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26 April 2023 (ICFO)

Quantum CARLA: The Quantum Careers Symposium

9:00 to 9:30

Registration

9:30 to 9:40

Welcome words

Streaming available
Robert Sewell

Robert Sewell

Head of Academic Affairs at ICFO

9:40 to 10:10

The Quantum Technologies landscape

Streaming available
Antonio Acín

Antonio Acín

ICREA Professor at ICFO

10:10 to 10:50

Academia panel

Streaming available

Bruno Juliá Díaz

Bruno Juliá Díaz

Professor at Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Marianna Sledzinska

Marianna Sledzinska

Research Engineer at Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)

Morgan W. Mitchell

Morgan W. Mitchell

ICREA Professor at ICFO

Verònica Ahufinger

Verònica Ahufinger

Associate Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

10:50 to 11:10

Coffee break*

11:10 to 11:40

Start-ups panel

Streaming available

Alexandre Dauphin

Alexandre Dauphin

VP Quantum Simulation at Pasqal

Jan Nogué

Jan Nogué

Junior Quantum Engineer at Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Vanesa Díaz

Vanesa Díaz

Chief Executive Officer at LuxQuanta

11:40 to 12:10

Industry panel

Streaming available

Johanna Sepúlveda

Johanna Sepúlveda

Chief Engineer Quantum-Secure Communications at Airbus Defence and Space

Jordi Mur-Petit

Jordi Mur-Petit

Emerging Technologies Analyst at Nestlé

Stephan Ritter

Stephan Ritter

Director Quantum Technology Applications at TOPTICA Photonics AG

12:10 to 12:20

QT company highlights

Streaming available

Alexandre Dauphin

Alexandre Dauphin

VP Quantum Simulation at Pasqal

Carlotta Ciancico

Carlotta Ciancico

Quantum Systems Engineer at Quside Technologies

12:20 to 13:05

Quantum careers: My experience I

Streaming available

Alba Torras-Coloma

Alba Torras-Coloma

PhD student at Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE)

Antonio Márquez Romero

Antonio Márquez Romero

Postdoctoral researcher at Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC)

Elisabet Roda Salichs

Elisabet Roda Salichs

PhD candidate at Grupo de Información Cuántica (GIQ) at UAB

Giulia De Rosi

Giulia De Rosi

Juan de La Cierva-Incorporación Postdoctoral Fellow at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Rebecca Hoffmann

Rebecca Hoffmann

PhD Student at ICFO

13:05 to 14:10

Group picture and Lunch*

14:10 to 14:20

QT company highlights

Streaming available

Alícia Labián

Alícia Labián

Corporate Operations Manager at Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Vanesa Diaz

Vanesa Diaz

Chief Executive Officer at LuxQuanta

14:20 to 15:05

Quantum careers: My experience II

Streaming available

Carlotta Ciancico

Carlotta Ciancico

Quantum Systems Engineer at Quside Technologies

Gerard Pascual López

Gerard Pascual López

PhD Student at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Jessica O. de Almeida

Jessica O. de Almeida

Postdoctoral researcher at ICFO

Maria Arazo

PhD student at Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Zuzana Gavorová

Zuzana Gavorová

Post-doctoral researcher at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

15:05 to 15:45

International quantum initiatives

Streaming available

Alba Cervera Lierta

Alba Cervera Lierta

Senior researcher and Quantum Spain coordinator at Barcelona Supercomputing Center

Valerio Pruneri

Valerio Pruneri

Group Leader at ICFO

Hugues de Riedmatten

Hugues de Riedmatten

ICREA Professor and Group Leader at ICFO

Morgan W. Mitchell

Morgan W. Mitchell

ICREA Professor at ICFO

15:45 to 16:20

Professional skills for academic and industry careers

Streaming available

Araceli Venegas-Gomez

Araceli Venegas-Gomez

Founder and CEO at Qureca

Robert Sewell

Robert Sewell

Head of Academic Affairs at ICFO

16:20 to 16:25

Closing remarks

Streaming available

16:25 to 17:30

Networking*

17:30

End of the event

*Provided by ICFO

In collaboration with

With the participation of

Sponsored by

With the support of

Robert Sewell

Robert Sewell

Head of Academic Affairs at ICFO

Contact info

www.icfo.eu
robert.sewell@icfo.eu

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Bio

Prof. Robert Sewell completed a dual arts/science undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, and received his PhD in Physics from Imperial College London in 2009. He joined ICFO in 2009 as a Marie Curie Research Postdoctoral Fellow, and in 2014 was appointed Staff Scientist and Coordinator of Academic Programs at ICFO. From 2021 he is a Tenured Scientist and Head of Academic Affairs, responsible for ICFO’s PhD program, postdoctoral training program, and training of undergraduate and masters students. He is Co-Director of the Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences offered by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in conjunction with The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, and in 2020 was appointed SPIE@ICFO Chair for Diversity in Photonic Sciences.

About the Institution

ICFO is a CERCA research centre member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, founded in 2002 by the Government of Catalonia and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · Barcelona Tech, both of which are members of ICFO’s board of trustees along with the Cellex and Mir-Puig Foundations, philanthropic entities that have played a critical role in the advancement of the institute. Located in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, the institute currently hosts 500 people, organized in 25 research teams that use 80 state-of-the-art research laboratories. Research lines encompass diverse areas in which photonics plays a decisive role, with an emphasis on basic and applied themes relevant to medicine and biology, advanced imaging techniques, information technologies, a range of environmental sensors, tunable and ultra-fast lasers, quantum science and technologies, photovoltaics and the properties and applications of nano and quantum materials such as graphene, among others. In addition to three consecutive accreditations of the Severo Ochoa national program for top research excellence, ICFOnians have been awarded 16 elite ICREA Professorships as well as 42 European Research Council grants. ICFO is very proactive in fostering entrepreneurial activities, spin-off creation, and creating collaborations and links between industry and ICFO researchers. To date, ICFO has helped create 11 start-up companies.

Antonio Acín

Antonio Acín

ICREA Professor at ICFO

Contact info

www.icfo.eu
antonio.acin@icfo.eu

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Bio

Antonio Acín is an ICREA Research Professor at ICFO-The Institute of Photonic Sciences, where he leads the Quantum Information Theory group. The group activities focus on quantum information theory and quantum communication, with an emphasis on quantum cryptography, but also cover other fields such as quantum optics, many-body physics, quantum thermodynamics, of the foundations of quantum physics.

