Quantum Excellence Centre for Quantum-Enhanced Applications

Abstract

Quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize science and technology, offering breakthroughs in optimization, cryptography, machine learning, materials science, and drug discovery. However, challenges including the lack of standardized tools, specialized training, infrastructure access, and limited industrial collaboration hinder its impactful progress or adoption. The QEC4QEA project seeks to overcome these obstacles by building a unified platform to accelerate the development and integration of quantum-enhanced applications across various scientific and industrial fields.

QEC4QEA will provide a suite of resources, including a hardware-agnostic application library, benchmarking tools, compilers, APIs, and curated access to high-performance computing and quantum computing infrastructures. The project will refine its capabilities through agile development while promoting cross-disciplinary collaboration. A training program and help desk will support scientists and developers, enabling them to build and integrate quantum-enhanced solutions.

By focusing on applications such as complex multi-objective optimization, advanced cryptography, quantum-enhanced machine learning, accelerated materials discovery, financial crash prediction, image analysis, graph classification and routing, QEC4QEA aims to demonstrate quantum computing's practical potential. Leveraging the collective expertise of its consortium and engaging industries like finance, pharmaceuticals, and supply chain management, QEC4QEA will deliver impactful solutions for real-world needs. This outreach strategy will foster collaboration between academia and industry, translating scientific breakthroughs into commercial applications.

QEC4QEA will eliminate the barriers to adoption and catalyse a rapid shift from theoretical potential to practical deployment. These deployments might then enable new pathways for quantum computing applications with accelerated societal and economic benefits.

QEC4QEA is part of the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking (EuroHPC JU) initiative to establish Quantum Excellence Centres across Europe, integrating quantum computing with traditional HPC infrastructure to accelerate scientific discovery and industrial innovation. Adam Mickiewicz University is one of only three Polish institutions participating in this prestigious European quantum computing initiative.