Promoting Innovation with quantum/HPC systems

Quantum computing is entering a new phase—beyond proof-of-concept and toward real-world impact. To reach this stage, the field must transition from today’s noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices to fault-tolerant quantum computing (FTQC). This presentation outlines how FTQC, and specifically Alice & Bob’s architecture based on cat qubits, will integrate into high-performance computing (HPC) environments and enable innovation across scientific and industrial domains.

FTQC systems are designed to correct errors continuously and reliably, addressing the primary limitation of today’s quantum hardware. Logical qubits, constructed from many physical qubits, provide the stability needed for long and complex computations. Alice & Bob’s cat qubit-based architecture enables more resource-efficient error correction, using low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes to reduce the overhead compared to traditional surface code approaches. These advances bring the target of 100 logical qubits within reach, enough to unlock meaningful quantum advantage in several HPC-relevant use cases.

This shift toward FTQC also affects system architecture and workload design. Hybrid quantum/HPC systems, where quantum processors are integrated as accelerators, demand rethinking traditional notions of performance and data management. FTQC workloads involve probabilistic output, quantum error syndromes, and latency-sensitive control sequences. HPC systems must evolve to support this: from job schedulers that coordinate hybrid workflows, to I/O systems that handle new quantum data types. The definition of “high-performance data management” must expand to accommodate these requirements, integrating fault-tolerant quantum tasks into broader computational pipelines.

For organizations, the move toward FTQC means it is no longer too early to engage. HPC centers, government research labs, aerospace and materials companies, and pharmaceutical R&D groups should all begin preparing. Even if commercial-scale FTQC systems are still a few years away, now is the time to define target applications, prototype hybrid algorithms, and develop internal capacity. Practical steps include engaging in co-development programs, enabling quantum access through cloud or secure on-premises systems, and identifying workloads that are fundamentally constrained by classical methods.

FTQC offers a new solution class for applications where standard processing architectures fall short: quantum chemistry, materials simulation, secure computation, and complex optimization, to name a few. These domains exhibit exponential scaling in classical systems but are expected to see polynomial or exponential improvements with fault-tolerant quantum execution.

This talk will detail how FTQC systems from Alice & Bob are being designed for scalable deployment and integration with HPC, including hardware milestones, error correction strategies, and software stack development. We will also show how HPC systems themselves can accelerate FTQC progress by simulating quantum hardware behavior, optimizing error-correcting codes, and training AI models that assist quantum control.

the talk aims to provide a clear picture of FTQC’s role in the future of computing: as both a challenge to address and a capability to adopt. Integrating FTQC into HPC is a technical transition but also a strategic opportunity for organizations that rely on advanced computing for innovation.