Rigetti Computing will deliver a 9-qubit quantum processor to a new NSF-funded supercomputing testbed at Pittsburgh Supe

Rigetti Computing announced on July 27, 2026, a partnership with Hewlett Packard Enterprise and Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center to build TangleLab, a hybrid quantum-classical supercomputer testbed. The project is funded by a $5 million National Science Foundation grant through the Advanced Computing Systems & Services program under award number 2537076.

The TangleLab testbed will feature a 9-qubit Novera quantum computing system integrated with classical high-performance computing infrastructure. Rigetti CEO Dr. Subodh Kulkarni stated that the Novera will provide researchers and educators access to state-of-the-art hybrid quantum-classical computing capabilities, benefiting from the fast gate speeds inherent to superconducting quantum systems, which he described as a critical metric for high-performance hybrid quantum computing environments.

HPE's involvement centers on bringing quantum processors, high-performance computing, artificial intelligence, and advanced networking into a unified hybrid environment. Masoud Mohseni, Senior Distinguished Technologist and Director of HPE Quantum at HPE Labs, explained that effective integration of quantum processors with HPC, AI, and advanced networking is essential to realizing quantum computing's potential.

Pittsburgh Supercomputing Center will manage access to TangleLab through a flexible competitive proposal process, allowing individual researchers dedicated access when needed while providing educators real-time access for teaching. The center will offer onboarding activities, training, and research consulting to help users regardless of their quantum computing experience level.

Construction is scheduled to begin at PSC's new data center on September 1, 2026, with full operations expected in 2027. The project directly supports national investment priorities for fiscal year 2027 in quantum information science and artificial intelligence as outlined by the Office of Science and Technology Policy.

Rigetti is described as a pioneer in full-stack quantum computing using superconducting qubits, which it characterizes as the leading qubit modality due to their maturity, scalability, and speed. The company's systems achieve gate speeds of 50 to 70 nanoseconds, approximately ten thousand times faster than trapped-ion systems and one hundred times faster than neutral-atom systems. Rigetti manufactures systems ranging from 9-qubit to 108-qubit configurations for national laboratories and quantum computing centers, with its Cepheus systems using proprietary chiplet-based technology. The company operates quantum computers through its Rigetti Quantum Cloud Services platform and maintains Fab-1, described as the industry's first dedicated and integrated quantum device manufacturing facility.