About the Institution

The main research objective of Antonio´s group is to understand how quantum laws can be exploited to design novel protocols for information processing and communication, with an emphasis on quantum cryptography.

The research effort goes from very abstract questions, such as security proofs of cryptographic protocols or characterizing correlations beyond quantum physics, to proposals for the implementation of quantum information protocols and collaborations with experimental groups. The group activities also cover research questions in other fields, such as quantum thermodynamics, quantum foundations, quantum optics and many-body physics.

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Bruno Juliá Díaz

Bruno Juliá Díaz

Professor at Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Contact info

http://brunojulia.fqa.ub.edu/
bruno@fqa.ub.edu

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Bio

Bruno obtained his undergrad at the University of Sevilla, following he obtained his PhD from the University of Salamanca in 2003 with a thesis about quark models. He continue as a Postdoctoral researcher in the University of Helsinki, CEA/Saclay and University of Pittsburgh with several stays in Argonne National Lab, Jeffeson Lab, FZ Juelich, and Osaka University. Currently he is working on several aspects of Quantum Science and Tech, among them, ultracold atomic gases, quantum simulation and quantum communications. He is full professor and coordinator of the Master in Quantum Science and Technology in Barcelona since 2021. Bruno has supervised 5 PhDs, 15 Master thesis and over 20 final degree projects. Since 2015, he is also doing regular contributions to science popularization, generating games and apps to disseminate physics, with an emphasis in quantum physics.

About the Institution

The Institute of Cosmos Sciences of the University of Barcelona (ICCUB) is an interdisciplinary center devoted to fundamental research in the fields of cosmology, astrophysics and particle physics. In addition, the institute has a strong technology program through its participation in international collaborations in observational astronomy and experimental particle physics.

The Institute was created in 2006 as the instrument of the University of Barcelona for the active support of research in theoretical astrophysics and particle physics, paying special attention to their synergy with cosmology, to promote experimental physics and instrument development, enabling a significant participation of the University of Barcelona in large international collaborations, and to attract highly qualified scientific personnel.

The ICCUB has experienced a significant growth, becoming a consolidated research institution with more than 50 long term scientists, 15 engineers and 65 postdoctoral researchers and PhD students.

Marianna Sledzinska

Marianna Sledzinska

Research Engineer at Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia (ICN2)

Contact info

https://www.icn2-p2n.eu/
marianna.sledzinska@icn2.cat

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Bio

Marianna graduated from Warsaw University of Technology, Faculty of Physics, specializing in Solid State Physics in 2008. She obtained her PhD in Autonomous University of Barcelona in 2012. She was supervised by prof. A. Bachtold with whom she developed various nano-electromechanical systems based on carbon nanotubes and graphene operating at MHz and GHz frequencies.
Since 2012 she has worked as research engineer in the Phononic and Photonic Nanodevices (P2N) group led by prof. C. M. Sotomayor Torres investigating phonons and thermal transport in the nanoscale.
She is an experimentalist in the areas of condensed matter physics and materials science and engineering. Her current research interests are in physics in low-dimensional systems, mainly related to phonons, electrons and excitons in 2D systems.
Her research in applied physics aims at understanding processes occurring at the nanoscale, which could then offer solutions to the technological challenges and find applications in the industry, mainly related to the fields of thermal management, phonon engineering and nanofabrication.

About the Institution

The Institut Català de Nanociència i Nanotecnologia, with its official English translation Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology and acronym ICN2, is a non-profit international research institute located close to Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). It is devoted to the generation of knowledge, materials and devices in the broad fields of ICT, health, energy and the environment.

The expertise of the ICN2 lies at the nanoscale, where new properties, interactions and ways to exploit them in everyday life are being discovered. Among its goals is to bring together scientists from diverse backgrounds in the pursuit of better science, better training and better outreach to society, while also seeking out new ways to engage with local and global industry.

Morgan W. Mitchell

Morgan W. Mitchell

ICREA Professor at ICFO

Contact info

https://mitchellgroup.icfo.es/

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Bio

Morgan obtained his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and he is a ICFO Group Leader in “Atomic Quantum Optics” since 2004 and ICREA professor since 2011. He has obtained the ERC Starting Grant “Atomic Quantum Metrology” and ERC Advanced Grant “Field Sensors with Exceptional Energy Resolution.” Morgan holds a leadership position of the optically-pumped magnetometer activities in Quantum Technologies Flagship project “Miniature Atomic vapor-Cell Quantum devices for Sensing and Metrology Applications” and he is a PI in the EIC Transition project “Optically-Pumped Magnetometers for Magnetoencephalography.” Lastly, he co-founded Quside Technologies SL in 2017.

About the Institution

ICFO is a research center of excellence with research lines that encompass diverse areas in which photonics plays a decisive role. Our research thrusts target the global forefront of photonics, and aim to tackle important challenges faced by society at large. We focus on current and future problems in Health, Energy, Information, Safety, Security and caring for the Environment.

Morgan´s group investigates quantum optical and quantum information processes with cold atoms and non-classical light sources, especially quantum processes arising from light-atom interactions. They study quantum physics as it manifests in atomic and optical systems, especially quantum processes arising from light-atom interactions. One major area of research is atomic quantum sensors, for which they have developed hot-vapor, laser-cooled, and ultra-cold atomic systems. With these they have demonstrated entanglement-enhanced sensing of magnetic fields, and more generally are working to understand how entanglement and other quantum effects can improve quantum sensor technology. Another area of interest is fundamental quantum physics at the light-atom interface. For this they work with individual trapped atoms and ultracold atoms. Finally, they study quantum randomness and its relationship to technology and foundations of physics.

Verònica Ahufinger

Verònica Ahufinger

Associate Professor at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Contact info

www.uab.cat
veronica.ahufinger@uab.cat

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Bio

Verònica Ahufinger is associate professor of the Physics Department at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) since 2010. In 2002, after finishing her PhD at the UAB, she moved as a Marie Curie Fellow to the Leibniz Universität Hannover (Germany) and from 2005 to 2010, she was ICREA researcher. In the last years, she has worked in the control of propagation of light and matter waves, in the use of ultracold atoms in optical lattices as quantum simulators and in topological systems. She has 73 peer-reviewed publications and is co-author of a book for Oxford University Press 2012 with 3333 (WoS) and 5183 (Google scholar) citations (22/03/2023). She has supervised 6 PhD Thesis (currently 2 more), 8 Master Thesis and 30 final degree projects. She was awarded with the PhD extraordinary award and the excellence research award of the UAB. From January 2011 to April 2014, she was academic coordinator of the Physics degree of the UAB and from June 2014 to September 2016, she was vice-dean of the Science Faculty. From July 2016 to July 2018, she was scientific collaborator of the Agencia Estatal de Investigación. Currently, since 2021, she is the UAB coordinator of the interuniversity Photonics Master.

