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Turning gold standard quantum chemistry into a routine simulation tool: predictive properties for large molecular systems

Project description

New tools to accurately simulating large molecular systems

Finding a balance between predictive accuracy and manageable computational time is a long-standing issue in molecular quantum simulations. While the gold standard model in quantum chemistry is highly reliable, it is limited to the size of an amino acid molecule. The ERC-funded aCCuracy project plans to accelerate this model to deal with a few thousand atoms through theoretical developments and high-performance software design. It will also account for biochemical, crystal and solvent environment effects and compute static and dynamic observable properties of large molecules. This will enable the study of complex chemical interactions and reactions not currently accessible with chemical accuracy. If successful, aCCuracy will offer groundbreaking, open-access tools for advanced quantum simulation of large molecules in realistic conditions.

Objective

We propose comprehensive theoretical method development targeting a long-standing dilemma in molecular
quantum simulations between controllable predictive power and affordable computational time. While the
outstanding reliability of quantum chemistry’s gold standard model is repeatedly corroborated against experiments,
its traditional form is limited to the size of an amino acid molecule. By exploiting the short-range nature
of leading interaction contributions, a handful of groups, including ours, have recently extended the reach of
such quantitative energy computations up to a few hundred atoms. However, these state-of-the-art models are
still too demanding and are not at all equipped to compute experimentally relevant dynamic, spectroscopic, and
thermodynamic molecular properties.

Thus, to break down these barriers, we will further accelerate our cutting-edge gold standard methods up
to few 1000 atoms via concerted theoretical and algorithmic developments, and high-performance software
design. Additionally, we will take into account biochemical, crystal, and solvent environment effects via
cost-efficient embedding models. For the first time, we will also derive and implement practical approaches to
compute static and dynamic observable properties for large molecules at the gold standard level. The exceptional
capabilities of the new methods will enable us to study challenging chemical processes
of practical importance which are not accessible with chemical accuracy for any current lower-cost alternative.
We aim at modeling and understanding intricate covalent- and non-covalent interactions governing supramolecular
and protein-ligand binding as well as the mechanism of organo-, organometallic, surface, and enzyme catalytic
reactions.

Once successful, this project we will deliver groundbreaking and open access tools for the systematically
improvable and predictive quantum simulation of large molecules in realistic conditions and environments.

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Host institution

BUDAPESTI MUSZAKI ES GAZDASAGTUDOMANYI EGYETEM
Net EU contribution
€ 1 175 215,00
Address
MUEGYETEM RAKPART 3
1111 Budapest
Hungary

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Region
Közép-Magyarország Budapest Budapest
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 1 175 215,00

Beneficiaries (1)