The course aims to provide advanced training in quantum computing and technologies, at university level, provided by the University of Coimbra, in collaboration with IBM Portugal and Softinsa, training current and future professionals in an emerging area of strategic interest at national and international level. As well as acquiring general knowledge of quantum computing and technologies, the course aims to develop skills in case studies using IBM quantum computers and emulation in a High-Performance Computing (HPC) environment. The case studies available on the course are varied and include topics such as optimisation, artificial intelligence, machine learning, encryption and materials science, designed for different target audiences, including university students and companies.

The skills to be acquired include the use of qiskit and IBM quantum computers, both in solving simple problems and in a case study project; they also include the use of a classical-quantum approach, in which the simulation in a High Performance Computing (HPC) environment is compared with the results obtained on an IBM quantum computer, accessible online; the ability to transmit results to specialised audiences in a workshop (oral and written presentation, the latter in the form of a scientific article), and to non-specialised audiences (dissemination flash-talk) will also be developed.

Candidates that can apply to this course : students, researchers and teachers linked to universities; members of companies, decision-makers in the public sector, with proven knowledge of linear algebra or holders of an academic or professional CV relevant to attending this course.

PRICE OF THE COURSE TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE TRAINEE: no costs in the current edition

(The price of the course is € 480 and will have 100% support from the PRR -Living the Future Academy Project - in the form of a scholarship, in line with the scholarship typology provided for in the Regulation for the Allocation of Incentives for the Training of Young People and Adults in the Living the Future Academy Project).

The course has two curricular units of 6 ECTS each, in a b-learning regime. The lectures include an introduction to concepts and examples of applications. It also includes lectures by guests, not only scientists but also members of companies. Laboratory and/or tutorial classes include problem-solving/case studies. Assessment of the first unit includes problems solved throughout the semester, a computational problem using qiskit on an IBM quantum computer and a 5-minute public oral presentation to a non-specialist audience on one of the topics taught during the semester. The assessment of the second curricular unit is based on an oral and written presentation (the latter in the form of a scientific paper) of a case study, as a contribution to an advanced workshop. The oral presentation at the workshop may be replaced by a poster, depending on the number of trainees. All the contributions to the workshop will constitute the ‘Proceedings’ in digital form.

Both the 5-minute presentations in the first unit and the oral/poster presentation in the second unit will be assessed by an invited jury and there will be symbolic prizes for the top three.

Qiskit

"Quantum Computing: An Applied Approach" Jack D. Hidary, second edition, 2021, Springer

“Quantum Computing for Everyone”, Chris Bernhardt, 2019, The MIT Press

“A Pratical Guide to Quantum Machine Learning and Quantum Optimization”, Elias Combarro, Samuel Gonzalez-Castillo, 1st edition, 2023, Packt Publishing

“Quantum Computation and Quantum Information, Nielsen and Chuang” (2010), Cambridge University Press

“Quantum Computing Since Democritus” (2013) Aaronson S., Cambridge University Press