Dec. 19, 2023 — The European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) has launched a call for expression of interest to select hosting entities which will host and operate new EuroHPC quantum computers.
Applications must be submitted by 31/03/2024 at 17:00 CET. More details and all supporting documents are available on this dedicated webpage.
The EuroHPC JU will select hosting entities to host and operate new EuroHPC JU quantum computers and will conclude hosting agreements to establish a stable and structured partnership between the JU and the hosting entity for the acquisition, integration and operation of the quantum computer.
The EuroHPC JU will procure at least two quantum computers in 2024 with a total EU contribution of EUR 20 million. The new quantum computers will be co-funded by the EuroHPC JU budget stemming from the Digital Europe Programme (DEP) and by contributions from relevant EuroHPC JU participating states. The JU will co-fund up to 50% of the total cost of the quantum computers.
The quantum computers will be integrated into existing supercomputers operated by the hosting entities. The selection will aim at ensuring a diversity in the technologies and architectures of the different quantum computers to be acquired to give users access to different quantum technologies.
By making quantum computers available to European users, the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking will address the growing demand for quantum computing resources and services from European industry and academia. The quantum computer infrastructure will support the development of a wide range of applications with industrial, scientific and societal relevance for Europe.
The mission of the EuroHPC JU is :
- to develop, deploy, extend and maintain in the European Union a federated, secure hyperconnected supercomputing, quantum computing, service and data infrastructure ecosystem;
- to support the development and uptake of demand-oriented and user-driven innovative and competitive supercomputing systems based on a supply chain that will ensure components, technologies and knowledge limiting the risk of disruptions and the development of a wide range of applications optimised for these systems;
- to widen the use of that supercomputing infrastructure to a large number of public and private users, and support the twin transition and the development of key skills for European science and industry.
Following the signature of hosting agreements in June 2023 with six sites across Europe to host & operate EuroHPC quantum computers, the EuroHPC JU recently launched two calls for tender for the installation of two EuroHPC quantum computer:
- EuroQCS-Poland based on trapped-ions and located in Poland
- Euro-Q-Exa based on superconducting qubits and state-of-the-art entangling capabilities and located in Germany. The call is still open until 22nd January 2024.
These quantum computers will come on top of two analogue quantum simulators currently being deployed within the EuroHPC JU project HPCQS which are based on neutral atoms, supplied by the French company PASQAL. HPCQS is the first initiative towards a federated European quantum computing infrastructure, tightly integrating two quantum computers, each controlling 100-plus qubits in the Tier-0 HPC systems Joliot-Curie of GENCI and the JUWELS modular supercomputer at the Julich Supercomputing Centre (JSC).
