Geneva Quantum Centre – Developing Quantum Science in Geneva //

The Geneva Quantum Centre (GQC) organised a one-day internal kick-off event to mark the start of this new faculty centre on Quantum Science and Technologies. The talks covered the diversity of subjects investigated by the research groups attached to the GQC: quantum information, communication and sensing were introduced by Nicolas Brunner, Rob Thew and Géraldine Haack, quantum materials were presented by Anna Tamai, Andrea Caviglia and Alberto Morpurgo, while different aspects of quantum computation and simulation were discussed by Julian Sonner and Dmitry Abanin. The event brought together for the first time seventy researches from the Physics Section that exchanged further on their on-going projects during a lunch poster session.

What is the Geneva Quantum Centre? The Geneva Quantum Centre is a bottom-up initiative of scientists at the University of Geneva, with the ambition to develop research at the highest international level in uncharted domains of quantum sciences, educate future generations of engineers and professionals in quantum, offer the knowledge necessary for scientific-based decision making and organise broad outreach activities. Our vision is to strengthen Geneva’s position as a major hub in quantum science and technology with worldwide visibility.

Why create a Geneva Quantum Centre? After the birth of quantum physics at the dawn of last century, a quantum revolution has been taking shape over the last 20-30 years showing that science and technology can exploit, and more importantly, control, individual quantum systems. It is only in the last decade that the potential impact of quantum science has begun to be appreciated more broadly. In the last few years, not only have we seen research in the field rapidly growing and diversifying, we have even seen an explosion of companies, large and small, take an increasing interest in the field, with myriad start-ups also appearing.

• The Geneva Quantum Centre aims to leverage the existing world-class expertise in quantum science available in the physics section, in order to:
  Explore uncharted domains of quantum sciences at the interface between quantum communication, quantum sensing, quantum materials, and quantum simulations with enormous potential for unexpected scientific discoveries.
• Educate and train the next generation of engineers and professionals in quantum science and prepare them for hi-tech activities in the Geneva region and beyond.
• Create a reference point in Geneva for quantum initiatives, involving local, national and international organisations.
• Engage in outreach activities at multiple levels, to inform the public about important developments in quantum science and to offer the knowledge needed for science-based decision making.