A five-day (15-19 September) workshop Odra Quantum Computing Summer School started today at the Wrocław University of Science and Technology. They are dedicated to the topic of quantum computers and their practical applications. They will gather experts, lecturers, and students.

In May, the first low-temperature superconducting qubit quantum computer in Poland was launched at our university. The five-qubit machine, named Odra 5, was developed and delivered by IQM Quantum Computers. We have a quantum computer and we want to offer other centres or staff associated with the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, as well as other faculties, the opportunity to participate in computations on this machine. There is a need to teach young doctors, doctoral students, and senior students how to use these machines – explains Prof. Wojciech Bożejko, head of the Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics at our Faculty.

– We have a quantum computer and we want to offer other centres or staff associated with the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, as well as other faculties, the opportunity to participate in computations on this machine. There is a need to teach young doctors, doctoral students, and senior students how to use these machines – explains Prof. Wojciech Bożejko, head of the Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics at our Faculty.

The Odra Quantum Computing Summer School workshops are intended to be an opportunity to deepen knowledge and gain practical skills, as well as to integrate the scientific community and exchange experiences with experts from Poland and abroad. On the first day, Prof. Wojciech Bożejko delivered a lecture on the applications of quantum computers. The participants could learn about their history and technologies.The agenda also included a visit to the server room of the Wrocław Centre for Networking and Supercomputing, where the Odra 5 quantum computer is located.

– Since its installation, we have used it intensively for our calculations. Of course, the available number of qubits allows us to perform specific calculations, such as those related to generating fully random numbers. This is primarily applicable in secure communication protocols, in cybersecurity. We also prototype sentences that are then executed on larger machines to which we have access – adds Prof. Bożejko.

s reported by the Department of Control Systems and Mechatronics, the second day of workshops will be held in collaboration with the partner, IQM Quantum Computing. The programme will include sessions on the mathematical foundations of quantum gates and a presentation by IQM experts, who will introduce participants to the architecture of the Spark 5 processor and to the approaches to quantum technology development. The plan also includes workshops on an introduction to Qiskit software.

Wednesday will be dedicated to the topics of statistics and quantum optimisation. The speakers will include Prof. Arleta Szkola from Hochschule Zittau/Görlitz and Dr. Stefan Hillmich from the Software Competence Center Hagenberg. On Thursday, Esperanza Cuenca-Gómez from NVIDIA will introduce the Cuda-Q platform and quantum error correction. On the final day the workshops participants will tackle tasks during a two-part quantum hackathon.