About the Institution

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) is a leading university providing quality teaching in a wide variety of courses that meet the needs of society and are adapted to the new models of the Europe of Knowledge. Our courses provide students with outstanding practical experience, helping them to be better prepared as they enter the professional world. Moreover, the UAB is internationally renowned for its quality and innovation in research. All the detailed information about the studies, research, internacionalization, life on campus and the figures and rankings can be found at https://www.uab.cat/.

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Alexandre Dauphin

Alexandre Dauphin

VP Quantum Simulation at Pasqal

Contact info

https://www.pasqal.com/
alexandre.dauphin@pasqal.com

Social media

Bio

Alexandre obtained his PhD in Physics in 2015 and has since conducted research in various areas of quantum technologies, including many-body physics, quantum simulation, quantum computing, and quantum machine learning. He has held positions at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and ICFO. With over 10 years of experience in academia, Alexandre recently joined PASQAL, an analog quantum computing company. He now leads the quantum simulation department with the objective of showcasing quantum advantage on PASQAL’s analog quantum computer.

About the Institution

PASQAL builds quantum computers from ordered neutral atoms in 2D and 3D arrays to bring a practical quantum advantage to its customers and address real-world problems. PASQAL was founded in 2019 by Georges-Olivier Reymond, Christophe Jurczak, Professor Dr. Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize Winner Physics, 2022, Professor Dr. Antoine Browaeys, and Dr. Thierry Lahaye.

The team of Antoine Browaeys and Thierry Lahaye at the Institut d’Optique (IOGS, CNRS) has demonstrated for several years that the simulation of many-body problems is intractable for classical High-Performance Computers. Since 2011, they have built and improved programmable quantum simulators made of arrays of neutral atoms.

PASQAL builts atop this decade of expertise and numerous achievements in the engineering of lasers, vacuum systems and detection systems, to manufacture quantum processors that tackle complex issues, from fundamental science to grand industry challenges.

PASQAL has secured more than €140 million in financing to date, combining equity and non-dilutive funding. PASQAL has 140+ employees and has offices in Palaiseau and Massy, south of Paris, France, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Sherbrooke, Canada.

Jan Nogué

Jan Nogué

Junior Quantum Engineer at Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Contact info

www.qilimanjaro.tech
jan.nogue@qilimanjaro.tech

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Bio

Jan is a MSc student in Quantum Science and Technology at the University of Barcelona. He is primarily interested in the industry’s applications of quantum annealing and quantum machine learning. He works in developing quantum-ready solutions for our clients.

About the Institution

Qilimanjaro brings practical applications of quantum computing to the market in a shorter timeframe than digital quantum computers, by using a different but complementary model of quantum computation: the analog model.

We create a coherent quantum annealer accessible via the cloud to run real-world applications such as optimization tasks in the logistics, finance, and energy sector, among others, and quantum simulation of chemical and physical processes, very present in the materials and pharmaceutical research industries. We aim at providing our clients with a faster, more accurate and sustainable solution to their computing problems.

Vanesa Díaz

Vanesa Díaz

Chief Executive Officer at LuxQuanta

Contact info

www.luxquanta.com
vanesa.diaz@luxquanta.com

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Bio

Vanesa Diaz is an expert in the optical fiber industry with over 20 years of experience working for one of the largest multinationals in the sector. She has an exceptional blend of technical and business knowledge, which she obtained through her MSc in Telecommunications and a Master’s in Business and Marketing from Griffith University in Australia. As the CEO of LuxQuanta, Vanesa is leading the company’s business development, strategic partnerships, and investor relationships with vision and determination. She is driving innovation in CV-QKD and establishing LuxQuanta as a reference in the industry.

About the Institution

LuxQuanta was established as a spin-off from ICFO in May 2021 with the goal of integrating advanced and secure quantum cryptography technologies into conventional communication infrastructures.

The company is driven by a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to delivering state-of-the-art Quantum Key Distribution solutions that are easy to install while meeting the highest security requirements of governmental institutions, financial entities, data centres, and private telecommunication network providers.

With its cutting-edge technology, experienced team, and dedication to excellence, LuxQuanta is determined to shape the future of quantum-secured communications, while nurturing the development of a robust quantum ecosystem in Europe.

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Johanna Sepúlveda

Johanna Sepúlveda

Chief Engineer Quantum-Secure Communications at Airbus Defence and Space

Contact info

https://www.airbus.com/en

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Bio

Johanna Sepúlveda received her M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in Electrical Engineering – Microelectronics by the University of São Paulo, Brazil. She was a Senior Researcher in the area of security and emerging technologies at the University of South Brittany (France), INRIA (France) and at the Technical University of Munich (Germany). Currently she holds a position as the Airbus Expert on Quantum-Secure Technologies, being Chief Engineer of different European quantum initiatives such as the European Quantum Communication Infrastructure (EuroQCI). Also, she is a member of the Strategic Advisory Board of Quantum Technologies for the European Commission and leader of the Strategic Industry Roadmap at the Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC). She has more than 15 years of experience in R&T and R&D in the area of security, networked systems, HPC and quantum technologies.

About the Institution

Airbus is a leader in designing, manufacturing and delivering aerospace products, services and solutions to customers on a worldwide scale.
With around 130,000 employees and as the largest aeronautics and space company in Europe and a worldwide leader, Airbus is at the forefront of the aviation industry. We build the most innovative commercial aircraft and consistently capture about half of all commercial airliner orders. Thanks to our deep understanding of changing market needs, customer focus and technological innovation, we offer products that connect people and places via air and space.

Jordi Mur-Petit

Jordi Mur-Petit

Emerging Technologies Analyst at Nestlé

Contact info

https://www.nestle.com/
jordi.mur@es.nestle.com

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Bio

Jordi Mur-Petit received his PhD in Physics from Universitat de Barcelona. He has worked on quantum many-body physics, quantum simulation and quantum computation at CNRS/Orsay, UCL, CSIC/Madrid, and from 2015 to 2020 at the University of Oxford. In 2022, he joined the Nestlé Global IT Innovation Hub in Barcelona where he explores the opportunities and value that emerging technologies like quantum computing, causal inference and responsible AI can bring to the business.

