ORCA Computing, a pioneer in quantum technologies, has revealed a groundbreaking blueprint to integrate photonic quantum AI into operational data centers. The company partnered with NVIDIA to combine its photonic quantum processors with NVIDIA’s accelerated computing and the CUDA-Q software platform. This collaboration highlights how data centers can immediately adopt scalable hybrid quantum–classical systems to power next-generation AI and machine learning workloads. As a result, GPU–quantum integration is moving rapidly from theory to practical deployment.
To validate this breakthrough, ORCA worked with Imperial College London and the Poznań Supercomputing and Networking Center (PCSS). Their joint effort successfully demonstrated the technology in a real-world data center, showcasing operational viability. This milestone also builds on ORCA’s broader hybrid quantum initiatives, including the UK’s National Quantum Computing Centre (NQCC), which integrates NVIDIA GPUs directly within a quantum system.
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“Working together with Imperial and PCSS, we’ve delivered a working demonstration of a distributed photonic quantum neural network inside a real data center,” said Richard Murray PhD, Co-founder and CEO of ORCA Computing. “This approach offers a deployment-ready, upgradeable path for organizations to adopt quantum-accelerated architectures without large infrastructure overhauls.”
At the core of this project were two ORCA PT photonic quantum processors installed at the PCSS data center alongside NVIDIA Hopper GPUs. Unlike traditional quantum hardware, the processors operate at room temperature and fit seamlessly in standard 19-inch rack cabinets. Integrated with the CUDA-Q platform and the Slurm workload manager, the system allows researchers to program classical and quantum resources within a single unified environment. This marks the first time CUDA-Q has supported photonic quantum processors, paving the way for scalable hybrid machine learning and HPC applications.
“Our collaboration with ORCA and Imperial College has allowed us to create a unique quantum classical hybrid system at PCSS,” stated Krzysztof Kurowski, Deputy Director & CTO of PCSS. “The open, easy integration of multiple QPUs and NVIDIA GPUs demonstrates that quantum accelerated supercomputing is not just tomorrow’s promise but today’s reality.”
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This achievement also builds on Imperial College’s award-winning research, which earned recognition as Best Paper in the photonics track at IEEE Quantum Week. By delivering a distributed quantum neural network within a real HPC environment, the team not only demonstrated feasibility but also set a replicable model for other facilities worldwide.
“The integration of quantum into the fabric of HPC is a critical step towards developing the future of quantum accelerated supercomputing, combining multiple quantum accelerators with many classical accelerators,” said Sam Stanwyck, Group Product Manager for Quantum at NVIDIA. “This work shows how the CUDA-Q platform can accelerate progress towards this future with open, performant, and purpose-built software.”
Looking ahead, the team plans to expand algorithmic capabilities, lower latency, and scale toward next-generation quantum systems. ORCA’s PT Series systems are already making global strides, supporting projects across Europe, North America, and Asia, including deployments at the UK’s NQCC, the UK Ministry of Defence, and other leading institutions. This momentum demonstrates how quantum computing is transitioning from conceptual research into tangible impact for AI and HPC.
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