IQM Launches HPC Integration Service to Accelerate Hybrid Quantum-HPC Adoption
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Insider Brief IQM Quantum Computers launched an HPC Integration Service that allows its quantum computers to function as scheduled Slurm nodes inside existing high-performance computing environments, aiming to streamline hybrid quantum-classical workflows. The service integrates quantum systems alongside CPUs and GPUs through the widely used Slurm workload manager and uses the open-source Quantum Device Management Interface (QDMI) standard to reduce vendor-specific integration complexity. IQM said the integration platform is already operating at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre in Germany, where four IQM quantum computers are installed, as the company prepares for a planned public listing through a merger with Real Asset Acquisition Corp. PRESS RELEASE — IQM Quantum Computers today launched HPC Integration Service, a turnkey solution that enables its IQM Radiance quantum computers to operate as a slurm node inside high-performance computing (HPC) environment. Using this widely adopted HPC workflow, IQM aims at accelerating adoption of hybrid quantum-classical computing across enterprises and research institutions. Slurm is the open-source workload manager used by most of the world’s leading supercomputing centers for its scalability and flexibility. The integration service makes quantum a scheduled resource alongside central processing units (CPUs) and graphics processing units (GPUs), removing the integration work that has slowed adoption. In addition, the service is built on IQM´s Quantum Device Management Interface (QDMI), an open-source standardization layer that simplifies the vendor-specific software interfaces that have fragmented quantum integration to date. The new HPC Integration Service has been demonstrated in a paper on arXiv co-authored with researchers at the Munich Quantum Software Company (MQSC) and is already running in production at the Leibniz Supercomputing Centre (LRZ) in Germany, where IQM has installed four quantum computers. “We have been hearing about an integration bottleneck from HPC customers for years,” said Jan Goetz, CEO and Co-founder of IQM Quantum Computers. “HPC integration is important work and by removing the complexity, end-users can focus on running quantum workloads instead of spending time of programming new routines. This is what production quantum means to us. Quantum you own, operate, and build value on. Real infrastructure inside real environments, doing real work.” Quantum computers have been deployed at customer sites for several years, but once installed, most of them have operated next to the HPC software stack rather than inside them. Every deployment required custom integration work that the next deployment could not reuse. The new HPC Integration Service unifies the software stack, allowing customers to focus on use-case execution. The HPC Integration Service closes the gap by enabling users to submit quantum jobs through the same interface and scheduler they use for CPUs and GPUs. Researchers can run benchmarks across systems using tools they already know, while system teams keep their existing operating model. IQM has on-premises systems operating at four of the world’s top 10 supercomputing centres and has sold more quantum systems than any other manufacturer. The company’s ambition is to be the foundation that customers build their quantum capability on. In February, IQM announced plans to go public through a business combination with Real Asset Acquisition Corp. (Nasdaq: RAAQ). Following the close of the transaction, the company is expected to list on a major U.S. stock exchange, with a dual listing on the Helsinki Stock Exchange under consideration.
Matt Swayne LinkedIn With a several-decades long background in journalism and communications, Matt Swayne has worked as a science communicator for an R1 university for more than 12 years, specializing in translating high tech and deep tech for the general audience. He has served as a writer, editor and analyst at The Quantum Insider since its inception. In addition to his service as a science communicator, Matt also develops courses to improve the media and communications skills of scientists and has taught courses. matt@thequantuminsider.com Share this article: