From 1 to 3 December 2025, the XXI Workshop of the Institute for High Performance Computing and Networking (ICAR) of the National Research Council of Italy (CNR) was held—an established annual event dedicated to sharing scientific activities, discussing ongoing initiatives, and fostering dialogue with the national and international research community. The 2025 edition introduced a significant novelty: the collaboration with ERCIM, the European Research Consortium for Informatics and Mathematics, which enriched the programme with a full day dedicated to quantum technologies and to the activities of the ERCIM Working Group on Quantum Technologies.

The workshop opened on 1 December with a day devoted to cooperation with PNRR initiatives and national research networks. Following the welcome and presentation of the Institute by Director Fabio Martinelli, representatives of major extended partnerships took the floor, including Fabio Beltram (NQSTI), Nicola Blefari Melazzi (RESTART), Giuseppe De Pietro (FAIR), and Vincenzo Loia (SERICS). They provided an overview of the progress, achievements, and future perspectives of their respective initiatives. The day continued with a session dedicated to computing infrastructures supporting research in the social sciences, medicine, and related fields, with contributions from Giovanni Cerulli (FOSSR), Roberto Trasarti (SoBigData), Emiliano degl’Innocenti (H2IOSC), and Marialuisa Lavitrano (BBMRI, EOSC). Informal moments of exchange, such as the poster session and the social dinner, further fostered interaction among participants.

The second day, 2 December, was entirely dedicated to the ERCIM Event on Quantum Computing. After introductory remarks by Emilio Fortunato Campana, Director of the DIITET Department of CNR, and Han Le Poutré, President-elect of ERCIM, the activities of the new Working Group on Quantum Technologies were presented. The morning focused on research trends in academia and European research organisations, with contributions from institutions such as the National Quantum Science and Technology Institute, the University of Malaga, FORTH, King’s College London, NTNU, SBA, and RISE. In the afternoon, following a talk by Oscar Diez from DGCONNECT, the spotlight shifted to industrial perspectives, featuring interventions by leading companies in the quantum computing sector—including D-WAVE, Quantum2PI, Leonardo, IQM, Fujitsu, QuantumNet, and QTI—invited to illustrate technological trends and innovation directions. The day concluded with a wrap-up session on the future of quantum computing, followed by the social dinner.

Finally, 3 December was devoted entirely to the ICAR Institute. The morning opened with the presentation of the Institute’s research groups and their recent results, followed by the awarding of the ICAR Award for Young Researchers, coordinated by Giuseppe Manco. The workshop concluded with an open discussion on ICAR’s future perspectives and on the strategies needed to address the challenges of the post-PNRR period.