Quantum Computing

Think tank on quantum computing strengthens collaboration between industry and research

Last week in May, DTU organised the think tank for quantum computing ‘European Quantum Systems and Software Summit (EQS3)’. The summit brought all European quantum companies and selected researchers together for intensive and deep discussions on how to integrate quantum computing and HPC. The outcome will be shared with the EU.

EQS3. Photo: Sven Karlsson — ESQ3 2026 at DTU. Photo: Sven Karlsson

Friday 12 June 2026

Hanne Kokkegård

In the final week of May, DTU organised the European Quantum Systems and Software Summit (EQS3) – an international think tank focusing on quantum computing and the integration of quantum systems with high-performance computing (HPC).

Participants range from companies developing quantum hardware and software to leading researchers and representatives from supercomputing centres.

The common focus is on strengthening European capabilities, while drawing inspiration from global developments. The outcome is not only new ideas and collaborations, but also concrete recommendations collected in reports and shared with the European Commission.

“In this way, the think tank contributes directly to shaping Europe’s strategic direction in quantum technologies. Horizon Europe and EuroHPC actively participate in the initiative, which help facilitate dialogue with key decision-makers,” says Professor Sven Karlsson at DTU Compute.

A working forum, not a conference

The think tank was originally launched by Sven Karlsson together with colleagues from other universities back in 2023, and this meeting was the seventh one. Each one has been co-organised by Sven Karlsson.

Typically, two meetings are held each year, bringing together participants from across Europe, as well as from the United States and Asia, to work intensively on technological and strategic challenges.

This time, just over 30 participants attended, primarily from European companies and research environments within quantum computing.

The think tank’s meetings are deliberately structured differently from traditional conferences. Rather than listening to presentations, participants work actively in smaller groups on concrete strategy and policy questions. The groups evolve organically during the sessions, allowing knowledge to flow across topics and perspectives.

“We can clearly see that it strengthens the ecosystem. It is a strong networking forum where people connect and start collaborating,” says Professor Sven Karlsson.

A central topic at this year’s meeting was the transition from the so-called NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) era, in which quantum computers produce noisy and error-prone results, to fault-tolerant quantum computing, where errors are actively detected and corrected. This transition is crucial for making quantum computing practically useful. In this context, HPC plays a vital role.

“Quantum computers can act as accelerators for classical supercomputers, while at the same time relying on HPC systems, for example for error correction. The interplay between the two technologies is therefore essential and a key reason for establishing the think tank,” says Sven Karlsson.

Industry: Become aware of needs from both users and quantum vendors

HPC specialist Roberto Rocco and Quantum Developer Gabriella Bettonte from E4 Computer Engineering in Scandiano in Italy, were among the participants.

E4 was founded about 20 years ago. The main business is building and supplying HPC systems, and the company has also been working in quantum computing for the past few years, especially on HPC–quantum integration.

“E4 is involved in several Italian and European projects, so it’s natural for us to join EQS, as it’s a very interesting forum for discussing how the field is evolving. The network has grown a lot, and the discussions have evolved significantly,” says Roberto Rocco.

“In our European projects, we need to develop solutions that users will actually adopt. So, understanding where research is heading helps us stay aligned with both the market and our partners. It’s a good way to stay updated, to take part in the discussions, and to both learn and contribute to the consortium’s overall direction.”

Gabriella Bettonte adds: “We have definitely gained new ideas that we can reflect on and potentially incorporate into the solutions we are developing. We’ve also become aware of needs from both users and quantum vendors that we hadn’t fully considered before – especially regarding requirements for HPC–quantum integration. And I think it’s one of the most interesting events out there, also from a technical point of view.”

Amir Shehata is an HPC Systems Software Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, US. He participated in the event at DTU as one from outside Europe. Photo: Hanne Kokkegård

US-engineer: the solutions we develop will be global

Amir Shehata is an HPC Systems Software Engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee, US. He has been working with, among others, Sven Karlsson on HPC–quantum integration. He participated in the event at DTU as one from outside Europe:

“What they’re doing here overlaps a lot with what we’re doing in the lab in the US, and we face the same challenges. So, it makes sense to collaborate and coordinate, because in the end the solutions we develop will be global – not just for the US or Europe.”

He travels home with a wealth of new knowledge and ideas, especially regarding integration.

“Here we’re discussing fault-tolerant quantum computing, which is the next stage of development. There are several vendors here with deep expertise in that area, so it’s very valuable to hear how they plan to implement fault tolerance and how their systems will interact with HPC centres. It’s all new knowledge,” says Amir Shehata.

Contact

Sven Karlsson Professor svea@dtu.dk