Introduction:
Nvidia has announced its plans to accelerate quantum computing efforts at supercomputing centers worldwide. The company will be providing its open-source Nvidia CUDA-Q platform to power the quantum processing units (QPUs) inside these centers’ high-performance computing systems. Additionally, Nvidia’s Grace Hopper Superchips are being used in nine new supercomputers globally, delivering energy-efficient AI processing power.
Accelerating Quantum Computing Efforts:
Supercomputing centers in Germany, Japan, and Poland are set to benefit from Nvidia’s quantum computing initiatives. Germany’s Jülich Supercomputing Centre (JSC) will install a QPU built by IQM Quantum Computers as an addition to its Jupiter supercomputer, which is powered by the Nvidia GH200 Grace Hopper Superchip. Japan’s National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) will incorporate a QPU from QuEra into its ABCI-Q supercomputer, which is based on the Nvidia Hopper architecture. Poland’s Poznan Supercomputing and Networking Center (PSNC) has recently installed two photonic QPUs from ORCA Computing, connected to a new supercomputer partition accelerated by Nvidia Hopper.
Insights and Analysis:
Nvidia’s collaboration with supercomputing centers around the world highlights the increasing importance of quantum computing in scientific research and discovery. By providing QPUs and advanced superchips, Nvidia is enabling these centers to push the boundaries of quantum computing research in various fields, such as AI, energy, biology, chemistry, and material science.
The integration of quantum computing with GPU supercomputing is seen as a crucial factor in enabling useful quantum computing. Tim Costa, director of quantum and HPC at Nvidia, emphasizes the importance of this integration in advancing scientific discovery and the state of the art in quantum-integrated supercomputing.
Nvidia’s CUDA-Q platform is instrumental in providing the necessary acceleration for quantum-classical hybrid supercomputing. This open-source platform, used by many companies deploying QPUs, offers best-in-class performance.
Grace Hopper Superchips and Climate Change:
Nvidia’s Grace Hopper Superchips are also making a significant impact in the fight against climate change. These superchips are being implemented in various supercomputers worldwide, speeding up scientific research and discovery. For example, the EXA1-HE supercomputer in France, based on Eviden’s BullSequana XH3000 technology, is equipped with 477 compute nodes powered by Grace Hopper. The combination of AI and Nvidia Grace Hopper-powered systems is driving better energy efficiency and accelerating research into climate change.
Sovereign AI and the Importance of Supercomputers:
The construction of more efficient AI-based supercomputers is gaining momentum globally as countries recognize the strategic value of sovereign AI. These countries are investing in domestically owned and hosted data, infrastructure, and workforces to foster innovation. Nvidia’s collaboration with supercomputing centers plays a crucial role in advancing AI capabilities and positioning countries as leaders in AI research and development.
The University of Bristol’s Isambard-AI project in the UK is a prime example of this trend. The project, powered by Nvidia’s Grace CPU and Hopper GPU architectures, positions the UK as a global leader in AI. The collaboration with Nvidia has resulted in the delivery of phase one of the project in record time. When completed, Isambard-AI will significantly advance data analytics, drug discovery, climate research, and other areas.
Conclusion:
Nvidia’s efforts to accelerate quantum computing and provide advanced superchips are revolutionizing scientific research and discovery worldwide. By collaborating with supercomputing centers, Nvidia is pushing the boundaries of quantum computing research and enabling breakthroughs in AI, energy, biology, chemistry, and material science. The implementation of Grace Hopper Superchips in supercomputers is not only driving better energy efficiency but also contributing to the fight against climate change. Additionally, the construction of AI-based supercomputers is seen as a strategic move by countries to foster innovation and establish themselves as leaders in AI research and development.