About the Institution

Nestlé is the world’s largest food and beverage company. We are more than 300,000 employees, our 2000+ brands can be found in 191 countries around the world.

We’re taking open innovation to the next level: working with researchers, startups and innovation partners to strengthen entrepreneurship and shape disruptive innovation. At the IT Innovation team, we help the Nestlé Group remain future-ready by staying up-to-date on emerging transversal technologies (from edge computing to generative AI, from blockchain to virtual reality, from explainable AI to quantum computing), validating them and recommending them to the right partners in the business.

Stephan Ritter

Stephan Ritter

Director Quantum Technology Applications at TOPTICA Photonics AG

Contact info

www.toptica.com
stephan.ritter@toptica.com

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Bio

Stephan obtained his PhD degree in physics from ETH Zurich. He then joined the Max-Planck-Institute of Quantum Optics to develop single atoms in high-finesse optical resonators into universal nodes of an elementary quantum network. After 15 years in academia, Stephan joined TOPTICA Photonics, a leading manufacturer of high-tech laser systems for scientific and industrial applications, where he is currently leading the application team for quantum technologies. Stephan is a member of the Executive Team of the European Quantum Internet Alliance and of the Advisory Board of the German joint quantum-repeater-link project QR.X.

About the Institution

TOPTICA develops and manufactures high-end laser systems for scientific and industrial applications. The portfolio includes diode lasers, ultrafast fiber lasers, terahertz systems and frequency combs. OEM customers, scientists, and over a dozen Nobel laureates all acknowledge the world-class exceptional specifications of TOPTICA’s lasers, as well as their reliability and longevity.
Founded in 1998 near Munich (Germany), TOPTICA became one of the leading laser photonics companies by aiming for, and consistently delivering high-end specifications. TOPTICA’s diode lasers are appreciated for excellent coherence, wide tuning range and ideal beam profiles.
TOPTICA’s 490 employees worldwide, take pride in developing customized systems. In close collaboration with several universities and institutes, latest scientific discoveries are frequently incorporated into commercial products. With a global distribution network, TOPTICA provides exceptional service worldwide.

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Alexandre Dauphin

Alexandre Dauphin

VP Quantum Simulation at Pasqal

Contact info

https://www.pasqal.com/
alexandre.dauphin@pasqal.com

Social media

Bio

Alexandre obtained his PhD in Physics in 2015 and has since conducted research in various areas of quantum technologies, including many-body physics, quantum simulation, quantum computing, and quantum machine learning. He has held positions at Université Libre de Bruxelles, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, and ICFO. With over 10 years of experience in academia, Alexandre recently joined PASQAL, an analog quantum computing company. He now leads the quantum simulation department with the objective of showcasing quantum advantage on PASQAL’s analog quantum computer.

About the Institution

PASQAL builds quantum computers from ordered neutral atoms in 2D and 3D arrays to bring a practical quantum advantage to its customers and address real-world problems. PASQAL was founded in 2019 by Georges-Olivier Reymond, Christophe Jurczak, Professor Dr. Alain Aspect, Nobel Prize Winner Physics, 2022, Professor Dr. Antoine Browaeys, and Dr. Thierry Lahaye.

The team of Antoine Browaeys and Thierry Lahaye at the Institut d’Optique (IOGS, CNRS) has demonstrated for several years that the simulation of many-body problems is intractable for classical High-Performance Computers. Since 2011, they have built and improved programmable quantum simulators made of arrays of neutral atoms.

PASQAL builts atop this decade of expertise and numerous achievements in the engineering of lasers, vacuum systems and detection systems, to manufacture quantum processors that tackle complex issues, from fundamental science to grand industry challenges.

PASQAL has secured more than €140 million in financing to date, combining equity and non-dilutive funding. PASQAL has 140+ employees and has offices in Palaiseau and Massy, south of Paris, France, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and Sherbrooke, Canada.

Carlotta Ciancico

Carlotta Ciancico

Quantum Systems Engineer at Quside Technologies

Contact info

www.quside.com

Social media

Bio

Carlotta Ciancico received her M.Sc. in Condensed Matter Physics at Sapienza University in Rome in 2015. She then joined the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, where she studied quantum emitters coupled to 2-dimensional opto-electronic devices and obtained her PhD in 2021, under the supervision of Prof. Frank Koppens. She joined Quside Technologies in early 2022 as Quantum Systems Engineer and since then has been involved in all aspects of development of quantum communication systems for space applications, using Quside’s proprietary Quantum Random Number Generators.

About the Institution

Quside designs and commercializes Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) for cyber security and high performing computation. The proprietary technology is based on the Phase Diffusion Quantum Random Number Generation process in semiconductor lasers. Quside collaborates with several companies to deploy new products and infrastructures to achieve ultimate security. The devices developed by the company are used for key generation in quantum key distribution (QKD) cryptographic systems.
Currently, the company has announced the first Random Processing Unit (RPU) which combines reprogrammable hardware with quantum random number generation for world-class performance, optimization, and efficiency in randomness-based and stochastic High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads and Post Quantum Cryptography applications.
Quside is experienced in the development of advanced optical technologies, including photonic integrated circuits and optoelectronic integration to offer solutions with improved bandwidth, size and power compared to bulk solutions. The applications for Quside’s products range from mobile security to data center security, or numerical analysis in Monte Carlo methods and machine learning. We currently count with a unique team of quantum physicists, engineers, and seasoned business leaders, as well as with a network of partners across the supply chain that we have been consolidating over the last 5 years.

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Alba Torras-Coloma

Alba Torras-Coloma

PhD student at Institut de Física d'Altes Energies (IFAE)

Contact info

https://qct.ifae.es/
atorras@ifae.es

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Bio

Alba Torras-Coloma is a PhD student at the Quantum Computing Technology group (QCT) at IFAE working under the supervision of Pol Forn-Díaz. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in Physics at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) in 2019 and her master’s degree in Photonics at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC) in 2020. During her undergraduate studies, she worked in the fields of applied optics, quantum optics, and quantum algorithms for quantum annealers. Her current research topics involve the study of the ultrastrong coupling regime of light-matter interaction in superconducting quantum circuits and the study of new superinductor materials.

