaries of quantum technology, it lays the groundwork for future advancements that could transform various scientific and industrial applications.