Quantum Computing – complementing the quantum computing FPAs with the development of a technology agnostic software stack (RIA)

Expected Outcome:

Project results are expected to contribute to the following expected outcomes:

1. Establishing a universal, interoperable quantum computing ecosystem that supports diverse hardware platforms through the creation of a technology-agnostic software stack.
2. Seamlessly integrating quantum computing with classical computing systems, including HPC and cloud services (including the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking’s supercomputers, and the quantum computers and simulators already integrated into them), and demonstrating practical quantum computing applications by showcasing use cases that combine quantum and classical computing capabilities
3. Advancing the development of standardized software architectures, compilers, and simulators that ensure application portability and performance across different quantum computing platforms.
4. Demonstration of workflows that effectively combine quantum and classical computing to address complex computational challenges, providing clear examples of the added value of quantum acceleration or showing a quantum advantage.
5. Support for initiatives aimed at training software developers in quantum programming and developing libraries for basic quantum algorithms, including the integration of quantum error correction mechanisms.

This topic emphasizes the strategic importance of collaboration between Horizon Europe quantum computing software and hardware projects and the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking’s quantum projects, including high-performance computing-quantum middleware, integration, and Quantum Excellence Centres. Successful applicants will be required to closely collaborate and agree on the interfaces for the main layers of the software stack at the beginning of their projects. It is crucial that the projects collaborate from the outset to define open interfaces for the main layers of the software stack. These interfaces should be open for consultation and incorporate input from existing initiatives to ensure they are well aligned with current developments in the field. All interface specifications should be properly documented as they will serve as the foundational basis for the development of different layers and facilitate seamless collaboration across projects.

In line with the European Commission’s commitment to open access and reuse of software, when possible, all developments under this call should utilize open-source software platforms and be published in open repositories such as GitHub. Additionally, the use of appropriate software licenses, such as those listed as free by the Free Software Foundation and listed as open source by the Open Source Initiative, or under the European Union Public Licence (EUPL), is strongly recommended.

Moreover, the beneficiaries will have to ensure open access to other research outputs like data and workflows under the principle ‘as open as possible and as closed as necessary’ and in accordance with the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable) data principles.

Scope:

Quantum APIs and cloud access form the transition layer between users and quantum machines in the quantum computation stack. This layer includes general-purpose quantum software development kits that are used to implement quantum algorithms for both gate-based systems, simulators and quantum annealers. This call seeks proposals that address the creation of a cohesive software stack that is agnostic to quantum hardware, facilitating the development, testing, and deployment of quantum applications across various platforms.

Proposals are encouraged to build on, or seek collaboration with, existing projects, and develop synergies and ensure complementarities with other relevant European, national, or regional initiatives and funding programmes. In particular, links are encouraged with the following, as well as with the EuroHPC Joint Undertaking:

• HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-17: Framework Partnership Agreement for developing large-scale quantum simulation platform technologies (FPA)
• HORIZON-CL4-2021-DIGITAL-EMERGING-02-15: Framework Partnership Agreement for developing the first large-scale quantum computers (FPA)
• HORIZON-CL4-2023-DIGITAL-EMERGING-01-43: Framework Partnership Agreement for developing large-scale quantum Computing platform technologies (FPA)
• HORIZON-CL4-QUANTUM-02-SGA - Developing large-scale quantum simulation platform technologies (SGA)
• HORIZON-CL4-QUANTUM-01-SGA - Developing the first large-scale quantum computers (SGA)

In addition, proposals are expected to develop synergies with relevant projects funded under the Digital Europe Programme (DEP).

Proposals should also contribute to spreading excellence across Europe; for example, through the involvement of EU Widening Countries.

In this topic the integration of the gender dimension (sex and/or gender analysis) in research and innovation content is not a mandatory requirement; however, should proposers consider it to be of relevance for their proposal, they are strongly encouraged to integrate it.