Periodic Reporting for period 1 - EQUALITY (Efficient QUantum ALgorithms for IndusTrY)
Reporting period: 2022-11-01 to 2024-04-30
The EQUALITY consortium brings together scientists, innovators, and prominent industrial players with the mission of developing cutting-edge quantum computing algorithms and utilisation techniques to solve strategic industrial problems.
EQUALITY targets six paradigmatic industrial problems that can benefit the most from the quantum-enabled speed-up: computational fluid dynamics for aerospace and energy applications, design of batteries and fuel cells, development of new materials for energy applications, multidisciplinary optimization, space mission optimization, space data analysis.
These problems are computationally complex and are faced routinely by the industrial partners in this project. In many cases, the computational requirements are enormous, forcing engineers to use simplistic models or rely on expensive build-and-test cycles. This is exemplified in aerodynamics, where it is more feasible to test models in a wind tunnel than solving the difficult equations involved in simulations. And similarly complex situations are also found in Li-ion batteries and fuel cell simulations.
Hence, the opportunity provided by quantum computers to tackle such questions computationally would give a competitive edge to the European industry. Moreover, improved aerodynamics and more performant batteries and fuel cells are critical to propelling these industries towards zero emissions.
The use of today’s quantum hardware, however, requires grappling with the limitations of this nascent technology. These bottlenecks limit the application of quantum computers to solve industrial problems. Therefore, in addition to the algorithms aimed at the use-cases, the project develops a set of strategies and software approaches that maximize the hardware capabilities of quantum computers available in the near future.
By transforming current industrial interest into widespread adoption, EQUALITY will solidify the link between strategic European industries and the emerging quantum ecosystem while also contributing to technologies critical to the green transition.
EQUALITY targets six paradigmatic industrial problems that can benefit the most from the quantum-enabled speed-up: computational fluid dynamics for aerospace and energy applications, design of batteries and fuel cells, development of new materials for energy applications, multidisciplinary optimization, space mission optimization, space data analysis.
These problems are computationally complex and are faced routinely by the industrial partners in this project. In many cases, the computational requirements are enormous, forcing engineers to use simplistic models or rely on expensive build-and-test cycles. This is exemplified in aerodynamics, where it is more feasible to test models in a wind tunnel than solving the difficult equations involved in simulations. And similarly complex situations are also found in Li-ion batteries and fuel cell simulations.
Hence, the opportunity provided by quantum computers to tackle such questions computationally would give a competitive edge to the European industry. Moreover, improved aerodynamics and more performant batteries and fuel cells are critical to propelling these industries towards zero emissions.
The use of today’s quantum hardware, however, requires grappling with the limitations of this nascent technology. These bottlenecks limit the application of quantum computers to solve industrial problems. Therefore, in addition to the algorithms aimed at the use-cases, the project develops a set of strategies and software approaches that maximize the hardware capabilities of quantum computers available in the near future.
By transforming current industrial interest into widespread adoption, EQUALITY will solidify the link between strategic European industries and the emerging quantum ecosystem while also contributing to technologies critical to the green transition.
During the first 18 months of Equality, we have achieved and submitted the following Milestones and Deliverables, respectively:
• M1 Use-case definition and technology roadmap
• M2 Version 1.0 of algorithmic primitives
• M3 Version 1.0 of low-level implementations
• M4 Top--down stack integration
• M5 Version 2.0 of algorithmic primitives
• D6.1 Project website (including project repository)
• D6.2 Dissemination & communication plan
• D4.1 Problem specification sheets (energy storage)
• D5.1 Problem specification sheets (aerospace)
• D6.5 Market analysis, business model and upscaling
• D7.1 Project management handbook and yearly management reports
• D7.3 Data management plan
• D3.1 Specifications on quantum hardware and low-level implementations
• D6.3 Dissemination & communication reports
• D7.2 Quality plan and monitoring
• D3.2 Middleware and API specifications
• D3.3 Performance report on integrated stack
• D4.2 Performance report (energy storage) v-1.0
• D5.2 Performance report (aerospace) v-1.0During the first 18 months of Equality, we have achieved and submitted the following Milestones and Deliverables, respectively:
• M1 Use-case definition and technology roadmap
• M2 Version 1.0 of algorithmic primitives
• M3 Version 1.0 of low-level implementations
• M4 Top--down stack integration
• M5 Version 2.0 of algorithmic primitives
• D6.1 Project website (including project repository)
• D6.2 Dissemination & communication plan
• D4.1 Problem specification sheets (energy storage)
• D5.1 Problem specification sheets (aerospace)
• D6.5 Market analysis, business model and upscaling
• D7.1 Project management handbook and yearly management reports
• D7.3 Data management plan
