CINECA and D-Wave Systems Inc. today announced an agreement to offer free extended access to quantum computing technology and resources to Italian universities, researchers and developers.
Researchers interested in using the most advanced quantum annealers models will be able to request calculation hours through the same channels that are normally used to request calculation hours on our HPC machines. In particular, starting from 01/03/2021, by participating in a ISCRA-C Call for Proposals, it will also be possible to present research projects that require the use of D-WAVE quantum annealers.
The required calculation time will be evaluated and agreed with the members of the Quantum Computing Lab: in the event of a positive evaluation, it will be distributed monthly through the D-WAVE Leap ™ Cloud service platform. Interested researchers will have access to all current D-Wave technologies: in addition to Advantage, the most powerful quantum annealer in the world (5600 qubits and more than 30,000 active connections), it will also be possible to use Hybrid Virtual QPUs, which can solve problems up to one million binary variables.
CINECA Headquarters, Casalecchio di Reno, Bologna, Italy 
D-Wave Quantum Computing Laboratory, Burnaby, CANADA
With real-time access to quantum computers via the cloud, the Italian and international scientific community has the opportunity to promote research, study and training in the quantum field, and at the same time be able to carry out the development of quantum applications. of the real world.
This collaboration completes Cineca’s institutional mission, which supports the Italian scientific community, and supports training in the field of quantum computing and in the field of skills for the world of research, also promoting collaboration and technology transfer to the world. productive and society.
Among Cineca users, several have expressed their interest in quantum computing. Like the Politecnico di Milano, which expressed interest in exploiting quantum computing to explore drug reuse and development, response and relief to natural disasters, and sustainability challenges such as decarbonisation and energy production.
Among the initiatives organized as part of the collaboration, on March 31 D-Wave and CINECA hosted a joint webinar in which the project related to drug research using the D-Wave quantum system was presented.
Among the initiatives organized as part of the collaboration, on March 31 D-Wave and CINECA hosted a joint webinar in which the project related to drug research using the D-Wave quantum system was presented.More information can be found in the joint press release.