Imagine a future where harnessing the power of quantum computing is as simple as submitting a job to a supercomputer – that future is a step closer today. Alice & Bob, pioneers in fault-tolerant quantum computing, have successfully integrated their cutting-edge cat-qubit technology with SLURM, the workload management system powering 60% of the world’s top supercomputers. Developed in collaboration with the STFC Hartree Centre, this breakthrough allows researchers to seamlessly schedule and utilize quantum processors alongside traditional computing resources, marking the first time this has been achieved with cat qubits. This integration isn’t just a technical feat; it’s a crucial step towards making practical, accessible quantum computing a reality for scientific discovery and industrial innovation.
Alice & Bob and Hartree Centre Partner
Alice & Bob is partnering with the STFC Hartree Centre to integrate its cat-qubit quantum computers into standard high-performance computing (HPC) workflows via SLURM, the widely used workload management system found in 60% of the world’s top supercomputers. This collaboration marks the first time cat-qubit technology has been adapted for seamless scheduling and execution within existing HPC resource management frameworks, effectively allowing quantum processors to be utilized like any other computing resource – CPUs or GPUs. Developed through the Hartree National Centre for Digital Innovation, the integration aims to broaden access to quantum computing for thousands of researchers by leveraging SLURM’s open-source, scalable cluster management. According to Stefano Mensa of the Hartree Centre, this work is a “foundational pillar” for impactful hybrid quantum-classical integration, making early fault-tolerant quantum computing practical and accelerating its adoption for future scientific and industrial applications.
SLURM Integration Enables HPC Workflows
Alice & Bob, in collaboration with the STFC Hartree Centre, have achieved a significant milestone by integrating their cat-qubit quantum computers with SLURM, the leading workload management system powering 60% of the world’s top supercomputers. This integration marks the first time cat-qubit technology can be seamlessly scheduled and executed within standard HPC resource management frameworks, effectively treating quantum processors as another compute resource alongside CPUs and GPUs. By enabling SLURM to allocate resources to quantum processing units (QPUs), researchers gain practical access to early fault-tolerant quantum computing, streamlining hybrid quantum-classical workflows. This advancement addresses a crucial gap, moving beyond standalone quantum hardware to facilitate real-world applications and accelerating adoption for thousands of researchers utilizing established HPC environments. The collaboration aims to expand accessibility and is a key step towards scalable, integrated quantum-classical computing for scientific discovery and industrial use.
Expanded Access for Quantum Researchers
A significant step towards practical quantum computing has been achieved through the integration of Alice & Bob’s cat-qubit technology with SLURM, the widely used workload management system powering 60% of the world’s top supercomputers. Developed in collaboration with the STFC Hartree Centre, this integration allows researchers to schedule and utilize quantum processors alongside traditional HPC resources – CPUs and GPUs – within existing workflows. This marks the first time cat-qubit technology has been adapted for seamless execution within standard HPC frameworks, addressing a key barrier to broader quantum adoption. The partnership expands accessibility to thousands of researchers by providing open-source, fault-tolerant cluster management, and crucially, aligns quantum resource allocation with established HPC practices, as highlighted by Alice & Bob’s CEO, Theau Peronnin. This collaboration aims to accelerate the use of quantum computing to enhance HPC workloads within the next five years.
