SPP 2514:  Quantum Software, Algorithms and Systems - Concepts, Methods and Tools for the Quantum Software Stack

• Subject Area: Computer Science, Systems and Electrical Engineering ; Mathematics ; Physics
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 541030623

Quantum computers promise the solution of computational problems beyond classical means. To eventually utilize the potential of the emerging quantum hardware, foundational research in method development is required, as similar to classical computing also in quantum computing value will be created by software. This priority programme takes an interdisciplinary ansatz combining ideas of computer science, physics, mathematics and engineering into a concerted effort towards developing methodological building blocks along the complete quantum software stack. The priority programme is rooted in concepts of quantum physics and driven by physical desiderata, and aims at investigating and evaluating foundational concepts, methods and tools to facilitate the fulfilment of the above potential, and to overcome road blocks against developing a full stack for quantum computing. This priority programs aims at making scientific advancements along the whole quantum software stack. This starts with quantum algorithmic foundations and its roots in quantum physics, towards novel algorithmic concepts and error mitigation and correction strategies. In order to describe those algorithms, quantum programming models with appropriate abstraction levels are required that also allow the integration of hybrid computation concepts. To execute quantum programs on actual hardware platforms, compilation techniques and runtime infrastructures are required taking the specifics of hardware platforms integrating classical and HPC components into account as well. Orthogonally, for the development of hybrid quantum computing systems, design and engineering support is needed which includes HW/SW Co-Design and EDA principles. In order to evaluation the developed concepts, methods and tools, suitable verification and validation techniques for quantum software and systems are required cross-cutting the quantum computing stack.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• International Connection: Japan

Projects

• ACE-QC Fully Classical and Efficient Autonomous Calibration of Quantum Computers (Applicants Calarco, Tommaso ;  Gachechiladze, Mariami )
• Attestation for verification and validation in the quantum computing stack (Applicants Meinecke, Jasmin ;  Seifert, Jean-Pierre ;  Wolters, Janik )
• Bridging finite dimensional and infinite dimensional quantum systems — simulations and computational power (Applicants Ciani, Alessandro ;  Gharibian, Ph.D., Sevag )
• Compilation Environment and Benchmarking for Trapped-ion Quantum Computing (ComefortQC) (Applicants Schmidt-Kaler, Ferdinand ;  Wille, Robert )
• Coordination Funds (Applicant Schaefer, Ina )
• Error-Aware Compilation of Quantum Circuits for the Rydberg Atom Platform (ECQuRyd) (Applicants Büchler, Hans Peter ;  Polian, Ilia ;  Weber, Sebastian )
• Noise-aware Quantum Programming (NawaQ) (Applicants Kaminski, Benjamin Lucien ;  Stollenwerk, Tobias )
• Novel quantum algorithms via classical cryptography (Applicants Eisert, Jens ;  Seifert, Jean-Pierre )
• Optimized Quantum Software Testing based on Functional Property Specifications and Quantum State Verification Techniques (Applicants Gühne, Otfried ;  Lochau, Malte )
• Practical Measurement-based Quantum Computing (Applicants Barz, Stefanie ;  Pappa, Ph.D., Anna )
• Scaling Verification of Digital Quantum Simulations (Applicants Fauseweh, Benedikt ;  Hermann, Ben ;  Howar, Falk )
• Seamless Development of Quantum Software with Stakeholder-Specific Views (Applicants Mauerer, Wolfgang ;  Schaefer, Ina )
• Towards Software for Fault Tolerant Quantum Computing (Applicants Eisert, Jens ;  Müller, Markus ;  Wille, Robert )

• Spokesperson: Professorin Dr.-Ing. Ina Schaefer