Quantum computing is the next wave of fundamental science poised to revolutionize human experience.
What is quantum computing?
Since the 1960s, technological advances have enabled silicon transistors to keep shrinking, causing computational capability to grow exponentially. However, transistors cannot shrink much further; they are already so small that the laws of quantum mechanics begin to impair their performance. This is already starting to limit our society’s breakthroughs in certain fields as diverse as the design and discovery of new chemicals (enzymes for carbon capture, fertilizers, dyes), new materials (room temperature superconductors, batteries), and the development of new medicines and drugs; machine learning, and artificial intelligence.
Fortunately, quantum mechanical behaviour opens amazing new possibilities for computation. A well-developed theory for a radically new Quantum Information Technology proves that computers that rely fundamentally on quantum mechanics can potentially solve many important computational problems that will remain forever intractable using conventional computers. The international race for quantum computing has attracted enormous research funding including $1B over 10 years in Europe, $4B over 5 years in China, and hundreds of millions by several multinational companies including Microsoft, Google, IBM, and Intel.
The grand challenge for the Quantum Computing Cluster (QCC) is to develop technologies for, and to explore applications in, quantum computing that will enable the solving some of the world’s most challenging problems. Specifically, our goal is to develop the next generation quantum information technologies with the goal of developing a universal quantum computer that is demonstrably scalable to achieve a quantum advantage over classical computers. In parallel, we will be to conduct research with existing quantum processor technologies. Our cluster will help incubate a 'Quantum Silicon Valley’, namely a local ecosystem of companies commercializing the next generation quantum computers, with all the necessary ingredients (machine learning algorithms, software) to solve meaningful and impactful real-world problems.