Up to 20,000 GPU Hours Available for Quantum Research at NERSC
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The National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center (NERSC) is soliciting project proposals for research utilizing the Perlmutter supercomputer in the field of quantum information science (QIS) through its QIS@Perlmutter program. Ermal Rrapaj, Daan Camps, and their colleagues at NERSC are offering awards for the 2026 Allocation Year, running through January 16, 2027, with up to 20,000 Perlmutter graphical processing unit (GPU) node hours potentially awarded to accepted proposals – each node containing four A100 GPUs. This program aims to advance QIS research by providing access to high-performance computing resources and relevant software libraries, including cuQuantum and CUDA-QX, for both state vector and tensor network simulations. QIS@Perlmutter Program: Proposal Submission & Review NERSC is currently accepting proposals for the QIS@Perlmutter program, offering access to the Perlmutter supercomputer for quantum information science research. The program’s 2026 allocation year runs through January 16, 2027, and projects must be completed within this timeframe. Proposals are reviewed on a rolling basis, with submissions by March 1, 2026, receiving full consideration. Accepted projects may be awarded up to 20,000 Perlmutter GPU node hours – each node containing four A100 GPUs. Proposals will be evaluated based on their exploration of quantum information science and a clear plan to leverage the Perlmutter system’s features—including 6,000+ NVIDIA A100 GPUs and an all-flash scratch file system. A demonstrated plan to utilize capabilities of the upcoming Doudna supercomputer – with its NVIDIA Vera-Rubin platform and high-speed Quantum-X800 networking – will also be considered. Priority will be given to projects benefiting Department of Energy research objectives or broader societal impact. Successful applicants will have access to software like cuQuantum, CUDA-QX, Qiskit, PennyLane, and ITensor, along with the opportunity to collaborate with NERSC and Nvidia staff. While open to all, including non-current NERSC users, all research results must be published openly, and projects must comply with NERSC’s appropriate use policies. An “Institutional User Agreement” is required for research without federal funding. Award Details & Resource Availability The QIS@Perlmutter program is offering awards for the NERSC 2026 Allocation Year, running through January 16, 2027. Accepted proposals may receive up to 20,000 Perlmutter GPU node hours, with each node containing four A100 GPUs. Awardees are expected to report progress bi-monthly and submit a final project summary. This program aims to support research in all areas of quantum information science, encouraging proposals that leverage the capabilities of the Perlmutter supercomputer. Successful applicants will have access to software like cuQuantum, CUDA-QX, Qiskit, PennyLane, Quimb, and ITensor. NERSC and Nvidia staff will also be available to partner with awardees, assisting with GPU utilization and workflow optimization. Projects should explore quantum information science and demonstrate a plan to utilize the Perlmutter system’s 6,000+ NVIDIA A100 GPUs and all-flash scratch file system. The program is open to all applicants, even those not currently NERSC users. However, all research results must be published openly in scientific journals or presented in open forums, adhering to standard NERSC usage policies. Submissions received by March 1, 2026, will be given full consideration, with review occurring on a rolling basis. An “Institutional User Agreement” is required for research not federally funded. Awards are for the NERSC 2026 Allocation Year (AY), which runs through January 16, 2027. NERSC & Program Eligibility Requirements NERSC is currently accepting proposals for its QIS@Perlmutter program, offering researchers the opportunity to utilize the Perlmutter supercomputer for quantum information science research. The program’s 2026 Allocation Year runs through January 16, 2027, and projects must be completed within this timeframe. Importantly, eligibility isn’t limited to current NERSC users, opening the program to a wider range of applicants. Accepted proposals may receive up to 20,000 GPU node hours on Perlmutter, with each node containing four A100 GPUs. Successful applicants will have access to software like cuQuantum, CUDA-QX, Qiskit, and PennyLane, facilitating quantum simulations and algorithm development. NERSC also offers collaboration with its staff and Nvidia experts to optimize workflows and address project-specific challenges. Proposals are evaluated on their exploration of quantum information science, a plan to utilize the Perlmutter system (with over 6,000 NVIDIA A100 GPUs), and potential benefit to Department of Energy research objectives. As a U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science User Facility, NERSC requires that all research results stemming from awarded projects be openly published through scientific journals or forums. Projects must also adhere to standard NERSC appropriate use policies. An “Institutional User Agreement” is required for research not receiving federal funding. Submissions received by March 1, 2026, will be given full consideration during the rolling review process. Source: https://www.nersc.gov/news-and-events/news/qisperlmutter-issues-2026-call-for-proposals Tags: