SYMPOSIUM ASPECT 2024 NOV 19th & 20th 2024 | St-Germain-en-Laye, France
Edito
by Christophe Jurczak
Quantonation
Nobel prize laureate (2022) Prof. Alain Aspect has, through his career, been a strong advocate for the practice of fundamental science, in the field of the foundations of Quantum Physics with his experimental validation of Bell’s inequalities, and in many fields of Atomic and Optical physics. But he has also always been interested in the applications of this outstanding science, encouraging his students to work in the industry and even start companies, be it PASQAL or Muquans.
In November 2023, the first “Alain Aspect symposium on the applications of Quantum Science” has been held in Sherbrooke, Canada, on the theme of Quantum for healthcare. This first symposium has brought together, under the chair of Prof. Aspect, about 50 participants, academic and industrial actors of the global quantum ecosystem, at Institute Quantique of Sherbrooke University (UdeS), for half a day, followed by visits in this rich ecosystem. The symposium has been the opportunity for speakers to formulate the state of the art for applications of quantum technologies in healthcare, put in evidence collaborative projects and look for ways to build stronger connections towards maximizing short-term impact.
The next symposium will happen in the Paris region, in France, at iXcampus, an emerging hotspot for innovation, on 19-20 of November 2024. This outstanding and presigious facility, Château Saint-Léger, a 19th-century mansion, gives access to an amphitheater for up to 250 participants, also smaller rooms for discussions, an exhibition space, and a reception space.
This will allow to structure a more extended workshop over two days, with a dinner recepIon and the opportunity for startups/industries/academics to highlight their research, products, and initiatives in the exhibition space. The program will be structured around keynote talks, breakout sessions, and panels.
2024 edition
THE SECOND ALAIN ASPECT SYMPOSIUM WILL TAKE PLACE IN ST GERMAIN-EN-LAYE, FRANCE
NOVEMBER, 19TH – 20TH 2024
The 2024 Alain Aspect Symposium focuses on the applications of quantum technologies for Climate Change study and mitigation. Specific themes will include (non-exhaustive): new materials for energy technologies, optimization for energy network management, environmental monitoring, modeling & forecasting, energy consumption of classical and quantum processors …
Most of the keynote speakers should give the perspecIve from a « non-quantum » perspective, focusing on the limits to overcome and the needs.
The Symposium will allow collectives (Q4Climate, Open Quantum Institute, Quantum Energy Initiative …) to present their initiatives and progress and will privilege the emergence of 2 collaborative programs. Connections with initiatives already launched, e.g. the NSF-funded workshop on Climate, Sustainability, and Quantum, will be encouraged to build on their experience and make it a practical event, focusing on short-term applications and societal impact.
The symposium serves as a crucial plaform for fostering interdisciplinary collaboraIon by bridging the gap between quantum scienIsts and individuals engaged in climate change. By facilitating a dialogue between these two diverse groups, the event aims to uncover innovative solutions to computational challenges at the intersection of quantum science and climate-related issues. This cross-disciplinary exchange of ideas and perspectives has the potential to spark groundbreaking advancements in computational methodologies tailored to tackle real-world problems in these critical areas.
Representatives from the climate community can present their computational challenges to quantum scientists who can share their latest research findings, methodologies, and
advancements in quantum computing. Challenges might include the need for faster and more accurate simulations, data analysis, and optimization techniques to address issues like sustainable resource management, disaster preparedness, and urban planning. The symposium is a collaborative space where both communities can explore how quantum computing can be harnessed to develop practical and impacful solutions.
Bio
ALAIN ASPECT
Alain Aspect is Professor at the Institut d’OptiqueUniversité Paris-Saclay and at École Polytechnique (Institut Polytechnique de Paris). He is co-recipient of the 2022 Nobel Prize in Physics for his experimental work on Bell inequalities, which probed the foundations of quantum physics. These experiments have profoundly affected our understanding of nature, and closed a debate opened at the beginning of the last century by Einstein, who considered quantum physics to be incomplete.
Prof. Aspect’s results paved the way for the science of quantum information and the development of quantum technologies, which are at the heart of research at the Institut quantique (‘Quantum Institute’) at l’University of Sherbrooke.
Together with his partners Georges-Olivier Reymond and Christophe Jurczak, Prof. Aspect founded Pasqal, a company dedicated to building quantum computers, in 2019. The company, which employs over 140 people, has offices in France, the Netherlands and Sherbrooke, within the Quantum Innovation Zone.