HPE and Rigetti to Build Hybrid Quantum-Classical Computer at Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center

The push toward practical quantum computing took a step forward as Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE) and Rigetti Computing announced plans to jointly deploy a hybrid quantum-classical computer at the TangleLab supercomputing testbed, to be housed at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center (PSC). The project is backed by a $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), signaling growing federal interest in bridging the gap between quantum and classical high-performance computing.

The system will integrate a 9-qubit Novera quantum computer—Rigetti’s first commercially available quantum processing unit (QPU), launched in December 2023—with a classical HPC infrastructure built from HPE hardware. The Novera QPU is fabricated at Rigetti’s Fab-1 facility in Fremont, California, and features a 9-qubit chip with turntable couplers enabling fast two-qubit operations, alongside a separate 5-qubit chip for testing single-qubit gates. The QPU is based on Rigetti’s fourth-generation Ankaa-class architecture, first unveiled in August 2023.

On the classical side, the system will incorporate HPE ProLiant Compute DL384 Gen12 and DL385 Gen11 servers, HPE Cray Storage Systems C500, and HPE Networking equipment, all connected to the Novera processor. The combination aims to create a unified hybrid environment where researchers can develop and benchmark quantum-classical workflows in real-world conditions.

Construction of the TangleLab testbed is scheduled to begin at PSC’s new data center on September 1, 2026, with full operational status expected in 2027. “We are excited to have a Novera QPU at the core of TangleLab, which will provide researchers and educators access to a state-of-the-art hybrid quantum-classical computer to push the boundaries of quantum computing innovation and discovery,” said Dr. Subodh Kulkarni, CEO of Rigetti. “Moreover, by collaborating with HPE, the global leader in HPC, we are in a strong position to deliver world-leading hybrid computing solutions—starting with TangleLab.”

Masoud Mohseni, director of HPE Quantum at HPE Labs, added that realizing the potential of quantum computing hinges on effective integration with HPC, AI, and advanced networking. “HPE’s role in TangleLab is to bring those technologies together into a unified hybrid environment, enabling researchers to develop, benchmark, and optimize quantum-classical workflows while gaining critical insight into how future quantum-HPC-AI systems will operate at scale,” he said.

The project underscores a broader industry trend: as quantum processors mature, the most promising near-term applications are expected to come from hybrid systems that offload certain calculations to quantum hardware while relying on classical supercomputers for the rest. By providing an open testbed at a major academic computing center, TangleLab could accelerate the development of quantum algorithms for materials science, cryptography, and optimization—fields where hybrid approaches may deliver early advantages.