• D3.1 Specifications on quantum hardware and low-level implementations
• D6.3 Dissemination & communication reports
• D7.2 Quality plan and monitoring
• D3.2 Middleware and API specifications
• D3.3 Performance report on integrated stack
• D4.2 Performance report (energy storage) v-1.0
• D5.2 Performance report (aerospace) v-1.0
• M1 Use-case definition and technology roadmap
• M2 Version 1.0 of algorithmic primitives
• M3 Version 1.0 of low-level implementations
• M4 Top--down stack integration
• M5 Version 2.0 of algorithmic primitives
• D6.1 Project website (including project repository)
• D6.2 Dissemination & communication plan
• D4.1 Problem specification sheets (energy storage)
• D5.1 Problem specification sheets (aerospace)
• D6.5 Market analysis, business model and upscaling
• D7.1 Project management handbook and yearly management reports
• D7.3 Data management plan
• D3.1 Specifications on quantum hardware and low-level implementations
• D6.3 Dissemination & communication reports
• D7.2 Quality plan and monitoring
• D3.2 Middleware and API specifications
• D3.3 Performance report on integrated stack
• D4.2 Performance report (energy storage) v-1.0
• D5.2 Performance report (aerospace) v-1.0During the first 18 months of Equality, we have achieved and submitted the following Milestones and Deliverables, respectively:
• M1 Use-case definition and technology roadmap
• M2 Version 1.0 of algorithmic primitives
• M3 Version 1.0 of low-level implementations
• M4 Top--down stack integration
• M5 Version 2.0 of algorithmic primitives
• D6.1 Project website (including project repository)
• D6.2 Dissemination & communication plan
• D4.1 Problem specification sheets (energy storage)
• D5.1 Problem specification sheets (aerospace)
• D6.5 Market analysis, business model and upscaling
• D7.1 Project management handbook and yearly management reports
• D7.3 Data management plan
• D3.1 Specifications on quantum hardware and low-level implementations
• D6.3 Dissemination & communication reports
• D7.2 Quality plan and monitoring
• D3.2 Middleware and API specifications
• D3.3 Performance report on integrated stack
• D4.2 Performance report (energy storage) v-1.0
• D5.2 Performance report (aerospace) v-1.0
The most impactful scientific advances brought by the project so far include:
Basis for further algorithmic developments has been established and proven by means of peer-reviewed articles (some in form of preprints), presented at leading conferences in the domain. The scientific topics touched are: novel quantum approaches to optimisation, analysis of noise in quantum bits and its impact on applied computations, tailoring of quantum circuits.
Efficient utilization of quantum resource, which is a very important topic in context of near-term quantum computing, has seen notable scientific advances produced by the consortium partners, which will have important impact on the potential of applied quantum computing in NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) era. Among them: Efficient approaches to circuit cutting, ZX calculus, analog approaches to Differentiable Quantum Circuits for PDE solving, efficient estimations of quantum noise with blind quantum computation, hardware-oriented compilation of quantum circuits.
An API for a quantum routine used for PDE (Partial Differential Equation) systems has been put in place, enabling further research, and allowing experimental testing of the routine for aerospace-relevant applications, which is a cornerstone for the anticipated “full-stack application-specific quantum computing”.
In the domain of materials research for energy applications, multiple first scientific results in the domain of novel battery materials, specifically – Lithium-Sulfur (LiS) batteries, have been obtained. For example, operation of novel batteries has been simulated and their performance found to be above the traditional Li-ion ones. The techniques developed for this use-case are also applicable for the Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells.
Basis for further algorithmic developments has been established and proven by means of peer-reviewed articles (some in form of preprints), presented at leading conferences in the domain. The scientific topics touched are: novel quantum approaches to optimisation, analysis of noise in quantum bits and its impact on applied computations, tailoring of quantum circuits.
Efficient utilization of quantum resource, which is a very important topic in context of near-term quantum computing, has seen notable scientific advances produced by the consortium partners, which will have important impact on the potential of applied quantum computing in NISQ (Noisy Intermediate-Scale Quantum) era. Among them: Efficient approaches to circuit cutting, ZX calculus, analog approaches to Differentiable Quantum Circuits for PDE solving, efficient estimations of quantum noise with blind quantum computation, hardware-oriented compilation of quantum circuits.
An API for a quantum routine used for PDE (Partial Differential Equation) systems has been put in place, enabling further research, and allowing experimental testing of the routine for aerospace-relevant applications, which is a cornerstone for the anticipated “full-stack application-specific quantum computing”.
In the domain of materials research for energy applications, multiple first scientific results in the domain of novel battery materials, specifically – Lithium-Sulfur (LiS) batteries, have been obtained. For example, operation of novel batteries has been simulated and their performance found to be above the traditional Li-ion ones. The techniques developed for this use-case are also applicable for the Solid-Oxide Fuel Cells.