IBM Unveils Open-Source Software for Quantum-HPC Integration at RPI

Details

• IBM released open-source quantum plugins for the Slurm workload manager and the Quantum Resource Management Interface (QRMI), enabling seamless integration of quantum computers with high-performance computing systems.
• These tools were developed in collaboration with Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, STFC Hartree Centre, Cleveland Clinic, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and quantum startup Pasqal, with initial deployment and testing on RPI's AiMOS supercomputer.
• The software leverages Slurm's SPANK architecture to manage quantum resources as primary computing options alongside CPUs and GPUs, with QRMI acting as vendor-agnostic middleware in Rust, featuring Python and C bindings for flexibility.
• RPI's Future of Computing Institute is now the first university to operate a quantum-centric supercomputing environment, directly connecting an on-site IBM Quantum System One with its AiMOS system.
• IBM adopted a hybrid computing architecture that allocates all necessary resources for the duration of a job, advancing efforts toward quantum advantage by 2026 in fields such as electronic structure analysis and energy-matter interactions.

Impact

This milestone marks the first true integration of quantum computing into standard HPC environments, streamlining hybrid workflows and reducing operational complexity. By setting an open, scalable framework for university and enterprise adoption, IBM could shape the trajectory of quantum-classical computing and bolster its competitive position as the field matures.