Aims & scope

The ERCIM Working Group on Quantum Technologies advances research and collaboration across
computing, communication, and sensing & hardware,
building bridges between academia and industry to accelerate impact in Europe.

Research & Technology

  • Investigate the foundations and applications of quantum computing, communication, sensing, and hardware as well as software.
  • Explore the interplay between algorithms, error correction, computation models, hardware scalability, system integration, and classical high-performance computing.
  • Identify and promote new areas in quantum algorithms, optimization, and quantum machine learning.
  • Advance research on quantum-communication security, quantum networking, and quantum metrology.
  • Develop methods and tools for quantum data management.
  • Provide a platform for emerging trends, disruptive innovations, and interdisciplinary approaches.
  • Encourage networking among research groups to prepare joint grant proposals.
  • Strengthen academia–industry collaboration to identify challenges addressable from both sides.
  • Establish best practices for reproducible experiments, baselines, datasets, and reference models (e.g., quantum-computing benchmarks and quantum-network simulators).

Education & Dissemination

  • Promote the growth of young researchers and engineers in quantum technologies.
  • Support workshops, training schools, and research events across computing, communication, sensing, and hardware.
  • Provide a forum for knowledge exchange among academia, industry, and public stakeholders.
  • Increase awareness of potential, challenges, and societal impacts of quantum technologies.
  • Help other communities assess how quantum technologies can serve their research.

Topics of Interest

  • Quantum algorithms (optimization, information retrieval, machine learning).
  • Quantum-computing architectures and error-correction techniques.
  • Quantum-communication protocols and quantum-network design.
  • Quantum data management.
  • QKD and cryptographic applications; quantum random-number generation.
  • Quantum sensing, imaging, and metrology.
  • Quantum Internet: architectures and networked application abstractions.
  • Quantum networks: link-layer protocols, routing, and stacks.
  • Quantum hardware (superconducting, photonic, ion-trap, solid-state).
  • Quantum software engineering and programming frameworks.
  • Hybrid quantum–classical systems and interfaces.
  • Scalability, integration, and benchmarking of quantum devices.
  • Applications in industry, healthcare, and national security.