About the Institution

The Institut de Física d’Altes Energies (IFAE) is a consortium of the Generalitat de Catalunya and the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) created in 1991. It has been awarded the “Severo Ochoa Center of Excellence” mention twice since 2012. IFAE conducts research, both theoretical and experimental, on the frontier of fundamental physics (high-energy physics, astrophysics, and cosmology) and also in various areas of applied physics, such as medical imaging and quantum computing.

Antonio Márquez Romero

Antonio Márquez Romero

Postdoctoral researcher at Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and Institut de Ciències del Cosmos (ICC)

Contact info

https://amromero92.github.io/
a.marquez.romero@fqa.ub.edu

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Bio

Antonio obtained his PhD from the University of York in the UK, then completed a two-year postdoctoral position at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the USA, and is now in a current position at the Universitat de Barcelona. His research interests are focused on the application of quantum algorithms for the description of nuclear structure.

About the Institution

The Hadronic, Nuclear and Atomic Physics Group at the University of Barcelona is at the international forefront of theoretical physics research. Our research lines focus on the most pressing issues in our field: how the structure of hadrons and nuclei emerges from the underlying theory of the strong interaction, quantum chromodynamics; what are the properties of the dense matter in the interior of neutron stars; and what is the nature of neutrinos and dark matter, as inferred from nuclear physics experiments. Our theoretical work uses high-performance computing when necessary, and is tightly connected to worldwide experimental programs which use our results to analyze their data.

Elisabet Roda Salichs

Elisabet Roda Salichs

PhD candidate at Grupo de Información Cuántica (GIQ) at UAB

Contact info

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Bio

Elisabet studied Physics and Mathematics at the UAB and did her master’s degree in Quantum Science and Technology. She pursued her bachelor´s and master´s final projects both in theoretical physics and on “Sequential hypothesis testing in continuously monitored quantum systems”. On the other hand, the topic of the bachelor´s final project in mathematics was “Dynamics of transgenic oncolytic viruses against cancer cells”.

As an undergraduate, she was very interested in research. Therefore, she did two summer fellowships at ICFO, one in the KTT team and the other in Prof. Morgan Mitchell’s experimental group. Moreover, she was a summer fellow at CERN and did an internship at CRM (Centre de Recerca Matemàtica). After graduating from Physics and Mathematics, she worked for a year in the experimental group of Prof. Javier Rodríguez at UAB.

From these experiences she was able to gain a broad view on theoretical and experimental physics and finally she opted for theoretical research. Currently, she works at UAB under the supervision of Prof. John Calsamiglia and Prof. Andreas Winter as a Phd candidate. Her research topics are mainly focused on quantum sensing, sequential analysis in stochastic systems and Gaussian quantum networks.

About the Institution

The Quantum Information Group (GIQ) is a research group that is part of the Physics Department of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and belongs to the unit Física Teòrica: Informació i fenòmens quàntics.

GIQ is now one of the largest groups of Quantum Information in Spain. The research interests range from theoretical aspects of quantum information, such as quantum Shannon theory, quantum statistical inference, quantum metrology, entanglement theory, over implementations of quantum information protocols, such as quantum optics and ultra-cold gases, to applications of quantum information theory in condensed matter systems, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and dissipative quantum dynamics

Giulia De Rosi

Giulia De Rosi

Juan de La Cierva-Incorporación Postdoctoral Fellow at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Contact info

https://giuliaderosi.wordpress.com/
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Giulia-De-Rosi
giulia.de.rosi@upc.edu

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Bio

Giulia is a theoretical physicist and currently holds the position of Juan de la Cierva-Incorporación Fellow and Lecturer at UPC in the Barcelona Quantum Monte Carlo group, where she is the most senior Postdoctoral Researcher. Additionally, she is a Visiting Scientist at ICFO. Her research expertise covers a range of topics at the interface of condensed matter, atomic, nuclear, and quantum many-body physics, with a current research interest in ultracold gases, liquids, and crystals. She published papers in experimental astrophysics, nuclear and ultracold matter theory, combining and developing several analytical and numerical techniques. Her proposals are designed for state-of-the-art experiments, with an eye for quantum technological applications and her markedly multidisciplinary career has been cultivated in prestigious international institutions.

Giulia obtained her MSc in astroparticle theory (Sapienza, Rome) and her PhD in ultracold gases theory in Stringari & Pitaevskii group in Trento. In 2018, she joined Lewenstein’s group at ICFO with a Marie Skłodowska-Curie PROBIST COFUND Fellowship. Since 2019, she has been a member of Jordi Boronat’s team at UPC with the most highly-competitive Della Riccia Foundation and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual grants. She obtained several prestigious prizes including the European Commission’s Seal of Excellence. In addition, she is committed to outreach and Women in Science actions in Spain and Italy.

About the Institution

The BQMC – Barcelona Quantum Monte Carlo team is led by Jordi Boronat and is part of the broader SIMCON – Computer Simulation in Condensed Matter multidisciplinary group at UPC.
The BQMC group is world-leading in the theoretical description of quantum matter (gas, liquid and solid), photonics and polaritons platforms, machine learning and probabilistic neural networks, and computational material science. It is highly recognized for its expertise in a variety of complementary analytical and numerical methods ranging from different Monte Carlo flavours, Bethe and variational Ansatz, Feynman diagrammatic techniques, density functional theory, and quantum chemistry methods to classical molecular dynamics.
The BQMC group is highly international and counts as members of some of the most influential theorists such as Jordi Boronat, Grigory Astrakharchik, Pietro Massignan, Claudio Cazorla and Ferran Mazzanti. Globally, the BQMC team received several very prestigious recognitions and grants: Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Feenberg Medal (the most prestigious award in the area of Quantum Many-Body Theory), the honourable mention to the Hermann Kümmel Early Achievement Award, ICREA Academia, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie, Ramón y Cajal and Juan de la Cierva Fellowships.

http://bqmc.upc.edu

Rebecca Hoffmann

Rebecca Hoffmann

PhD Student at ICFO

Contact info

https://www.icfo.eu/
rebecca.hoffmann@icfo.eu

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Rebecca Hoffmann, originally from Germany, completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Physics from RWTH Aachen University in Germany and University of Perugia in Italy. In 2020, she undertook a year-long Master’s project with the Quantum Nano-Optoelectronics (QNOE) group, led by Frank Koppens, at ICFO. Following the successful completion of her Master’s degree, Rebecca joined the QNOE group as a PhD student in 2022, where she is currently focused on the study of artificial superlattices in 2D quantum materials. Rebecca has also been actively involved in various student societies throughout her academic journey and continues to contribute as an active member of ICONS, the student chapter at ICFO.

