Post by Centrum Wiskunde & Informatica

How has quantum research developed over the past decade, and where is it heading next? These questions were central to yesterday’s scientific conference 'Celebrating 10 years of QuSoft', the Dutch research center for quantum software & technology that was launched a decade ago by CWI and the University of Amsterdam. The programme featured talks by current QuSoft researchers, Dutch collaborators, and colleagues from sister institute QMATH in Copenhagen. QuSoft founders Harry Buhrman and Kareljan Schoutens, together with current QuSoft director Christian Schaffner, reflected on the past, present and future of QuSoft. Many speakers marked ten years of academic quality, building on an even longer research tradition. Stacey Jeffery noted that although QuSoft is only ten years old, it is built on decades of foundational research on quantum computing, including numerous groundbreaking results in the theoretical computer science aspects of quantum computing done at CWI. Reflecting on the collaboration, Christian Schaffner observed that one of QuSoft’s achievements is that "many colleagues wouldn't know whether their peers are working at the one institute or the other". Looking ahead, he added: "The 'grand unification' of QuSoft will materialize at LabQ, the new quantum building at Amsterdam Science Park, scheduled for completion around 2029. We have a vision of a national quantum software institute." Congratulations to all colleagues involved on an inspiring event - and on ten years of QuSoft. 🎉 Photos: CWI / Paul Roberts.