RIKEN’s Kobe campus is now home to “ROQUO,” a new quantum-HPC hybrid supercomputer developed through NEDO’s “Research and Development of Quantum-Supercomputers Hybrid Platform for Exploration of Uncharted Computable Capabilities” project. The system integrates R-CCS’s existing Fugaku supercomputer with both the IBM Quantum System Two (“ibm_kobe”) and the Quantinuum trapped-ion quantum computer “Reimei,” coupling three distinct high-performance computing systems. Scientific goals for ROQUO focus on enhancing quantum-computing simulation and accelerating algorithm development, and also include applications like quantum machine learning. This new platform addresses computational needs that Fugaku alone cannot meet, responding to advanced challenges in the field.
ROQUO’s architecture extends the capabilities of Fugaku, addressing computational challenges the supercomputer alone cannot resolve, and aims to enhance quantum-computing simulation environments while accelerating the development of new quantum algorithms. A key application area for the platform is quantum machine learning, which will combine the power of quantum computers and GPUs to tackle complex problems. Researchers anticipate that this hybrid approach will demonstrate the feasibility of integrating quantum and classical computing resources, opening new avenues for scientific discovery and technological advancement; further details are available on the R-CCS website.
Project documentation states that the scientific goals of the new system are to enhance quantum-computing simulation environments on supercomputers. Researchers anticipate that ROQUO will facilitate performance evaluation of quantum algorithms and pioneer new application areas, responding to advanced computational needs with a flexible, hybrid approach. The platform’s design underscores a commitment to exploring capabilities at the intersection of quantum and classical computing, potentially unlocking solutions beyond current technologies.
