Overview
openQSE: Co-Designing the Quantum Software Stack from Applications to Control Systems
As quantum computing evolves from isolated experimental platforms toward integration with high-performance computing (HPC) environments, the need for interoperable quantum-HPC software infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent. Developing such middleware requires co-design across the full quantum computing stack. Application-level choices about how problems are formulated and expressed in quantum workflows directly influence how workloads are compiled and executed on hardware. At the same time, constraints imposed by hardware control systems and device execution models shape the abstractions and services that middleware must provide.
To this end, openQSE is a collaborative initiative involving twenty-seven institutions spanning academia, national laboratories, and industry that is working to develop open specifications and reference implementations for quantum software middleware supporting the orchestration and execution of quantum workloads in HPC systems.
This workshop will convene researchers and practitioners across the quantum-HPC software stack to examine cross-layer interactions in quantum workload execution. All participants are welcome — joining openQSE is not a requirement for attending. Through short technical talks and an interactive co-design session, the workshop will explore how workloads evolve from application specification to hardware execution and identify challenges in defining interoperable middleware interfaces.
The workshop is intended to serve as a community forum to gather perspectives and help shape a roadmap for open and interoperable quantum-HPC software infrastructure.
Details
| Event | IEEE Quantum Week 2026 (QCE26) |
| Date | TBD — September 2026 |
| Time | TBD |
| Duration | 4.5 hours |
| Location | TBD |
| Room | TBD |
| Format | Hybrid (in-person + remote) — TBC |
Add to Calendar
Once the date is confirmed, add the workshop to your calendar:
Objectives
Short-Term
- Establish a shared understanding of co-design challenges across applications, middleware, and control systems.
- Collect concrete use cases and requirements that directly impact middleware design and interface specifications.
- Identify gaps in current abstractions and interfaces that limit interoperability and portability across quantum-HPC systems.
- Foster cross-domain collaboration between application developers, middleware architects, and hardware/control vendors.
- Generate actionable outcomes from discussions and deep dives to inform ongoing research and development.
Long-Term
- Lay the groundwork for common interfaces, best practices, and abstractions across the quantum software stack.
- Create a sustained community network across application, middleware, and hardware domains.
- Integrate workshop outcomes into hybrid quantum-HPC architecture co-design.
- Promote best practices for middleware design and resource abstraction.
- Enable long-term alignment between hardware evolution and software ecosystem development.
Program
The workshop is 4.5 hours and combines short technical talks with structured interactive sessions. The tentative format is:
| Segment | Duration | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Opening overview | 25 min | Introduction to openQSE, workshop goals, and framing of cross-layer co-design challenges. |
| Invited talks | 95 min | Short technical presentations (15–20 min each) from practitioners across the quantum computing stack. |
| Co-design sessions | 90 min | Facilitated small-group breakouts analyzing example workloads, followed by group synthesis. |
| Panel | 45 min | Moderated discussion with speakers and participants on open challenges and directions. |
| Closing discussion | 15 min | Summary of key findings, action items, and next steps. |
Detailed schedule and speaker assignments will be posted as they are confirmed.
Target Audience
Attendees are expected to have a basic understanding of quantum computing and/or HPC systems. The workshop welcomes:
- Quantum application developers
- Middleware and runtime developers
- HPC architects and operators
- Quantum software engineering researchers
- Quantum hardware and control system developers
Expected attendance: 30–50 participants. Participation is open; joining openQSE is not required.
Speakers
Invited speakers will be announced as they are confirmed.
Organizers
Materials
Slides, recordings, and other materials will be posted here after the event.
Contact
Questions about the workshop? Contact the main organizer Amir Shehata or reach the broader openQSE community on openQSE Slack.