EuroQCS: European Quantum Computing & Simulation Infrastructure
In early February, the official website of the European Quantum Flagship program released a white paper entitled "European Quantum Computing and Quantum Simulation Infrastructure", which detailed the current development status and future plans of quantum computing technology in Europe, and provided insights into how to implement supercomputers (HPCs). Convergent development with quantum computing presents a consensus position.
Image credit: Quantum Flagship
The white paper was jointly launched by European Supercomputing (HP) and the quantum computing community, covering major European supercomputing centers and related scientific research institutions with huge demand for high-performance computing, including the European Research Center for Nuclear Physics in Italy, and the Julich Research Institute in Germany. Center, Leibniz Supercomputing Center in Germany, Atomic Energy Commission in France, Barcelona Supercomputing Center in Spain, etc.
Quantum technology represented by quantum computing is hailed by scientists as "the engine of the fourth industrial revolution", which will have a disruptive impact in many fields such as big data, artificial intelligence, financial engineering, biochemistry, material design, aerospace and so on. Although the development of related technologies and expertise originated in Europe to a large extent, China and the United States still invest heavily in quantum computing internationally, and European research in the field of quantum computing faces the risk of falling behind.
Image credit: Quantum Flagship
In 2018, the Propaganda Department of the European Council launched the Quantum Flagship program, which is expected to take 10 years and cost 1 billion euros to fund the development of quantum technology in Europe, aiming to consolidate and expand Europe’s scientific leadership in this research field. Outstanding performance to launch a globally competitive European quantum technology industry and make Europe an important region for innovative research, business and investment in this field.
The white paper sets out a timeline for the development of quantum computing and simulation infrastructure in Europe.
In 2021, procure and deploy 5 gigabit supercomputers (the number of operations per second can reach the 16th power of 10) as a potential European quantum computing and simulation infrastructure, and start a hybrid project of high-performance computers and quantum virtual machines;
In 2021-2022, purchase and deploy 3 ex-gigascale supercomputing systems (the number of operations per second can reach the 17th power of 10), which is expected to serve as the European quantum computing and simulation infrastructure;
In 2022-2023, the Quantum Flagship plans to enter a transitional phase, deploying medium-scale (50-200 physical qubits) quantum computing prototypes;
From 2023 to 2025, deploy 2 exascale supercomputing systems (the number of operations per second can reach the 18th power of 10), which is expected to serve as the European quantum computing and simulation infrastructure;
In 2025, realize the test of medium-scale quantum computing prototype, enhance the processing mechanism of noisy medium-scale (NISQ) quantum computer through error correction, realize deeper algorithms, and develop related software and promising applications based on NISQ equipment, Launch of the European Quantum Computing and Simulation Infrastructure (EuroQCS);
In 2027, deploy and access a medium-scale computing platform, realize the first generation of large-scale applications based on NISQ equipment, demonstrate quantum algorithms that surpass classical algorithms in an all-round way, and demonstrate the implementation of hybrid application architecture using exascale high-performance computers and quantum computers accelerated use cases;
In 2030, integrate the large-scale quantum computing platform (more than 200 qubits) brought by the Quantum Flagship Program, demonstrate a quantum processor with full error correction capability and a set of universal quantum gates, and achieve quantum superiority.
Original report:：https://qt.eu/about-quantum-flagship/newsroom/european-quantum-computing-simulation/
