Alice & Bob joins network to train quantum error correction experts

Europe’s first doctoral network dedicated to quantum error correction has launched, uniting 16 universities and seven quantum companies including ETH Zürich, TU Delft, and UCL. Backed by €4.6 million in funding over 48 months from the Horizon Europe MSCA programme, the QuBriC network will train 15 researchers to address a critical skills gap in the field.

Alice & Bob is contributing its expertise in cat-qubit error correction to the collaboration, with Principal Research Scientist, QEC Christophe Vuillot stating that quantum error correction sits at the heart of any fault-tolerant quantum computer, interacting with all aspects of it.

QuBriC Doctoral Network Addresses Quantum Error Correction Workforce Gap

Backed by €4.6 million, this investment signifies a substantial commitment to building the workforce needed for practical, fault-tolerant quantum computers, an area where expertise is currently fragmented across disciplines. The network’s structure funds a collaborative effort between 16 universities and seven quantum companies across Europe to jointly recruit, train, and supervise doctoral researchers, differing from traditional research grants.

The QuBriC network includes prominent institutions such as ETH Zürich, TU Delft, UCL, and INRIA, alongside industry partners including Riverlane and IQM, demonstrating the breadth of the collaboration. Vuillot, Principal Research Scientist, QEC at Alice & Bob, explained that this requires expertise spanning seemingly separate disciplines, highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the challenge and the need to integrate classical coding theory with quantum physics. The program aims to train 15 doctoral researchers, equipping them with skills spanning the entire quantum error correction stack, from theoretical algorithm development to practical hardware implementation.

According to Alice & Bob, QuBriC provides access to a pipeline of highly specialized talent and an academic network focused on fault-tolerant quantum computing, a critical benefit for industry partners. The MSCA program has a 30-year history of advancing research and innovation, having supported over 150,000 researchers, including 23 Nobel Prize winners, and fostering mobility between disciplines, sectors, and countries.

“QuBriC brings together leading universities, research institutes and quantum companies to train researchers and bridge these gaps, combining expertise from quantum information, coding theory and hardware engineering,” Vuillot explained. “This next generation of researchers will be essential to accelerating the path to useful, fault-tolerant quantum computers.” Unlike conventional PhD programs, QuBriC’s doctoral candidates will gain experience in both academic and industrial settings, preparing them to tackle major scientific and technological challenges with a practical, collaborative mindset.