European Quantum Excellence Centres (QECs) in applications for science and industry

The applications and software to be developed should be platform-agnostic, with plans to test their correct functioning on as many EuroHPC quantum computing platforms as possible. Proposals should include a strategy for skills development, associating required stakeholders when relevant, and plans to allow users from different backgrounds to register and receive support for their issues while experimenting with different quantum computing platforms.

Proposals should include the enhancement of existing quantum applications and their integration with HPC/classical applications towards highly scalable, optimised codes. Moreover, they should set out a streamlined development, collaboration, automated testing and deployment processes throughout the application development and maintenance cycle, for example, by provisioning and using state-of-the-art quantum computing development tools, platforms and software management models.

Proposals should describe envisaged collaborations with the EuroHPC quantum computing infrastructure to implement a robust and reliable automated deployment process for quantum applications, in order to make novel developments timely available to the European quantum user communities.

Proposals should show how the QECs will ensure wider access to codes and foster their uptake by user communities, in particular scientific community, industry, SMEs, and policy-makers. Whenever possible, participants in the QECs should work together to apply for patents for the developed QCS systems and accompanying and/or embedded software.

Finally, proposals should include clear KPIs for the optimal employment of current and/or emerging quantum technologies, allowing the assessment of the progress towards the objectives, both in terms of outputs and ultimate impact.

Proposals should build on or seek collaboration with existing European projects, in particular from the Quantum Technologies Flagship initiative and develop synergies with other relevant European, national or regional initiatives, funding programmes and platforms.

Proposals for QECs should clearly identify their target community (science or industry).