QUantum computing for Excellence in Science and Technology

Projektinformationen

QUEST

ID Finanzhilfevereinbarung: 101087126

DOI

10.3030/101087126

EK-Unterschriftsdatum 26 Oktober 2022

Startdatum 1 Januar 2023

Enddatum 31 Dezember 2027

Finanziert unter

• Widening participation and spreading excellence

Gesamtkosten

€ 2 499 341,25

EU-Beitrag

€ 2 499 341,00

Koordiniert durch

THE CYPRUS INSTITUTE
Cyprus

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - QUEST (QUantum computing for Excellence in Science and Technology)

Berichtszeitraum: 2023-01-01 bis 2024-03-31

Zusammenfassung vom Kontext und den Gesamtzielen des Projekts

The QUEST project, led by ERA Chair Prof. Karl Jansen, aims to establish a Quantum Computing (QC) research group at Cyprus Institute's Computation-based Science and Technology Research Center (CaSToRC). Dr. Jansen, also leading the Center for Quantum Technology Applications (CQTA) at DESY, will spearhead the creation of a Quantum Computing Hub, fostering collaboration between CaSToRC and CQTA for scientific, industrial and governmental applications. Under Prof. Jansen's leadership, the project will recruit and mentor a senior researcher to sustain efforts beyond its duration, build up the group of post-docs and PhD students, provide training, and foster collaborations with local and international teams for ongoing funding. Addressing Cyprus's shortage of QC expertise and infrastructure compared to other EU nations, QUEST aims to make Cyprus "quantum ready," aligning with wider EU objectives. Leveraging CaSToRC's role as Cyprus's national high-performance centre, QUEST seeks to maximize participation in European Quantum Computing (QC) initiatives like EuroHPC Joint Undertaking and the quantum technologies flagship program.


Main objectives:
Objective 1: Establish a vibrant research group in Cyprus that excels in the spearheading of research in QC, led by ERA Chair Dr. Karl Jansen of DESY Zeuthen
Objective 2: Recruit a senior researcher in physics, mathematics, quantum information science or related areas with a focus on QC algorithms at a tenure track assistant professorship position to become team leader ensuring the sustainability of the QUEST activities
Objective 3: Establish a QHub at CaSToRC in close partnership with CQTA of DESY to serve as a collaborative platform for joint projects and innovative ideas, interconnecting researchers from research institutions in Cyprus, forging collaborations, pursuing applications in industry, and targeting new funding revenues
Objective 4: Promote technology applications of QC through the partnership with CQTA of DESY, developing common demonstrators for industry and benchmarking of QC applications, and bridging to the high-tech industry
Objective 5: Enrich the curriculum of the PhD and MSc programs by adding new modules on QC and hands-on training to address the skills deficit in QC
Objective 6: Pursue outreach activities to raise awareness on the importance of quantum technologies in academia, industry and society

Arbeit, die ab Beginn des Projekts bis zum Ende des durch den Bericht erfassten Berichtszeitraums geleistet wurde, und die wichtigsten bis dahin erzielten Ergebnisse

Since January 2023, the QUEST ERA Chair has achieved significant milestones, including the publication of multiple scientific papers (a detailed list is presented QUEST website link, https://quest.cyi.ac.cy/publications/). The areas covered are in the quantum field theoretical models from condensed matter and high energy physics, optimization and class, algorithm development and quantum art. This work has been achieved by collaborating closely with DESY's CQTA, employing hybrid quantum-classical algorithms, quantum machine learning, error mitigation and utilising real quantum hardware at IBM and IonQ. The ERA Chair is also benchmarking novel quantum hardware. These activities yielded continuous breakthroughs and publications.

From the beginning of the project, the ERA Chair participated in numerous conferences, seminars and workshops in the field of quantum computing through which QUEST project was promoted.


During the effort of the establishment of QHub, ERA Chair Prof. Jansen is in constant communication with a number of local and international groups (Enrique Ortega in Bilbao, Simone Monetangero at University of Padua, Ivano Tavernelli at the IBM Zurich Lab, Carsten Urbach from the University of Bonn, German Sporlini at the University of Salamanca, Ferdinand Schmidt-Kaler from Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz). At the moment detailed discussions are taking place, also with the group of Prof. Alejandro Sainz of the Humboldt University in Berlin. A collaboration with, SIMEa ERA Chair project from the Cyprus Institute is also planned to expand the research in the field of quantum materials.

Fortschritte, die über den aktuellen Stand der Technik hinausgehen und voraussichtliche potenzielle Auswirkungen (einschließlich der bis dato erzielten sozioökonomischen Auswirkungen und weiter gefassten gesellschaftlichen Auswirkungen des Projekts)

As the project is currently in the recruitment phase, one of the most important tasks is the formation of a research group located at the Cyprus Institute, resulting in the establishment of a dedicated group focused on quantum computing and its applications.

The already established collaboration with the Center for Quantum Technology and Application (CQTA) group in Zeuthen is gradually leading to the commercialisation of the so far research projects, attracting the attention of local and international companies.
The ERA Chair in his role as the leader of CQTA has already established more than 10 NDAs and cooperation contracts to which members of the research group of the ERA Chair can be added once the research group is built up.

At CQTA business plan is in development and it can be a blueprint for a similar plan at CyI.

Through the partnership with CQTA, hardware access to quantum computers because available such as quantum computations can be performed which can be used for further training of the postdoc and PhD and MSc students at the graduate school at the CyI and beyond. We remark that this hardware access is not restricted to IBM but contact to a number of other hardware providers has been established.


An interdisciplinary collaboration at CaSToRC will foster innovation, with QHub and CQTA pursuing technology applications together. The alignment of QUEST's vision with CQTA's, supported by shared resources, will deliver impact locally and internationally. Commitment to sustaining collaborative projects beyond QUEST's lifetime demonstrates partners' dedication to long-term impact through EU and national funding schemes.