The EU Quantum Flagship's Key Performance Indicators for Quantum Computing

JuSER (Forschungszentrum Jülich)

Abstract

As quantum processors continue to scale in size and complexity, the need for well-defined, reproducible, and technology-agnostic performance metrics becomes increasingly critical. Here we present a suite of scalable quantum computing benchmarks developed as key performance indicators (KPIs) within the EU Quantum Flagship. These proposed benchmarks are designed to assess holistic system performance rather than isolated components, and to remain applicable across both noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices and future fault-tolerant architectures. We introduce four core benchmarks addressing complementary aspects of quantum computing capability: large multi-qubit circuit execution via a Clifford Volume benchmark, scalable multipartite entanglement generation through GHZ-state preparation, a benchmark based on the application of Shor's period-finding subroutine to simple functions, and a protocol quantifying the benefit of quantum error correction using Bell states. Each benchmark is accompanied by clearly specified protocols, reporting standards, and scalable evaluation methods. Together, these KPIs provide a coherent framework for transparent and fair performance assessment across quantum hardware platforms and for tracking progress late-NISQ toward early fault-tolerant quantum computation.

Authors 13

1. Zoltán Zimborás
2. Attila Portik
3. David Aguirre

   University of the Basque Country · Basque Center for Applied Mathematics

   Affiliation as printed

   BCAM -Basque Center for Applied Mathematics , 48009 Bilbao , Spain

   Department of Physical Chemistry , University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU , 48080 Bilbao , Spain

4. Rubén Peña

   Basque Center for Applied Mathematics

   Affiliation as printed

   BCAM -Basque Center for Applied Mathematics , 48009 Bilbao , Spain

5. Domonkos Svastits

   Budapest University of Technology and Economics

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Theoretical Physics , Institute of Physics , Budapest University of Technology and Economics , H-1111 Budapest , Hungary

   Qutility @ Faulhorn Labs , H-1117 Budapest , Hungary

6. András Pályi

   Budapest University of Technology and Economics

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Theoretical Physics , Institute of Physics , Budapest University of Technology and Economics , H-1111 Budapest , Hungary

   HUN-REN-BME-BCE Quantum Technology Research Group , H-1111 Budapest , Hungary

7. Áron Márton Aachen

   Forschungszentrum Jülich · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Forschungszenctrum Jülich GmbH , 52428 Jülich , Germany

   RWTH Aachen University , 52056 Aachen , Germany

8. János K. Asbóth
9. Anton Frisk Kockum

   Chalmers University of Technology

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience , Chalmers University of Technology , 412 96 Gothenburg , Sweden

10. Mikel Sanz
11. Orsolya Kálmán

    HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics

    Affiliation as printed

    HUN-REN Wigner Research Centre for Physics , 1525 P.O. Box 49 , Hungary

12. Thomas Monz

    Universität Innsbruck · Alpine Quantum Technologies (Austria)

    Affiliation as printed

    Alpine Quantum Technologies GmbH , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria

    University of Innsbruck , Institute of Experimental Physics , 6020 Innsbruck , Austria

13. Frank Wilhelm-Mauch

    Forschungszentrum Jülich · Saarland University

    Affiliation as printed

    Forschungszenctrum Jülich GmbH , 52428 Jülich , Germany

    Theoretical Physics , Universität des Saarlandes , 66123 Saarbrücken , Germany