Quantum computing has reached another milestone with a breakthrough hybrid computing workflow developed by Quantum Brilliance and Pawsey Supercomputing Research Centre.
The system integrates quantum processing with traditional high-performance computing (HPC), providing researchers and enterprises with a flexible and scalable way to explore real-world quantum applications.
The milestone, led by Dr Pascal Elahi and Pawsey’s quantum team, showcases a practical approach to hybrid computing, merging Quantum Brilliance’s virtual Quantum Processing Unit (vQPU) with traditional CPU and GPU resources.
Hosted at Pawsey and powered by Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchips, the workflow is designed to be hardware-agnostic, acting as a universal adapter that allows different computing architectures to work in concert.
The startup has signed a partnership with the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre to develop quantum expertise in the staff at the high-performance computing and data research facility in Perth, and later to install its quantum computers at the site.
Dr Elahi, the new workflow functions like a “technological orchestra,” enabling quantum and classical computing resources to collaborate effectively.
“Previous approaches focused on quantum algorithms in isolation, but real-world problems require seamless integration of multiple computing technologies,” he said.
A key innovation is the workflow’s ability to communicate with both virtual and physical quantum computers using the same language and methods, which simplifies adoption for research institutions and industries to use quantum computing.
Quantum Brilliance, founded in 2019, and spun out of Australian National University, uses synthetic diamonds to produce smaller quantum chips that can operate at room temperature. If forged a partnership with the Pawsey Supercomputing Centre in Perth back in 2020.
The company raised a US$20 million Series A in December last year (though did not disclose the full details until mid-January), with Breakthrough Victoria and the federal government’s National Reconstruction Fund, as well as CSIRO-backed Main Sequence and the CIA-backed US fund In-Q-Tel.
VP of quantum solutions Andrea Tabacchinit said the vQPU offers a cost-effective entry into quantum computing, emulating the functionality of physical quantum processors with tens of qubits.
“By successfully integrating our virtual QPU into Pawsey’s workflow, we’re demonstrating that quantum computing is not just theoretical – it’s becoming a practical tool for solving real-world problems,” she said.
“This positions Australia at the forefront of quantum and supercomputing convergence, strengthening national infrastructure and quantum leadership.”
The hybrid system holds promise for applications in radio astronomy, artificial intelligence, and bioinformatics. The next step is to deploy the workflow on Pawsey’s Setonix supercomputer, incorporating a physical quantum processor.
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