Beyond Classical: Quantum's Role in the Future of HPC

High-performance computing is approaching a turning point as increasingly complex workloads push classical architectures toward their practical limits. At the same time, quantum computing is beginning to demonstrate early, tangible results, raising important questions about how it fits within the broader compute ecosystem. This session examines the evolution of compute through three lenses: what quantum computing is delivering today, how it integrates with existing CPU and GPU-based systems, and what this means for the future of HPC. Rather than positioning quantum as a replacement, we explore the rise of heterogeneous architectures, where quantum processing units (QPUs) act as specialized accelerators within hybrid workflows. We will discuss how classical and quantum resources work together in practice (from orchestration and data preparation on traditional systems to targeted execution on quantum hardware) highlighting emerging hybrid HPC/QC workflows. Looking ahead, we will outline a forward-looking perspective on how these architectures may evolve over the next decade, and what breakthroughs could define the HPC landscape by ISC 2036. This includes the role of integrated hybrid systems in addressing computational bottlenecks and enabling new classes of problems.