OBQC

How quantum technologies learn

Quantum machine learning (QML) is predicted to significantly accelerate state-of-the-art tools for drug discovery and materials research. More efficient algorithms for calculating the electronic structure of ground and excited states in quantum chemistry are another potential application. However, all attempts to verify this potential experimentally have so far been unsuccessful, and QML remains a purely theoretical field of research dealing with the interplay of concepts from quantum computing and machine learning.

The OBQC project aims to promote knowledge exchange and identify areas of potential synergy between researchers at the participating institutions: the Institute of Physics at the Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering of the Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU), and the Institute for AI Safety and Security at the German Aerospace Center (DLR). The planned meetings and workshops will provide a platform for fruitful dialogue between researchers from different disciplines. During an initial meeting, potential areas for joint research were explored. Further workshops will explore these topics in greater depth and incorporate them into a joint funding application for a larger research project.

The rapid development of quantum technologies creates numerous opportunities for the development and application of various quantum computing algorithms, which until now have only been used in theory. Reciprocal visits within the framework of the project will enable us to identify the most interesting and suitable topics to address in the coming years. A joint research proposal will be drafted during the visits in the second year. This project will provide an initial impetus for future collaboration between Czech and German partners in the field of quantum-based machine learning. The expertise of the proposed teams from the DLR (machine learning) and the CTU (quantum information and quantum chemistry) is complementary, and combining different areas of specialist knowledge will enable new areas of interdisciplinary research in quantum technology to be explored.

Contribution Institute for AI Safety and Security

The Institute is committed to establishing new research collaborations in the field of quantum-based machine learning as part of the project. It also creates a supportive environment for early-career researchers, offering them the opportunity to expand their networks and learn about interdisciplinary research in practice.