Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Mathematics ITWMAs part of a consortium of 13 project partners from seven European countries, we at Fraunhofer ITWM are working on an open quantum software stack as part of the EU project »EuroQSS«. This stack connects quantum processors with high-performance computers and facilitates hybrid applications for research, software development, and industry.
Das EU-Projekt EuroQSS entwickelt einen offenen, interoperablen und hardwareunabhängigen Quanten-Software-Stack.
The EU project »EuroQSS« is developing an open, interoperable, and hardware-independent quantum software stack.
© iStockphoto
European Software Stack for Hybrid Quantum Computing
EU Project »EuroQSS«: Europe’s Software Infrastructure for Quantum Computing
Quantum computers open up new avenues for solving complex problems in science and industry. This potential can only be harnessed in practice through collaboration with classical high-performance computers, known as High Performance Computing (HPC). A quantum software stack brings together the software layers that connect applications to quantum hardware.
In this project, our researchers at Fraunhofer ITWM are focusing on further developing the »EuroQSS« framework for hybrid computing, expanding key compilation functions, and specifically integrating quantum error correction capabilities.
Open Interfaces for European Quantum Software
Europe’s quantum software landscape has been fragmented thus far. Many software stacks support only individual hardware platforms, integrate HPC infrastructures only to a limited extent, and do not yet account for fault-tolerant quantum computers. Such systems detect and correct computational errors using quantum error correction schemes. Researchers and companies therefore have to familiarize themselves with different systems and make many technical decisions on their own. Yet numerous steps can be automated.
In the »EuroQSS« project, we are reducing these barriers through common interfaces, end-to-end hybrid workflows, and software layers that abstract away technical differences in the hardware. The modular, cross-platform architecture brings together existing European approaches. Open interfaces at all software levels integrate existing and future components, including both open-source software and commercial solutions.
Software developers can program largely independently of the hardware; during execution, the stack adapts the code to the respective quantum processor. This creates a flexible European quantum ecosystem that grows alongside new technologies. This is an important step toward Europe’s technological sovereignty.
Industrial Use Cases Test Hybrid Quantum Computing
The project’s goal is to achieve a result with a high level of technology maturity: The project partners are testing a prototype in a real-world environment. The software stack is aimed at research, software development, and industry across Europe. It creates a foundation for reproducible experiments and comparable benchmarks, reduces the effort required for customization, and facilitates the evaluation of technical options. This also allows companies to reduce their dependence on individual vendors.
The project partners are testing the software stack’s practical suitability in five use cases:
- Simulations in chemistry and materials science
- Computational fluid dynamics for aerospace
- Quantum-assisted artificial intelligence
- Industrial optimization
- AI-assisted hardware characterization, i.e., the analysis of hardware properties
All reference applications combine quantum and HPC components. The project partners are designing them for today’s NISQ systems and for future development toward fault-tolerant quantum computers. In doing so, the project partners are promoting the rapid transfer of results into industrial applications.
Open Quantum Software Stack for Europe by 2029
By the end of the project in 2029, »EuroQSS« will provide an open, interoperable quantum software stack that can be used throughout Europe. In this context, interoperable means that the stack works with different hardware and software components. The goal is to bridge the gap between quantum hardware and industrial applications and make quantum computing more accessible for practical uses. The EU project began in October 2026 and will run through September 2029.
Our Partners
13 project partners from seven European countries are contributing their expertise to »EuroQSS«:
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cognitive Systems IKS (Germany, consortium lead)
- Fraunhofer ITWM (Germany)
- Qruise SAS (France)
- Alpine Quantum Technologies GmbH (Austria)
- Fsas Technologies S. L. (Spain)
- Alice & Bob (France)
- CEA (France)
- Chalmers (Sweden)
- Airbus (Germany and France)
- CyberSecurityHub (Czech Republic)
- Quandela (France)
- HQS Quantum Simulations GmbH (Germany)
- IQM Finland (Finland)
