Opening up access to quantum computers.

The supercomputers of the future will revolutionize science, business and society: Quantum computers offer enormous computing power for complex problems, and so-called quantum annealers in turn help deal with optimization problems, be it attaining better traffic control, optimal utilization of our power grid, or the optimization of investment strategies on the financial market.

It will take several years before the technology is fully mature, however, we are already offering interested parties an introduction to its practical use. To this end, we are creating an infrastructure at the Forschungszentrum Jülich that is unique in Europe: JUNIQ, the "Jülich User Infrastructure for Quantum Computing". It offers user-friendly access to quantum computing and has been under construction as part of the Jülich Supercomputing Center (JSC) since October 2019.

This platform gives German and European users from science and industry access to a whole machine park of computers: For example, they can use various types of next-generation quantum computers via the cloud, as well as hybrid computing systems, i.e., systems that combine classic computing power with quantum computing. We also offer direct access to software emulators of ideal and real quantum computers that are simulated on the Jülich supercomputers.

Researchers can use the quantum computers under the guidance of experts–from experimental systems to the first production systems–and also develop algorithms and user programs for them. This enables us to build a development and user community from industry and science for the applications of quantum computers in Germany and Europe, and thus promote the use of quantum computers to add value.

Image: D-Wave quantum annealer (Forschungszentrum Jülich / Sascha Kreklau)