The High-Performance Computing and Quantum Simulator (HPCQS) project has reached a major milestone with the inauguration of two quantum processors —Jade and Ruby— respectively situated at Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) and Commissariat à l’énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (CEA). The successful integration of the two next-generation quantum processors into high-performance computing (HPC) environments, an achievement made possible by EuroHPC Joint Undertaking, marks a decisive step toward making quantum computing a practical component of Europe’s scientific and industrial computational landscape. Moreover, it delivers on the ambition set out by the European Commission in the 2030 Digital Compass, proposing that, by 2025, Europe will have its first computer with quantum acceleration paving the way for Europe to be at the cutting edge of quantum capabilities by 2030.
On November 13th, the quantum processors Ruby and Jade were jointly inaugurated in a triplex event at FZJ, CEA and the European Commission’s premises, reflecting the collaborative nature of the project. In the course of the event, the two processors, situated respectively at Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) in Germany and Très Grand Centre de Calcul (TGCC) were presented.
The integration of the two quantum processors represents significant progress in transforming quantum technology from laboratory experiments into reliable computing infrastructure. This integration will provide a key step towards a federated EuroHPC quantum–HPC infrastructure, enabling users from both industry and research to develop hybrid quantum–classical algorithms and tackle complex problems such as industrial battery design, drug discovery, and optimization challenges in finance and traffic management.
The quantum processing units (QPUs) were prefabricated by the company Pasqal before being shipped to the data centres of CEA and FZJ. Pasqual's technology is based on arrays of neutral atoms that are trapped and manipulated by lasers in precise lattice structures. These systems operate at room temperature and with low power consumption, making them particularly robust and scalable. The combination of optical precision and naturally identical atoms creates a unique platform designed for quantum computing on an industrial scale.
Beyond the hardware assembly, the integration also focuses on achieving a seamless quantum-classical workflow through advanced software solutions.
The quantum processors are integrated into the HPC environment through standard workload management systems such as SLURM, enabling hybrid quantum-classical computations to run using familiar commands. This ensures that researchers and HPC operators can leverage quantum computing power with minimal adaptation, turning quantum into a natural extension of classical infrastructure.
A specific HPC-Quantum Computing software stack was developed by the consortium, relying on industrial and open-source software components, including Eviden Qaptiva, ParTec's ParaStation Modulo, Slurm, and the Pasqal SDK. This software stack is interoperable with Eviden’s Qaptiva and myQLM platforms, supporting applications in optimization, simulation, and machine learning. By bridging the gap between quantum physics and real-world computation, the HPCQS infrastructure will enable quantum resources to be directly embedded in industrial workflows.
As part of the inauguration, two use cases were demonstrated to showcase the integration of the two quantum processors, each capable of controlling more than 100 qubits, with Europe’s Tier-0 supercomputers. These demonstrations, led by research teams from across the consortium, showed how quantum-HPC integration can accelerate scientific discovery and industrial innovation.
This milestone represents a cornerstone of Europe’s Quantum Flagship initiative, reinforcing European leadership and technological sovereignty in the field of quantum computing. By linking quantum processors directly to Europe’s supercomputers, we are turning an ambitious scientific vision into a working reality.
Find out more on the HPCQS project website.
