RDA and Microsoft White Paper: From HPC to Quantum - Shaping the Future of Research Computing

Quantum computing, High-Performance Computing (HPC), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are forming the backbone of a new era in scientific discovery. To explore the implications of these innovative technology on research, the Research Data Alliance (RDA) and Microsoft organised two global expert roundtables in June 2025 on the topic of “From HPC to Quantum – Shaping the future of research computing”. Through expert keynote speeches and in-depth breakout discussions, researchers, technologists, policy leaders and funders from over 22 countries examined how quantum and HPC are applied in practice, where the most pressing challenges lie, and what actions are needed to ensure these technologies deliver broad and equitable benefit.

The roundtables revealed that hybrid computational models are already emerging, where HPC manages scale, AI accelerates insight, and quantum offers precision for targeted problems. Despite expanding access via cloud platforms, structural barriers persist: inadequate connectivity, skills gaps, fragile governance frameworks, and looming security threats posed by quantum-capable decryption.