About the Institution

The quantum nano-optoelectronic group, led by Prof. Koppens, studies interactions between light and matter at extreme limits. Central in these studies are the rich variety of novel materials that are only one atom thick: graphene and 2d materials. These materials exhibit fascinating properties and in particular, by building stacks of these layered materials, completely new material systems can be created atom-by-atom: atomic lego! By stacking and twisting these materials, completely new optical, electronic and optoelectronic properties can be realized. A tantalizing example is graphene on top of graphene, twisted by just 1.1degree, revealing superconductivity at low temperature.

They apply several unique and novel techniques study physical processes with nano-optoelectronic imaging techniques, operating with infrared and terahertz light. This includes unique low-temperature near-field imaging techniques to probe the electronic response to light with nanometer-scale spatial resolution. One of the more recent objectives is to marry the topological and many-body phenomena of 2d-material heterostructures with nano-photonics. For example, they aim to generate non-reciprocal nanoscale optical fields (plasmons) and implement topologically protected plasmons such that they move around defects and corners.

To confine and control light at the nanoscale and to enhance light-matter interactions, the group is exploring the vast library of polaritonic modes in 2D materials. Confinement of light down to the atomic scale has been demonstrated and paves the way to strong interactions between light and quantum materials, with potential to unveil new states of matter not accessible before.

In addition to the new science and physics, the group develops new concepts for photo-detection, imaging systems, optical modulation, nano-scale light processing and switching, as well as flexible and wearable health and fitness devices. We aim to build prototypes of these disruptive technologies, in collaboration with industry. The group works closely with the Graphene Flagship program and large industries worldwide.

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Alícia Labián

Alícia Labián

Corporate Operations Manager at Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech

Contact info

www.qilimanjaro.tech
alicia.labian@qilimanjaro.tech

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Alícia has a BSc in Physics and a MSc in Science Communication. She has worked in the field of Corporate Communications in high level research centers such as the Catalan Institute for Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2) and the Institute for High Energy Physics (IFAE). She complements her scientific background with a wide vision of the startup and agency workflow. Alícia has also worked in advertising and consulting agencies. She joined QQT from the well-known Barcelona delivery unicorn Glovo. She is currently doing an Executive MBA at IESE Business School, that started in September 2022.
Responsible for Brand development and awareness, Communication and Outreach, and Internal Communications and Team Spirit.

About the Institution

Qilimanjaro brings practical applications of quantum computing to the market in a shorter timeframe than digital quantum computers, by using a different but complementary model of quantum computation: the analog model.

We create a coherent quantum annealer accessible via our cloud to run real-world applications such as optimisation tasks in the logistics, finance, and energy sector, among others, and quantum simulation of chemical and physical processes, very present in the materials and pharmaceutical research industries. We aim at providing our clients with a faster, more accurate and sustainable solution to their computing problems.

Vanesa Diaz

Vanesa Diaz

Chief Executive Officer at LuxQuanta

Contact info

www.luxquanta.com
vanesa.diaz@luxquanta.com

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Vanesa Diaz is an expert in the optical fiber industry with over 20 years of experience working for one of the largest multinationals in the sector. She has an exceptional blend of technical and business knowledge, which she obtained through her MSc in Telecommunications and a Master’s in Business and Marketing from Griffith University in Australia. As the CEO of LuxQuanta, Vanesa is leading the company’s business development, strategic partnerships, and investor relationships with vision and determination. She is driving innovation in CV-QKD and establishing LuxQuanta as a reference in the industry.

About the Institution

LuxQuanta was established as a spin-off from ICFO in May 2021 with the goal of integrating advanced and secure quantum cryptography technologies into conventional communication infrastructures.

The company is driven by a passion for innovation and a deep commitment to delivering state-of-the-art Quantum Key Distribution solutions that are easy to install while meeting the highest security requirements of governmental institutions, financial entities, data centres, and private telecommunication network providers.

With its cutting-edge technology, experienced team, and dedication to excellence, LuxQuanta is determined to shape the future of quantum-secured communications, while nurturing the development of a robust quantum ecosystem in Europe.

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Carlotta Ciancico

Carlotta Ciancico

Quantum Systems Engineer at Quside Technologies

Contact info

www.quside.com

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Carlotta Ciancico received her M.Sc. in Condensed Matter Physics at Sapienza University in Rome in 2015. She then joined the Institute of Photonic Sciences in Barcelona, where she studied quantum emitters coupled to 2-dimensional opto-electronic devices and obtained her PhD in 2021, under the supervision of Prof. Frank Koppens. She joined Quside Technologies in early 2022 as Quantum Systems Engineer and since then has been involved in all aspects of development of quantum communication systems for space applications, using Quside’s proprietary Quantum Random Number Generators.

About the Institution

Quside designs and commercializes Quantum Random Number Generators (QRNGs) for cyber security and high performing computation. The proprietary technology is based on the Phase Diffusion Quantum Random Number Generation process in semiconductor lasers. Quside collaborates with several companies to deploy new products and infrastructures to achieve ultimate security. The devices developed by the company are used for key generation in quantum key distribution (QKD) cryptographic systems.
Currently, the company has announced the first Random Processing Unit (RPU) which combines reprogrammable hardware with quantum random number generation for world-class performance, optimization, and efficiency in randomness-based and stochastic High-Performance Computing (HPC) workloads and Post Quantum Cryptography applications.
Quside is experienced in the development of advanced optical technologies, including photonic integrated circuits and optoelectronic integration to offer solutions with improved bandwidth, size and power compared to bulk solutions. The applications for Quside’s products range from mobile security to data center security, or numerical analysis in Monte Carlo methods and machine learning. We currently count with a unique team of quantum physicists, engineers, and seasoned business leaders, as well as with a network of partners across the supply chain that we have been consolidating over the last 5 years.

