This article summarizes presentations from an internal Quantum Research Center (QRC) workshop at the Technology Innovation Institute (TII). Topics covered included superconducting quantum computers, quantum coherent networks, quantum simulation, and quantum machine learning. Several presentations also discussed experimental quantum technologies. Why it matters: The workshop highlights TII's ongoing research activities in quantum computing and related technologies, signaling its commitment to advancing the field in the UAE.
Dr. Najwa Aaraj from MBZUAI and TII discussed the impact of quantum computers and machine learning on cryptographic algorithms. The talk covered post-quantum cryptographic (PQC) schemes, standardization efforts, and the role of machine learning in advancing cybersecurity solutions. Dr. Aaraj also highlighted the challenges of transitioning current cryptographic systems to quantum-resistant alternatives. Why it matters: As quantum computing advances, understanding and implementing post-quantum cryptography is crucial for maintaining secure communications and data protection in the UAE and globally.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi has launched a cloud API providing access to quantum-inspired algorithms developed by its Quantum Research Center (QRC). The platform offers a testbed for partners to evaluate and build proof-of-concept applications, with the first algorithm being a quantum annealing emulator. Access is provided through two interfaces, enabling large-scale classical simulations and supporting the solution of combinatorial optimization problems. Why it matters: This initiative expands TII's quantum ecosystem and facilitates applied research and early-stage industry experimentation with advanced computational methods in the GCC region.
Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII) has developed a new quantum optimization solver in collaboration with NVIDIA, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Caltech. The solver addresses large-scale combinatorial optimization problems using a small number of qubits, encoding over 7000 variables with only 17 qubits. Published in Nature Communications, the research demonstrates a hybrid quantum-classical algorithm with a novel encoding scheme that maximizes the use of quantum resources. Why it matters: This advancement marks a significant step toward practical quantum computing applications in the UAE and beyond, particularly in solving complex optimization challenges across various sectors.
Abu Dhabi's Technology Innovation Institute (TII), in collaboration with Google AI Quantum, the University of Maryland, and Freie Universität Berlin, has achieved a breakthrough in analogue quantum simulations. They successfully demonstrated learning large-scale quantum simulator dynamics from data using advanced data-processing algorithms developed by TII's Quantum Research Center. The research, published in Nature Communications, enables unprecedented precision in understanding quantum systems. Why it matters: This advancement positions Abu Dhabi as a key player in quantum research and its applications across material science, pharmaceuticals, and energy, with TII hosting a Quantum Technology Symposium to foster further collaboration.
Communications Physics journal has a focus collection on space quantum communications. The collection covers supporting technologies, new quantum protocols, inter-satellite QKD, constellations of satellites, and quantum inspired technologies and protocols for space based communication. Contributions are welcome from October 20, 2020 to April 30, 2021, and accepted papers are published on a rolling basis. Why it matters: Space-based quantum communication is a critical area for developing secure, global quantum networks, and this collection could highlight relevant research for the GCC region as it invests in advanced technologies.
QRC has developed Qibo, a Python library enabling classical simulation of quantum algorithms with double precision. Qibo leverages hardware accelerators like GPUs and CPUs with multi-threading. It incorporates a multi-GPU distributed approach for circuit simulation. Why it matters: This framework allows researchers and developers in the region to explore and prototype quantum algorithms using existing classical computing infrastructure, fostering innovation in quantum computing research and applications.
The Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with NVIDIA, has demonstrated large-scale simulations of the adiabatic quantum annealing (QA) algorithm for problem instances involving up to 500,000 qubits. TII's simulator achieved solution quality exceeding that of all solvers evaluated from the MQLib repository, a library for combinatorial optimization benchmarking. The emulator is accessible to external users via an experimental cloud platform hosted at https://q-inspired.tii.ae. Why it matters: This collaboration expands the range of complex optimization problems that can be investigated using quantum-inspired approaches, beyond those currently achievable with near-term quantum hardware.