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<\/a>The sixth annual Quantum Computing User Forum hosted over 140 registered attendees and featured research presentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops and an in-depth poster session. Credit: Kurt Weiss\/ORNL.<\/p>\nHosted by the lab\u2019s Oak Ridge Leadership Computing Facility<\/a> (OLCF), the sixth annual event was the largest yet, with over 140 registered attendees. Users spent the week discussing common practices in the development of applications, software and simulations for quantum computing devices and systems.<\/p>\n The forum featured results from an array of projects supported by the OLCF\u2019s Quantum Computing User Program, or QCUP, which facilitates access to state-of-the-art quantum computing systems for more than 500 users worldwide.<\/p>\n \u201cWe heard from vendors about the latest technologies, and it was important for our Quantum Computing User Forum (QCUF) participants to gain visibility into these advancements,\u201d said ORNL\u2019s Ashley Barker, QCUP director and OLCF program director. \u201cBut it wasn\u2019t just about knowledge sharing; it was about building a community. By fostering connections among users, facilities and organizations investing in quantum technology, we can avoid reinventing the wheel and collaboratively leverage our resources. In the end, our goal was to ensure that everyone left with valuable insights and connections, ready to navigate the fast-paced journey that is the world of quantum science.\u201d<\/p>\n Over the course of four days, attendees participated in panel discussions and hands-on workshops hosted by industry representatives from\u00a0IonQ<\/a>,\u00a0Quantinuum<\/a>,\u00a0IBM<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0IQM<\/a>. The event provided vendor-hosted workshops every morning and user talks throughout the afternoon.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s forum highlighted recent research through workshops and keynote talks on the latest in quantum hardware, methods for mapping problems onto quantum computers and results from scaling up scientific applications of quantum computing. The forum also featured workshops on topics such as the Helios generation of trapped-ion quantum computers by Quantinuum and the integration of quantum computing with high-performance computing, which is a strong focus for QCUP.<\/p>\n This year\u2019s event was planned by Claire Marvinney, ORNL research scientist, along with Josh Cunningham, ORNL IT project manager.<\/p>\n \u201cAwareness of where success is happening is incredibly important, and so is this emphasis on quantum high performance computing integration,\u201d said ORNL\u2019s Travis Humble, director of the Quantum Science Center and special advisor to QCUP. \u201cThere is a need to think about larger problems that we can solve. The quantum computing hardware is getting larger, so that means our applications can be larger as well.\u201d<\/p>\n Day two of the event included a poster session during which 24 posters were on display highlighting a variety of quantum computing projects. Users voted for their favorite posters, and the researchers behind the top selections were awarded certificates on the final day of the forum.<\/p>\n Three winning posters earned the most votes during the poster session:<\/p>\n \u201cLearning Feasible Quantum States for Quadratic Constrained Binary Optimization Problems,\u201d submitted by Anthony Wilkie, University of Tennessee, Knoxville At the conclusion of the forum, participants praised the forum\u2019s organization and the opportunity to explore emerging technologies \u2014 insights that not only inspire innovation but also strengthen the nation\u2019s competitive edge.<\/p>\n \u201cA large user forum serves as a powerful platform for collaboration, sparking new ideas and fostering creativity among users,\u201d said David Nicholaeff, an attendee from New Mexico. \u201cOne of my biggest challenges with our project has been figuring out how to truly democratize user workflows. This week has been inspiring. Bringing together vendors, users and national AI researchers has shown just how productive this collaboration can be. Once you reach critical mass in these efforts, the momentum really begins to take off.\u201d<\/p>\n QCUF attendees also enjoyed the lineup of speakers, depth of vendor presentations and the layout of sessions.<\/p>\n \u201cThe people I was able to connect to and the contacts I made are invaluable,\u201d one attendee said. \u201cAlso getting to meet the QCUP organizers who connect us to the different vendors, and talk to them in person, is immensely useful for planning in terms of our projects.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2025 QCUF poster session winners were (from left) Anthony Wilkie, Ashlyn Burch, and Esam El-Araby. Credit: Angela Gosnell\/ORNL, U.S. Dept. of EnergyMore information about QCUP is provided on\u00a0its user-documentation page<\/a>. Applications are accepted throughout the year.The OLCF is a\u00a0DOE Office of Science<\/a>\u00a0user facility located at ORNL.<\/p>\n UT-Battelle LLC manages ORNL for DOE\u2019s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, please visit\u00a0https:\/\/energy.gov\/science.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a>A poster session during the evening on July 22 featured 24 poster displays on various quantum computing topics. Credit: Kurt Weiss\/ORNL.<\/p>\n
\n\u201cThe Quantum-Accelerated Inter Testbed,\u201d submitted by Ashlyn Burch, ORNL
\n\u201cUtilizing Quantum Computing for Solving Multidimensional Partial Differential Equations,\u201d submitted by Esam El-Araby, University of Kansas<\/p>\n<\/a>The 2025 QCUF poster session winners were (from left) Anthony Wilkie, Ashlyn Burch, and Esam El-Araby. Credit: Angela Gosnell\/ORNL.<\/p>\n