Gerard Pascual López

Gerard Pascual López

PhD Student at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)

Contact info

https://bqmc.upc.edu
gerard.pascual@upc.edu

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Gerard studied Engineering Physics at Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya and then completed the ICFP Master in Physics at École Normale Supérieure in Paris. In 2020, he decided to pursue his PhD in ultracold quantum gases under the guidance of Dr. Jordi Boronat. Their current research focuses on exploring Bose polaron properties, as well as, Bose-Bose mixtures using Path Integral Monte Carlo simulations. This technique enables them to examine the role of temperature in many-body boson systems. Additionally, he is interested in the Fermi Hubbard model and, in particular, in the extreme case where only one fermion is surrounded by a bath of fermions with opposite spin.

About the Institution

Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya is a public university focused on science and technology. In particular, in the physics department there are many groups conducting cutting edge research in physics. One of these groups is the Barcelona Quantum Monte Carlo group which specializes on the study of quantum systems at ultra-low temperatures. Although the research activity there has to be combined with university teaching, this does not prevent this institution of being one of the best in the country in terms of publications.

Jessica O. de Almeida

Jessica O. de Almeida

Postdoctoral researcher at ICFO

Contact info

https://www.icfo.eu/about-icfo/people/directory/?id=1322
jessica.almeida@icfo.eu

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Jessica is a first year postdoctoral researcher, currently working in the quantum optics theory group at ICFO, where she obtained her PhD. Her interests focus on investigating fundamental effects in quantum optics and quantum information, as well as in solids spectroscopy using intense laser pulse.

About the Institution

The Quantum Optics Theory (QOT) group works on a wide range of topics of theoretical physics from quantum optics and laser physics through quantum information science and quantum technologies to quantum field theory under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Maciej Lewenstein.

The group works on a very broad spectrum of problems: from standard quantum optics, through physics of matter in ultra-intense and ultra-short laser pulses; atto-second physics, through quantum information theory (mathematical foundations and implementations in atomic, quantum optical and condensed matter systems, quantum simulators, quantum technologies); physics of ultracold/degenerate gases of atoms, ions, molecules, photons (from weakly interacting systems, non-linear atom optics or optics to strongly correlated systems, lattice gases, Hubbard models etc.). More recent lines of research include classical and quantum machine learning, as well as studies of anomalous diffusion in biology and soft condensed matter.

Maria Arazo

PhD student at Universitat de Barcelona (UB)

Contact info

https://icc.ub.edu/people/517
maria.arazo@fqa.ub.edu

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>Maria studied Physics at Universitat de Barcelona (UB) and obtained the Master’s degree in Photonics offered jointly by UAB, UB, UPC, and ICFO. Currently, she is a last-year PhD candidate at UB, and she studies Bose-Einstein condensates through a theoretical approach. She is working on the formation of quantum droplets and supersolids in dipolar condensates.

About the Institution

The Quantum Physics and Astrophysics department belongs to the Physics Faculty of the University of Barcelona and covers three areas of knowledge: Theoretical Physics, Atomic, Molecular and Nuclear Physics and Astrophysics and Astronomy. The department has two lines of research related to Quantum Science and Technonogy: Hadronic, Nuclear and Atomic Physics, and Quantum Technologies.

Zuzana Gavorová

Zuzana Gavorová

Post-doctoral researcher at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)

Contact info

https://webs.uab.cat/giq/member/zuzana-gavorova/
Zuzana.Gavorova@uab.cat

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Zuzana is a postdoctoral researcher at GIQ, UAB, since 2022, interested in quantum information, complexity and quantum computational models. Previously, she obtained her Ph.D. in computer sciences with Prof. Dorit Aharonov at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, a Physics MSc at ETH Zurich and a Physics BSc at Imperial College, London.

About the Institution

The research at Quantum Information Group (GIQ) at Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ranges from theoretical aspects of quantum information (quantum Shannon theory, quantum statistical inference, quantum metrology, entanglement theory) over implementations of quantum information protocols (e.g., quantum optics and ultra-cold gases) to applications of quantum information theory in condensed matter systems, nonequilibrium statistical mechanics and dissipative quantum dynamics. GIQ is a large group (5 professors, 7 postdocs, 11 PhDs) with an extremely friendly and cooperative atmosphere.

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Alba Cervera Lierta

Alba Cervera Lierta

Senior researcher and Quantum Spain coordinator at Barcelona Supercomputing Center

Contact info

https://albacl.github.io/
alba.cervera@bsc.es

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Alba Cervera-Lierta is a Senior Researcher at the Barcelona Supercomputing Center. She earned her PhD in 2019 at the University of Barcelona, where she studied for a physics degree and a MSc in particle physics. After her PhD, she moved to the University of Toronto as a postdoctoral fellow at the Alán Aspuru-Guizik group. She works on near-term quantum algorithms and their applications, high-dimensional quantum computation, and artificial intelligence strategies in quantum physics. Since October 2021, she has been the coordinator of the Quantum Spain project, an initiative to boost the quantum computing ecosystem that will acquire and operate a quantum computer at the BSC-CNS.

About the Institution

Barcelona Supercomputing Center-Centro Nacional de Supercomputación (BSC-CNS) is the national supercomputing center in Spain. We specialize in high-performance computing (HPC) and manage MareNostrum, one of the most powerful supercomputers in Europe, located in the Torre Girona chapel. Since its establishment in 2005, BSC has developed an active role in promoting HPC in Spain and Europe as an essential tool for international competitiveness in science and engineering. The center manages the Red Española de Supercomputación (RES) and is a hosting member of the Partnership for Advanced Computing in Europe (PRACE) initiative. We actively participate in the main European HPC initiatives in close cooperation with other European supercomputing centers.
BSC has been successful in attracting talent, and our research focuses on four fields: Computer Sciences, Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, and Computer Applications in Science and Engineering.

Valerio Pruneri

Valerio Pruneri

Group Leader at ICFO

Contact info

www.icfo.eu
valerio.pruneri@icfo.eu

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Valerio Pruneri is an ICREA Professor, Corning Inc. chair and Group leader at ICFO. He is inventor in more than 60 patent families. The research by his group has contributed to the development of the quantum technologies now commercialized by Quside and Luxquanta. He is the coordinator of QSNP and was of CIVIQ.

About the Institution

Valerio´s group study and develop new advanced materials, devices and systems for information and communication technologies, in particular displays, image sensors and cybersecurity.

The main driving goal is to carry out research which bridges academia and industry, by developing fundamental ideas with great potential for revolutionizing future photonic products.

