Q-Neko Launches €4 Million EU-Japan Quantum HPC Project With 15 Partners
Updated
Updated · HPCwire · Jul 6
Q-Neko Launches €4 Million EU-Japan Quantum HPC Project With 15 Partners
1 articles · Updated · HPCwire · Jul 6
Summary
A €4 million EU-backed project linking 15 European and Japanese partners has launched to build a shared quantum-accelerated high-performance computing ecosystem under the EU-Japan Digital Partnership.
Q-Neko will develop common methodologies, benchmarks and standards for hybrid HPC+QC systems, aiming to speed real-world quantum adoption and strengthen competitiveness.
The 36-month effort, which began on Jan. 1, 2026, will connect EuroHPC supercomputers with quantum hardware and simulators in Europe and Japan, including Japan's ABCI-Q system.
Its software and platform work targets applications including CO2 reduction, telecommunications, fluid dynamics, satellite image analysis and materials science, while also advancing quantum-enhanced AI.
Coordinated by Finland's CSC and co-funded by Japan's SIP program, the project will also produce a technology roadmap and support workforce development for longer-term EU-Japan collaboration.
As quantum AI emerges, what ethical safeguards will govern this powerful EU-Japan collaboration to prevent its potential misuse?
Could setting quantum standards now lock Europe and Japan into obsolete technology before the race has even truly begun?
Q-Neko Project: Pioneering EU-Japan Quantum and HPC Integration for Scientific and Industrial Breakthroughs
Overview
Launched in 2026, the Q-Neko project marks a new era of collaboration between Europe and Japan in quantum science. By uniting experts from both regions, Q-Neko pools knowledge and resources to develop advanced hybrid High-Performance Computing (HPC) and Quantum Computing (QC) environments. This collaboration is designed to build the infrastructure and expertise needed for a future quantum-accelerated society. Focusing on integrating classical supercomputing with quantum capabilities, Q-Neko aims to drive innovation and address complex challenges across various sectors, while strengthening long-term ties between the European Union and Japan.