The Sapienza University of Rome is leading a €10 million project, EPIQUE, to develop a European quantum computer based on photons. The project, funded by the European Commission, involves 18 partners from 12 countries, including the quantum computing startup Quandela. Quantum computers, still in the prototype stage, could potentially solve problems beyond the reach of even the most powerful supercomputers. EPIQUE aims to explore the potential of photonic quantum computing platforms, which have shown significant advantages in recent years. The project plans to develop three different demonstration prototypes of photonic quantum computers.
EPIQUE: A European Initiative for Photonic Quantum Computing
The Sapienza University of Rome is leading a €10 million project, EPIQUE, aimed at developing a European quantum computer based on photons. The project involves 18 partners from 12 countries, including the quantum computing startup, Quandela. The European Commission has funded the project with €10,340,000.
Quantum computers, still in the prototype stage, are considered one of the most promising future technologies. They have the potential to solve problems that are currently impossible for even the most powerful supercomputers. Among the various paths of development, the use of photons as qubits, or light-based quantum computing, is seen as one of the most promising. EPIQUE aims to explore the potential of photonic quantum computing platforms.
Advantages and Challenges of Photonic Quantum Computing
Photonic quantum computing has demonstrated significant advantages in recent years. These include a low decoherence of qubits that minimizes the loss of information, a simple infrastructure that does not require near-zero temperatures like superconducting processors and a natural integration with fiber-optic communication systems for networking. Three out of the four demonstrations of quantum advantage, the ability to perform a calculation process that is effectively impossible for a conventional computer, have been achieved using photonic technologies.
However, the development of photonic quantum computing has been limited by bulky and difficult-to-scale devices. EPIQUE aims to address these challenges by bringing together European players from academia and SMEs, who are already among the world leaders in various fields of photonic technologies.
EPIQUE’s Goals and Prototypes
EPIQUE’s goal is to develop a general-purpose photonic quantum platform. The project aims to develop three different demonstration prototypes of photonic quantum computers at tens of qubits and to pave the way towards a more ambitious quantum platform of over 1,000 qubits.
Prof. Fabio Sciarrino from Sapienza University of Rome, the EPIQUE Coordinator, believes that EPIQUE’s work will set a new European standard in photonic quantum computing research. The project aims to integrate advancements in both technology and algorithms to develop an innovative quantum computing platform. The technologies developed could also impact other areas of quantum technologies, such as quantum sensing and metrology.
Quandela’s Role and the Photonic Track to Quantum Computing
Dr Shane Mansfield, Chief Research Officer at Quandela, stated that EPIQUE brings together an unprecedented consortium of leading lights from academic institutions and pioneering startups. The consortium covers the full spectrum from hardware development to quantum algorithms. The photonic track to quantum computing is highly promising for its prospects for scalability, and the project aims to position Europe at the forefront of the global race to build scalable quantum computers.
EPIQUE and the Quantum Flagship
EPIQUE is one of six projects designed to physically develop a European quantum computer as part of the Quantum Flagship. The Quantum Flagship was promoted by the European Commission in 2018 and funded with around EUR 1 billion. Each project is based on a different technological solution, demonstrating the diverse approaches to quantum computing being explored in Europe.
“EPIQUE’s work is poised to set a new European standard in photonic quantum computing research”, said Prof. Fabio Sciarrino from Sapienza University of Rome, the EPIQUE Coordinator. “By integrating advancements in both technology and algorithms – added Sciarrino – we are focused on developing a viable trajectory towards an innovative quantum computing platform. The impact of the developed technologies can also affect other application areas of quantum technologies, such as quantum sensing and metrology.”
Dr Shane Mansfield, Chief Research Officer at quantum computing startup Quandela, said “EPIQUE brings together an unprecedented consortium of the world’s leading lights from academic institutions and pioneering startups, covering the full spectrum from hardware development to quantum algorithms. The photonic track to quantum computing is highly promising for its prospects for scalability, and we aim for this project to be the vehicle for Europe to take pole position in the global race to build scalable quantum computers.”
Summary
The EPIQUE project, led by the Sapienza University of Rome and involving 18 partners, aims to develop a European quantum computer based on photons, the quanta of light, with €10,340,000 in funding from the European Commission. The project seeks to explore the potential of photonic quantum computing platforms, which have shown advantages such as low decoherence of qubits, simple infrastructure, and compatibility with fiber-optic communication systems, to create three different demonstration prototypes of photonic quantum computers and pave the way for a quantum platform of over 1,000 qubits.
- The EPIQUE project, led by Sapienza University of Rome and involving 18 partners including Quandela, aims to develop a European quantum computer based on photons, the quanta of light.
- The project has received €10,340,000 in funding from the European Commission.
- Quantum computers, still in the prototype stage, are potentially capable of solving problems beyond the reach of even the most powerful supercomputers.
- EPIQUE will explore the potential of photonic quantum computing platforms, which use photons as qubits.
- Photonic quantum computers have shown advantages such as low decoherence of qubits, simple infrastructure, and compatibility with fibre-optic communication systems.
- Despite these advantages, current photonic quantum computers are often limited by bulky and difficult-to-scale devices.
- EPIQUE aims to develop three different demonstration prototypes of photonic quantum computers and pave the way towards a quantum platform of over 1,000 qubits.
- Prof. Fabio Sciarrino from Sapienza University of Rome and Dr Shane Mansfield from Quandela have expressed optimism about the project’s potential to advance quantum computing research and technology.
- EPIQUE is part of the Quantum Flagship initiative by the European Commission, which has funded six projects with around EUR 1 billion to develop a European quantum computer.