Quantum technologies are key to forming resilient and secure states and have already demonstrated significant results, emphasized Minister of Defense Andris Spruds at the opening of the Quantum Information Processing Conference — QIP on Monday.
The fact that this conference is taking place in Latvia for the first time in history is a strong recognition of Latvia's scientific potential, noted Spruds.
Quantum technologies are shaping computing processes and cryptography and play an active role in the defense sector. The minister emphasized that quantum technologies are extremely important for creating resilient and secure states, and NATO has identified them as one of the priorities in the field of technology.
Since October 2023, the Ministry of Defense (MoD) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the development of quantum technologies in Latvia in collaboration with 13 partner organizations. This cooperation has already yielded visible results and demonstrates how powerful the interaction between academia, industry, and the state can be, stated Spruds.
He noted that such conferences are significant for connecting scientific research with the needs of the real world, including potential end users such as defense and law enforcement agencies. At the same time, the attention given to young researchers, student participation, scholarships, and the involvement of women in quantum science was highly appreciated.
Spruds emphasized that the conference is not only a scientific event but also a platform for collaboration and the formation of a long-term vision.
QIP is a conference that brings together researchers and technology companies to discuss the latest achievements in quantum computing, cryptography, information theory, mathematics, and physics, the Ministry of Defense reported to LETA.
Since the first conference in 1998 in Aarhus, Denmark, the Quantum Information Processing Conference has become the largest global platform for quantum research, claims the MoD. This is the first time the conference is being held in Latvia and will gather 900 participants from 42 countries, including the USA, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Belgium, Finland, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, the Netherlands, Poland, the UK, Switzerland, Singapore, India, Moldova, Nepal, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, and others.
The main program of the conference lasts five days — from January 26 to 30; more than 140 speakers will present in four parallel sessions, and over 440 poster presentations will be showcased.
Invited speakers will include Sergio Boixo, Director of Quantum Computing at Google Quantum AI, and John Watrous, Director of Education and Training Programs at the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo.
Boixo will discuss the latest experiments from Google's quantum group, demonstrating how quantum computers can perform calculations that are practically impossible for classical computers, as well as the applicability of such calculations in chemistry. Watrous will share his 30 years of experience and insights on the development of quantum education, the creation of educational courses, and the role of education in shaping this scientific field.
The conference places special emphasis on opportunities for young researchers to attend the event to stimulate student interest in the fields of quantum technologies and their involvement in scientific research. An annual scholarship fund is created to support the participation of the most ambitious students in the conference.