Hugues de Riedmatten

Hugues de Riedmatten

ICREA Professor and Group Leader at ICFO

Contact info

http://qpsa.icfo.es/
hugues.deriedmatten@icfo.eu

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Hugues de Riedmatten (PhD 2003, University of Geneva) is ICREA professor and head of the Quantum Photonics group at ICFO since 2010. His group´s research focuses on building experimental hardware for quantum networks and quantum repeaters, including quantum memories for light, quantum light sources, quantum network nodes and quantum frequency conversion. He contributed to key milestones in quantum communication technology, including the first demonstrations of long distance quantum teleportation, and of quantum repeater links using cold atoms and solid-state quantum memories. Hugues is a member of the executive team of the European Quantum Internet Alliance.

About the Institution

Hugues´s group investigates the quantum connection between single photons and atomic ensembles implemented with rare-earth doped solids and cold atomic gases.

Their research program lies at the crossing between quantum information science, quantum optics and nanoscale science. In particular, they are interested in the quantum control of light matter interaction between single photons and atomic ensembles implemented with rare-earth doped solids and cold atomic gases. The goal of their research is to develop the physical resources to implement quantum information networks and quantum repeaters which are required to increase the maximal distance of quantum communication. A more fundamental goal is to enable the observation of fascinating quantum effects, such as entanglement, with distant material systems and to explore and extend the limits of quantum coherence in complex material systems.

Morgan W. Mitchell

Morgan W. Mitchell

ICREA Professor at ICFO

Contact info

https://mitchellgroup.icfo.es/

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Morgan obtained his PhD from the University of California at Berkeley, and he is a ICFO Group Leader in “Atomic Quantum Optics” since 2004 and ICREA professor since 2011. He has obtained the ERC Starting Grant “Atomic Quantum Metrology” and ERC Advanced Grant “Field Sensors with Exceptional Energy Resolution.” Morgan holds a leadership position of the optically-pumped magnetometer activities in Quantum Technologies Flagship project “Miniature Atomic vapor-Cell Quantum devices for Sensing and Metrology Applications” and he is a PI in the EIC Transition project “Optically-Pumped Magnetometers for Magnetoencephalography.” Lastly, he co-founded Quside Technologies SL in 2017.

About the Institution

ICFO is a research center of excellence with research lines that encompass diverse areas in which photonics plays a decisive role. Our research thrusts target the global forefront of photonics, and aim to tackle important challenges faced by society at large. We focus on current and future problems in Health, Energy, Information, Safety, Security and caring for the Environment.

Morgan´s group investigates quantum optical and quantum information processes with cold atoms and non-classical light sources, especially quantum processes arising from light-atom interactions. They study quantum physics as it manifests in atomic and optical systems, especially quantum processes arising from light-atom interactions. One major area of research is atomic quantum sensors, for which they have developed hot-vapor, laser-cooled, and ultra-cold atomic systems. With these they have demonstrated entanglement-enhanced sensing of magnetic fields, and more generally are working to understand how entanglement and other quantum effects can improve quantum sensor technology. Another area of interest is fundamental quantum physics at the light-atom interface. For this they work with individual trapped atoms and ultracold atoms. Finally, they study quantum randomness and its relationship to technology and foundations of physics.

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Araceli Venegas-Gomez

Araceli Venegas-Gomez

Founder and CEO at Qureca

Contact info

https://www.qureca.com
araceli.venegas-gomez@qureca.com

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Dr. Araceli Venegas-Gomez spent several years working for Airbus in Germany and France as an aerospace engineer, before falling in love with quantum mechanics. She then decided to follow her passion for physics, and moved to Scotland to pursue a PhD in quantum simulation at the University of Strathclyde. Following discussions with the different quantum stakeholders she had over the last years, Araceli identified the need to bridge the gap between businesses and academia, as well as to raise the quantum awareness to the general public. Continuing her work on outreach advocating quantum technologies, she was named the “quantum ambassador”, after winning the Optical Society Milton and Rosalind Chang Pivoting fellowship in 2019. Araceli founded her own company called QURECA (Quantum Resources and Careers) to create a link between the different stakeholders in the quantum community through a common language, and to generate global opportunities with quantum technologies. QURECA provides a range of professional services, business development, and the solution to the quantum workforce skills bottleneck: the first online platform for quantum training and resourcing, to support individuals and businesses to be part of the quantum revolution.

About the Institution

In 2019, the Royal Society described QURECA Ltd. as the company that “fills the gaps in the existing quantum community, creating a society ready for quantum through a common language.”
QURECA provides a range of professional services, business development, and the solution to the quantum workforce skills bottleneck: the first online platform for quantum training and resourcing, to support individuals and businesses to be part of the quantum revolution.

Robert Sewell

Robert Sewell

Head of Academic Affairs at ICFO

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www.icfo.eu
robert.sewell@icfo.eu

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Prof. Robert Sewell completed a dual arts/science undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne, and received his PhD in Physics from Imperial College London in 2009. He joined ICFO in 2009 as a Marie Curie Research Postdoctoral Fellow, and in 2014 was appointed Staff Scientist and Coordinator of Academic Programs at ICFO. From 2021 he is a Tenured Scientist and Head of Academic Affairs, responsible for ICFO’s PhD program, postdoctoral training program, and training of undergraduate and masters students. He is Co-Director of the Master of Multidisciplinary Research in Experimental Sciences offered by the Universitat Pompeu Fabra in conjunction with The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, and in 2020 was appointed SPIE@ICFO Chair for Diversity in Photonic Sciences.

About the Institution

ICFO is a CERCA research centre member of the Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, founded in 2002 by the Government of Catalonia and the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya · Barcelona Tech, both of which are members of ICFO’s board of trustees along with the Cellex and Mir-Puig Foundations, philanthropic entities that have played a critical role in the advancement of the institute. Located in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, the institute currently hosts 500 people, organized in 25 research teams that use 80 state-of-the-art research laboratories. Research lines encompass diverse areas in which photonics plays a decisive role, with an emphasis on basic and applied themes relevant to medicine and biology, advanced imaging techniques, information technologies, a range of environmental sensors, tunable and ultra-fast lasers, quantum science and technologies, photovoltaics and the properties and applications of nano and quantum materials such as graphene, among others. In addition to three consecutive accreditations of the Severo Ochoa national program for top research excellence, ICFOnians have been awarded 16 elite ICREA Professorships as well as 42 European Research Council grants. ICFO is very proactive in fostering entrepreneurial activities, spin-off creation, and creating collaborations and links between industry and ICFO researchers. To date, ICFO has helped create 11 start-up companies.