Periodic Reporting for period 2 - AppQInfo (Applications and Hardware for Photonic Quantum Information Processing)
Reporting period: 2023-03-01 to 2025-02-28
AppQInfo addressed the critical challenge of developing Europe's quantum technology capabilities and workforce to compete in the global "second quantum revolution." Europe faced a shortage of highly skilled researchers capable of bridging fundamental quantum science with real-world implementations, while technical barriers hindered practical deployment of quantum information processing systems, including limited long-distance quantum communication protocols, inefficient multiphoton sources and detectors, and lack of integrated quantum photonic platforms.
Quantum technologies promise revolutionary advances in information processing, offering unprecedented computational power, unbreakable communication security, and novel simulation capabilities for drug discovery and materials science. For European society, mastering these technologies is essential for digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, economic competitiveness, and technological leadership. The project directly supported the EU's Quantum Flagship initiative and Digital Decade goals, positioning Europe to compete with major quantum programs globally.
AppQInfo successfully trained 15 Early Stage Researchers across a consortium of 9 beneficiaries and 6 partner organizations in photonic quantum information processing. Research objectives focused on: (1) distributed multiphoton quantum protocols for secure communication, (2) quantum-enhanced processing units using integrated photonics, and (3) next-generation quantum applications and hardware.
Project Achievements: The project exceeded its goals, producing 54+ high-impact publications and breakthrough demonstrations in quantum communication, simulation, and computing. Key achievements included daylight quantum key distribution over tens of kilometers, advanced photon-number-resolving detectors, integrated quantum photonic circuits for machine learning, and polariton-based quantum simulators.
The innovative training program combined world-class research with intersectoral secondments and entrepreneurship workshops, creating a new generation of quantum technology leaders. All 15 ESRs completed doctoral training and now hold leading positions across European academia and industry.
Quantum technologies promise revolutionary advances in information processing, offering unprecedented computational power, unbreakable communication security, and novel simulation capabilities for drug discovery and materials science. For European society, mastering these technologies is essential for digital sovereignty, cybersecurity, economic competitiveness, and technological leadership. The project directly supported the EU's Quantum Flagship initiative and Digital Decade goals, positioning Europe to compete with major quantum programs globally.
AppQInfo successfully trained 15 Early Stage Researchers across a consortium of 9 beneficiaries and 6 partner organizations in photonic quantum information processing. Research objectives focused on: (1) distributed multiphoton quantum protocols for secure communication, (2) quantum-enhanced processing units using integrated photonics, and (3) next-generation quantum applications and hardware.
Project Achievements: The project exceeded its goals, producing 54+ high-impact publications and breakthrough demonstrations in quantum communication, simulation, and computing. Key achievements included daylight quantum key distribution over tens of kilometers, advanced photon-number-resolving detectors, integrated quantum photonic circuits for machine learning, and polariton-based quantum simulators.
The innovative training program combined world-class research with intersectoral secondments and entrepreneurship workshops, creating a new generation of quantum technology leaders. All 15 ESRs completed doctoral training and now hold leading positions across European academia and industry.
AppQInfo's research program was structured around three Work Packages addressing critical challenges in photonic quantum information processing through 15 individual ESR projects.
WP1: Distributed Quantum Protocols achieved breakthrough secure quantum communication capabilities. Key results included theoretical frameworks for multiphoton entanglement distribution optimized for satellites (ESR1), experimental demonstration of quantum network security advantages (ESR2), daylight QKD over 45 kilometers with measurement-device-independent protocols (ESR3), loophole-free Bell inequality violations using time-bin entanglement (ESR4), and innovative quantum transform protocols for topological simulations (ESR5).
WP2: Quantum-Enhanced Processing created next-generation quantum simulation platforms. Achievements included near-deterministic single-photon generation with >95% purity (ESR6), quantum simulators modeling molecular spectra with up to 12 photons (ESR7), analogue quantum simulation protocols for chemistry problems (ESR8), the first polariton-based many-body quantum simulator (ESR9), and theoretical frameworks for enhanced boson sampling (ESR10).
WP3: Applications and Hardware delivered innovative quantum technologies. Results included quantum machine learning with quadratic speedups (ESR11), super-resolution imaging surpassing the Rayleigh limit by factors of 2-3 (ESR12), the first end-to-end optical neural network with all-optical backpropagation (ESR13), polariton logic gates on silicon platforms (ESR14), and photon-number-resolving detectors distinguishing up to 8 photons with >85% efficiency (ESR15).
