Bengaluru: IBM and French quantum computing firm Pasqal have announced a partnership to develop frameworks that integrate quantum and classical computing resources. The collaboration will focus on creating a unified programming model to streamline hybrid high-performance computing (HPC) workflows.
The initiative aims to address interoperability challenges in quantum computing by enabling seamless integration between IBM’s quantum systems, Pasqal’s neutral atom-based quantum devices, and classical HPC resources such as CPUs and GPUs. This model seeks to provide researchers and developers with the flexibility to select the most suitable hardware for specific computational tasks.
As part of the project, Pasqal plans to make its neutral atom quantum hardware accessible to users of Qiskit, IBM’s open-source quantum software development kit. This will allow developers to program and run tasks on Pasqal’s hardware using the same framework currently used for IBM’s quantum systems.
According to the companies, this approach is intended to enhance the usability and efficiency of quantum-centric workflows, fostering collaboration between HPC centers and quantum hardware providers. The long-term goal is to accelerate the adoption of quantum technologies across diverse industries.
IBM Vice President of Quantum Jay Gambetta highlighted the importance of building a flexible, hardware-agnostic programming model. “This initiative aims to help users develop quantum-centric supercomputing algorithms and applications with minimal technical burden,” he said.
Pasqal CEO Georges-Olivier Reymond emphasized the potential impact of the collaboration, noting that it represents a critical step toward creating cohesive HPC workflows that integrate diverse quantum and classical resources.
The partnership reflects a broader trend in quantum computing, where industry leaders are working to bridge the gap between quantum and classical systems to address complex computational challenges. The companies are expected to roll out initial capabilities for developers in the coming months.
