We present here the work carried out during the first 24 months of the GreQuE project in line with the Annex 1 of the Grant Agreement, and the first results obtained towards the goals of the GreQuE projects. Most actions within the GreQuE project have been undertaken together with the “Quantum Engineering Grenoble” (QuEnG) project, launched synchronously by University Grenoble Alpes (UGA) to foster the Grenoble ecosystem in quantum engineering and to create the foundation of a future training in quantum engineering. To achieve this common goal, both PhD programme QuEnG and GreQuE walk through complementary ways and use common means. Whereas GreQuE is focused on PhD scholarships within the 3”I” of the framework MSCA COFUND, namely International, Intersectoral and Interdisciplinary, QuEnG concentrates on well defined scientific workpackages, and has hired two long term invited scientists to boost Grenoble research in quantum engineering. The collaboration and mutualisation between these two projects have been very efficient and fruitful.
1) Recruitment
During the first 24 months, recruitment of PhD students has been the main activity of GreQuE. All scheduled 25 ESR have recruited. This recruitment activity has benefited from a strong synergy with the ”Quantum Engineering Grenoble” (QuEnG) PhD program from UGA.
2) Training
In addition to being supervised by their PhD supervisors in their respective labs, ESR have benefited from the very stimulating Grenoble scientific environment. They have followed the training sessions organized by the "Physics Doctoral School" of University Grenoble Alpes, specifically on entrepreneurship and innovation.
Some of them have already completed their industrial secondment, and have been enthusiastic about this industrial experience.
3) Communication
We have conducted the following communication actions in line with the structure of the Annex 1 to the Grant Agreement.
3.1 Website
We have set-up a web site
https://quantum.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr(opens in new window) together with the QuEnG UGA project.
3.2 Mailing lists
We have created different mailing lists to run the local quantum engineering network and to advbertise the PhD calls worldwide.
3.3 Dissemination
In order to meet new industrial partners and to increase the visibility of the PhD Programme, the partnership manager has attended several events. From 19 industrial partners presented in the GreQuE proposal, the number has increased to 25 and is still increasing.
4) Organization of the Grenoble ecosystem in quantum engineering
We have structured the Grenoble Ecosystem in line with the structure of the Annex 1 to the Grant Agreement. We have set-up the following boards to foster quantum engineering in Grenoble :
- Junior board. This board is composed by the PhD candidates of the GreQuE and QuEnG programs (see web site). They are in charge of the animation of the Quantum Engineering network in Grenoble by organizing monthly seminars and special events, running the web site and the social networks, and information outreach towards undergraduates of Grenoble Alpes University, etc…
- Innovation board. This board is composed of academics, the GreQuE partnership manager, and industrialists from the Grenoble area. This Innovation board is in charge of developing a strategy to improve the links between the academic world and the industrial research by organizing meetings and events, and by proposing original trainings for graduate students.
5) Events
We have organized the following events in line with the structure of the Annex 1 to the Grant Agreement.
All events have been organized together with the QuEnG project. For an exhaustive list of all events relevant to Quantum Engineering in Grenoble, see
https://quantum.univ-grenoble-alpes.fr/quantum-engineering/news-events/(opens in new window) .
