The qubits arrive at La Salle-URL

Quantum computing began to be considered theoretically from the early 1980s as a way to take advantage of quantum laws in computing. This idea, which originally seemed impossible to implement, gradually matured, drawing the attention of large companies such as Google, IBM or Amazon.

There are numerous applications that we can give to this new technology, highlighting optimization problems, chemical industry or hybrid applications in which classic artificial intelligence concepts are enhanced. For this reason, quantum computing is gaining more and more visibility in terms of investment, both at the hardware level (the construction of the device itself) and at the software level (development of algorithms and uses of these new computers).

Without going into detail, the power of quantum computers lies in the use of qubits (a generalization of the classical bit) which, playing with quantum properties such as superposition, entanglement or interference, expand the range of possibilities when attacking a problem. . There are many countries that have decided to start developing this technology, highlighting China and the United States, among others. Spain also appears in the quantum race, where Barcelona establishes itself as an important node at an international level with large research groups.

Within this entire ecosystem, La Salle Campus Barcelona is not far behind and focuses its efforts on the area of ​​quantum software with a focus on the real application. A great reference in this center is the recently graduated doctor Parfait Atchadé Adelomou, who presented his thesis on the use of quantum computing in optimization problems with strict restrictions under the direction of professors Elisabet Golobardes and Xavier Vilasís, the latter as principal investigator. of the Data Science for Digital Society group at La Salle-URL. The common thread of this work was the application of these devices to the planning of social workers' problems, for which a new learning algorithm was developed to address this challenge precisely.

Parfait Atchadé, who had already studied with the De La Salle brothers in Africa, came to Spain to do electronic engineering and telecommunications in Barcelona and has carried out different entrepreneurial projects in numerous countries. Throughout these years he has never stopped learning and training, coming to speak 14 different languages. His main goal has always been to be able to help in Africa and he trusts that this new technology, quantum computing, can pave the way to achieve it.