Create 2026-01-30-Q50-Call-current.md

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+---
+title: 'Open Call 1/2026 for Academic Projects for the VTT Q50 Quantum Computer'
+date: 2026-01-30
+collection: publications
+header:
+  teaser: /assets/images/about-icon.jpg
+published: true
+author: FiQCI
+layout: post
+tags:
+  - Q50
+filters:
+  Skill level: Beginner # Beginner, Advanced
+  Type: News # Blog, Instructions, News
+  Theme: Technical # Technical, Algorithm, Programming, HPC+QC+AI
+---
+
+*The fourth Call for access to the VTT Q50 quantum computer is now open for users from Finnish higher-education institutions and research institutes.
+The Call is launched by the Finnish Quantum-Computing Infrastructure FiQCI, maintained and developed by VTT, CSC, and Aalto University.
+VTT Q50, the Finnish quantum computer operated by VTT is accessible through the LUMI supercomputer environment, provided by CSC.*
+
+Through this Call, accepted projects will get access to a true hybrid high-performance computing / quantum computing (HPC+QC) environment,
+with a quantum computing resource that exceeds the capacity of full emulation on supercomputers.
+
+This opens exciting avenues in both software development and end-user applications.
+For a software development perspective, this setup enables the development of, for example, quantum-classical hybrid algorithms,
+error mitigation techniques, and quantum compilers that optimise circuit execution based on real hardware features.
+
+For end-users, applications such as quantum-enhanced optimisation, simulation of molecular systems and materials science,
+and machine learning acceleration through hybrid quantum-classical AI models becomes possible.
+
+The LUMI HPC backbone ensures that computationally demanding pre- and post-processing tasks can be seamlessly incorporated.
+Thus, quantum computing becomes a practical enhancement to supercomputing, and vice versa.
+The update to the FiQCI infrastructure creates a unique environment across classical, quantum, and hybrid HPC+QC software solutions.
+
+With the addition of the VTT Q50 quantum computer to FiQCI, also parallel quantum computing directly within a supercomputer
+environment can be explored.
+
+## Timeline of Call
+
+  - **30 January 2026** Call opens
+  - **28 February 2026** Call closes
+  - **14 March 2026** (tentative) Outcome communicated
+
+## How to apply
+
+Access to the VTT Q50 machine is organised through regular Calls, of which this is the fourth one. Calls are planned at least four times per year.
+
+**The deadline for Call 1/2026 is 28 February 2026**. Proposals will be evaluated within FiQCI as soon as possible after the deadline.
+The results will be communicated to all applicants after decision. The expected duration of the projects is one year.
+
+Proposal will be evaluated based on scientific merit, feasibility, and computational resource justification. 
+
+The application form is available here: [Application form for FiQCI / VTT Q50 Academic Project 1/2026](https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/DF536009FCF9FC55)
+
+**Please fill in all the applicable fields** in the application form, including abstract, key scientific/societal/technological contribution,
+justification for the importance, and references.
+
+### Requested computing time
+
+**Carefully estimate the total need of computational resources required for your project!**
+
+As a guideline, execution of a single circuit, using 10.000 shots consumes roughly 10 QPU-seconds. 
+Initialisation time for each circuit, included in this estimate, is roughly 4 seconds.
+The execution time will naturally depend on the exact circuit being executed.
+
+We have set up a **resource estimator** to aid in estimating the QPU resources required:
+[FiQCI QPU resource estimator](https://fiqci.fi/resource-estimator/)
+
+The amount of resources applied for should be justified in the application.
+We acknowledge that this will be a rather approximate exercise, when practical experience on using the system is still scarce. 
+The total available QPU time available per Call is 20-60 QPU-hours, and we expect to grant resources to several projects.
+
+The following example resource application serves as a guideline;
+both smaller and larger resources can be granted based on the application.
+In addition to QPU resources, it is mandatory to apply also for classical resources in at least one category (CPU or GPU).
+**Please keep the classical resources limited to what is actually needed for keeping the quantum computing part going!*
+If you need additional supporting classical resources _related_ to the project, you should apply for a separate LUMI project for these.
+Also storage resources are required. For example, 10.000 TiBh corresponds to storing on average roughly 1 Terabyte of data for a year.
+
+**Resource allocation example:**
+  - VTT Q50 QPU hours: 4
+  - LUMI CPU-core hours (in thousands of CPUh): 4
+  - LUMI GPU-core hours (in thousands of GPUh): 0
+  - LUMI Storage TiB hours (in thousands of TiBh): 10
+
+## Terms of Use
+
+Accepted Projects must accept the Terms of Use for both the LUMI supercomputing environment and the VTT Q50 system.
+Full Terms of Use will be communicated to the Principal Investigators before start of the projects.
+
+The main restrictions are:
+  - Only academic research purposes are eligible
+  - Use is restricted to users affiliated with a Finnish University, University of Applied Sciences, a state-owned research institute, or the National Archives of Finland
+  - No commercial purposes are allowed
+  - No sensitive or specific category data can be handled
+  - Access is allowed only from within Finland
+
+## Acknowledgement
+
+When publishing the results that utilise VTT Q50, users have to acknowledge the use of VTT Quantum and FiQCI, preferably in the format: 
+  - "These [results] have been acquired by VTT's quantum computer VTT Quantum.". Users should use "VTT Q50" when referring to the quantum computer.
+  - "The authors acknowledge the use of the Finnish Quantum-Computing Infrastructure FiQCI."
+
+## Questions and clarifications.
+
+Please direct any and all questions regarding the Call to fiqci-feedback@postit.csc.fi. We are happy to help!
+
+
+