Impact and dissemination: The project generated 54+ publications in leading journals including Nature, Science, Nature Photonics, and Physical Review Letters, with widely cited outputs establishing AppQInfo as a leading voice in photonic quantum information processing. Twelve major training events were organized, facilitating 45+ secondments across academic and industrial partners.
Exploitation and legacy: Industrial partners integrated project innovations into their R&D activities, while methodologies are being adopted by research groups worldwide. The project created a self-sustaining European quantum photonics network with ongoing collaborations, trained 15 researchers now in leadership positions across European institutions, and established lasting partnerships that continue generating collaborative research initiatives.
WP1: Distributed Quantum Protocols achieved breakthrough secure quantum communication capabilities. Key results included theoretical frameworks for multiphoton entanglement distribution optimized for satellites (ESR1), experimental demonstration of quantum network security advantages (ESR2), daylight QKD over 45 kilometers with measurement-device-independent protocols (ESR3), loophole-free Bell inequality violations using time-bin entanglement (ESR4), and innovative quantum transform protocols for topological simulations (ESR5).
WP2: Quantum-Enhanced Processing created next-generation quantum simulation platforms. Achievements included near-deterministic single-photon generation with >95% purity (ESR6), quantum simulators modeling molecular spectra with up to 12 photons (ESR7), analogue quantum simulation protocols for chemistry problems (ESR8), the first polariton-based many-body quantum simulator (ESR9), and theoretical frameworks for enhanced boson sampling (ESR10).
WP3: Applications and Hardware delivered innovative quantum technologies. Results included quantum machine learning with quadratic speedups (ESR11), super-resolution imaging surpassing the Rayleigh limit by factors of 2-3 (ESR12), the first end-to-end optical neural network with all-optical backpropagation (ESR13), polariton logic gates on silicon platforms (ESR14), and photon-number-resolving detectors distinguishing up to 8 photons with >85% efficiency (ESR15).
Impact and dissemination: The project generated 54+ publications in leading journals including Nature, Science, Nature Photonics, and Physical Review Letters, with widely cited outputs establishing AppQInfo as a leading voice in photonic quantum information processing. Twelve major training events were organized, facilitating 45+ secondments across academic and industrial partners.
Exploitation and legacy: Industrial partners integrated project innovations into their R&D activities, while methodologies are being adopted by research groups worldwide. The project created a self-sustaining European quantum photonics network with ongoing collaborations, trained 15 researchers now in leadership positions across European institutions, and established lasting partnerships that continue generating collaborative research initiatives.
Project completion and results: The project successfully completed all 15 individual ESR projects with their deliverables. Key outcomes included fully characterized quantum communication protocols ready for satellite implementation, validated quantum simulation platforms for materials science applications, and prototype quantum photonic devices demonstrating advantages over classical alternatives. The comprehensive training program graduated 15 highly skilled quantum technology researchers with interdisciplinary expertise spanning theory, experiment, and industrial application.
Socio-economic and societal impact: AppQInfo addressed critical European strategic needs in quantum technologies, directly supporting EU Quantum Flagship objectives and strengthening European technological sovereignty in quantum communication security. The trained researchers represented vital human capital investment, positioning Europe to compete with major global quantum programs.
The quantum communication developments enhanced cybersecurity for European citizens and institutions, while advanced quantum simulation capabilities accelerated scientific discovery in drug development, clean energy materials, and climate-relevant optimization problems. Extensive public engagement activities raised awareness of quantum technologies' benefits and implications.
Long-term impact: AppQInfo's network structure facilitated sustained knowledge transfer between academia and industry, creating lasting partnerships extending beyond the project period. The project contributed to structuring doctoral training in quantum technologies across Europe, providing a replicable model for future initiatives while establishing collaborations with leading international partners that expand European research reach and maintain technological leadership.
Socio-economic and societal impact: AppQInfo addressed critical European strategic needs in quantum technologies, directly supporting EU Quantum Flagship objectives and strengthening European technological sovereignty in quantum communication security. The trained researchers represented vital human capital investment, positioning Europe to compete with major global quantum programs.
The quantum communication developments enhanced cybersecurity for European citizens and institutions, while advanced quantum simulation capabilities accelerated scientific discovery in drug development, clean energy materials, and climate-relevant optimization problems. Extensive public engagement activities raised awareness of quantum technologies' benefits and implications.
Long-term impact: AppQInfo's network structure facilitated sustained knowledge transfer between academia and industry, creating lasting partnerships extending beyond the project period. The project contributed to structuring doctoral training in quantum technologies across Europe, providing a replicable model for future initiatives while establishing collaborations with leading international partners that expand European research reach and maintain technological leadership.