Q2B25 Tokyo | Quantum and HPC Integration Panel: Event Recap & Key Takeaways

The Q2B25 Tokyo conference hosted an insightful panel discussion focused on the integration of quantum computing and high-performance computing (HPC). The session, moderated by Yuval Boger (QuEra), brought together experts from AWS (Sebastian Hassinger), IBM (Hanhee Pak), and NVIDIA (Iko Hamamura) for a deep dive into the challenges and opportunities at the intersection of quantum and classical computing infrastructure.

Panelists:

• Yuval Boger (QuEra): Set the tone for a frank, technical conversation, drawing on Quera’s neutral atom quantum computing perspective.
• Sebastian Hassinger (AWS): Provided insights as a business developer for Amazon Braket, AWS’s quantum cloud service.
• Hanhee Pak (IBM): Spoke about IBM’s leadership in quantum-cloud integration and on-premises quantum computers, especially through their collaboration with Japanese institutions.
• Iko Hamamura (NVIDIA): Shared Nvidia’s approach to quantum computing, particularly their GPU-based supercomputers and partnerships within Japan’s quantum ecosystem.

Discussion Highlights:

• Integration Modalities: Both on-premises and cloud-based hybrid quantum/HPC setups are being actively explored. Major supercomputing centers and vendors are experimenting with which modes best suit various workloads and user communities.
• Operational Challenges: Managing scheduling and coordination between quantum and classical resources is exceptionally complex. The desire for optimal use of expensive resources (like QPUs and GPUs) often clashes with existing job queue and scheduling conventions in HPC environments.
• Workflow & Software Mismatches: Quantum and classical computing communities bring different workflow cultures (Python/Jupyter vs. C/batch jobs), creating integration and usability hurdles.
• Standardization Needs: There’s an urgent call for standardized APIs, workflow management tools, and intermediate representations to prevent ecosystem fragmentation and to support hybrid solutions.
• Real-world Applications: Current hybrid workloads are most impactful in areas like pharma and materials science (e.g., chemical simulation by AstraZeneca on AWS) and emerging quantum-assisted machine learning for rare or data-sparse problems.
• Educational and Workforce Trends: The emergence of a new breed of technical experts who are proficient at both HPC and quantum is considered essential for institutional adoption and growth.

Key Takeaways

1. Hybrid Cloud and On-Prem Quantum is a Reality—With Tradeoffs
   • Multiple panelists highlighted active projects where QPUs and HPC resources are physically or virtually joined, reflecting real deployments across Asia, America, and Europe.
   • Both modalities present unique benefits: On-premises setups can reduce job latency, while cloud integration offers greater flexibility and resource pooling.
2. Optimizing Scheduling Is a Pain Point
   • Efficiently synchronizing quantum and classical jobs is non-trivial. HPC resources are typically in continuous demand, making them difficult to reserve for quantum-classical hybrid computations.
   • New approaches—such as reservation-based scheduling and dynamic resource orchestration—are beginning to emerge, but more innovation is needed.
3. Software Ecosystems Need Unity
   • The gap between established HPC and emerging quantum software stacks is significant. Tools, languages, and workflows aren’t naturally interoperable, hindering efficiency.
   • Open-source engines and new workflow orchestration tools are being trialed, but widespread standardization is still a work in progress.
4. Real-World Use Cases Lead the Way
   • Pharma and material sciences are spearheading near-term hybrid quantum-classical applications, especially in quantum chemistry and quantum-enhanced AI.
   • Notably, case studies with AstraZeneca (AWS) and generative quantum eigen solvers (Nvidia) underscore tangible, if niche, enterprise impact.
5. Opportunities for Startups Remain Strong
   • Despite dominance by large vendors, the panel agreed there’s ample room for startups—particularly in workflow, abstraction, and integration tooling, as evidenced by companies like Agnostiq and Covalent entering the scene.
6. Japan as an Innovation Leader
   • Japan stands out globally for its integrated, government-backed quantum/HPC initiatives and industry-academia collaborations. New supercomputer-quantum clusters (e.g., at University of Tokyo and GQAT Center) set a model for national quantum innovation.

Final Thoughts

Quantum/HPC integration is moving swiftly from demos to early production use, led by pharma, AI, and simulation workloads. But significant technical and cultural challenges—especially around resource scheduling, workflow integration, and software standardization—still need creative solutions.

With strong institutional investments, the rise of hybrid-expert talent, and active involvement from startups, the path ahead looks promising. As the panelists emphasized, the coming year should bring more robust multi-QPU environments, expanded use cases, and innovative partnerships.

Watch the full panel here:

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