Turning the Iberian Peninsula into a European benchmark for quantum technologies and AI – that is the goal of Quantum IberIA, a cross-border cooperation project bringing together 17 entities from both countries, including INESC TEC UMinho.
The consortium unites universities, technology centres, public authorities and business entities from Spain (spanning Galicia, Castile and León, Extremadura and Andalusia) and Portugal, towards promoting research, innovation, knowledge transfer and talent attraction in areas considered strategic for Europe’s digital future.
“INESC TEC UMinho was involved from the very first steps of this application,” said Luís Paulo Santos, INESC TEC researcher specialising in quantum computing and a lecturer at the University of Minho’s School of Engineering. “Given our scale, geographical relevance and experience in these fields of knowledge, as well as the partnerships already established with several members of the consortium, it was almost inevitable that we would be part of this project,” the researcher added.
As part of Quantum IberIA, INESC TEC UMinho will play an active role in establishing and driving forward the cross-border network of skills and capabilities in quantum computing and Artificial Intelligence. This network spans the areas of research, development and education, and aims to strengthen knowledge-sharing and interaction among all those involved, enabling them to identify skills and share best practices. Lastly, this involvement also seeks to attract talent among higher education students, researchers, and the business community.
In addition, INESC TEC UMinho will contribute to the development of a classical simulation demonstrator for quantum systems, drawing on the computational resources made available by the consortium’s various partners.
Co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg VI-A Spain-Portugal Programme (POCTEP) 2021-2027, the project’s kick-off meeting took place on 29 May in Santiago de Compostela, in an event that brought together institutional representatives and partners.
Quantum IberIA is led by the Galician Innovation Agency (GAIN) and has a total budget of €8.9M, running for three years until the end of 2028.
In addition to INESC TEC, the project includes the University of Minho, the International Iberian Nanotechnology Laboratory (INL), the Universities of Évora and Aveiro, the North Regional Coordination and Development Commission (CCDR Norte), and FSAS Technologies on the Portuguese side. The Spanish partners are represented by GAIN, Galician Public Foundation; Galician Supercomputing Technology Centre; FEUGA — Galician Enterprise-University Foundation; University of Santiago de Compostela; University of A Coruña; University of Vigo; University of Extremadura; Foundation for Computing and Advanced Technologies of Extremadura; Supercomputing Centre of Castile and León; and Digital Agency of Andalusia.
SOURCE: BIP
