Quantum Exhibit Theater

New for IEEE Quantum Week 2024, we proudly introduce the Quantum Exhibit Theater, with sessions aimed particularly toward attendees from businesses and start-ups, but valuable to people from all backgrounds.

The 80-seat theater located in the Exhibition Hall (room 220C) will feature dynamic talks by top speakers throughout the day on Tues. 17 Sept, Wed. 18 Sept, and Thurs. 19 Sept. See the presentation schedule below.

The Quantum Exhibit Theater is sponsored by

Quantum Exhibit Theater Schedule

Tuesday – Sept 17
10:00 – 11:30 am
Session 1: BOF02 – Navigating the Quantum Computing IP Landscape: Challenges and Strategies
Tuesday – Sept 17
1:00 – 2:30 pm

Session 2: QET02 – Launching and Building a Quantum Business

  • Talk 1 (1:00 – 1:30 pm) – Building a Successful Quantum Company
    Chloé Archambault, Partner, Quantacet

    Abstract: Building quantum technology is hard. Building a quantum company is even harder. Building a successful quantum company is a marathon. It takes commitment, training, determination, resilience, and a good support system. This talk will explore the ways in which quantum companies are different from other tech startups. Chloé will discuss the ingredients to make a good company, with particular emphasis on the different business models that have been proven to work in quantum. Notable challenges that most entrepreneurs face include finding a good product-market fit and securing funding. She will discuss different ways to go about these and resources available.

  • Talk 2 (1:30 – 2:00 pm)  – What Corporate Venture Capital Really Wants
    Richard Oberreiter, Hamamatsu Ventures

    Abstract: Start-ups must focus on product development, but they also need to think and plan for growth even at the early stage. During this discussion we will discuss what a start-up needs to think about in the way of customer needs, regulatory environment, financial planning and marketing.

  • Talk 3 (2:00 – 2:30 pm) – Different Expectations from Institutional Investors vs Strategic Investors
    Chloé Archambault and Richard Oberreiter
Tuesday – Sept 17
3:00 – 4:30 pm

Session 3: QET03 – The Challenges of Innovation – Quantum Exhibit Theater Talks

  • Talk 1: Expanding AI and Next-Generation Simulation Tools to Accelerate Scientific Discovery
    Alexis Mills, Machine Learning Engineer, Microsoft
    In this special session, Dr. Alexis Mills, Engineer for Microsoft Azure Quantum Elements, will deep dive on the latest advancements across AI and simulation tools to highlight how new capabilities like Generative Chemistry and Accelerated DFT will enable R&D professionals to create and understand new solutions to complex chemistry problems.  This session will showcase recent announcements of Azure Quantum Elements features and use cases that are empowering chemists to accelerate the discovery pipeline.
  • Talk 2: Fostering Quantum Innovation in Quebec’s Industrial and Academic Institutions: Collaborative R&D for Quantum, AI, and Cybersecurity Advancements
    Cédric St-Onge, PROMPT

    This talk centers around the Quebec model for fostering innovation through collaborative research and development (R&D) between industry and academic institutions. It specifically discusses how PROMPT, one of nine Regroupements Sectoriels de Recherche Industrielle (RSRIs) in Quebec, supports and funds projects in areas like quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, aiming to stimulate innovation and develop expertise across key economic sectors in the province.

  • Talk 3 – Challenges of Scaling a Quantum Computer
    Alireza Najafi-Yazdi, CEO / Founder, Anyon Systems

    Quantum computing is a rapidly-emerging technology that harnesses the laws of quantum mechanics to solve problems beyond the reach of classical supercomputers. Developing a quantum computer is a multidisciplinary scientific and engineering challenge. We will talk about the challenges of scaling a quantum computer and the different architectures that are being explored, while discussing pros and cons of each proposed architecture. In particular, we will discuss Anyon’s roadmap to fault tolerant quantum computers and explain how it builds on the company’s 10-year track record and the recent integration of the MonarQ quantum computer within the HPC infrastructure at Calcul Québec.

Wednesday – Sept 18
10:00 – 11:30 am

Session 4: QET04 – Quantum Initiatives and Consortium Activities – Pt 1

  • Talk 1 – The K-12 Quantum Education Landscape in the U.S.
    Emily Edwards, Duke University
    In the Fall of 2020, the National Q-12 Education Partnership was launched with support from the National Science Foundation and spearheaded by WHOSTP. Since that time, numerous programs for quantum workforce development have come online. Such programs have the potential to help young learners develop an appreciation for quantum information science and engineering (QISE), and even inspire students to pursue a career in this critical area. In this talk, I will give an overview of the US landscape of K-12 quantum education, including the challenges and progress on developing effective programs for different ages. I will also discuss example roles of industry, academia, and governmental organizations in supporting the growing, yet often unwieldy, quantum education ecosystem.

  • Talk 2 – Quantum Systems Will Change the World (Again): Perspectives from a Quantum Supply-Chain Laser Company in the Heart of Colorado’s Quantum Tech Community
    Scott Davis    , CEO & Cofounder, Vescent

    When systems are engineered to relay or extend “quantum weirdness” from the nanoscopic scale of atoms to the macroscopic scale of humans amazing things can happen. Twentieth century quantum systems (the transistor and the laser) ushered in the computer age and the information age. Twenty-first century quantum systems (computers, sensors, next generation timing, etc..) are emergent; the disruptive potential is tantalizing. Almost all these nascent quantum systems require lasers and photonics, representing both an opportunity and a challenge. In this talk I will discuss the complexity of the lasers-for-quantum space, present the technical and economic landscape, and pose possible paths forward for how lasers and photonics can usher in a new quantum age. I will also present how Vescent, a spin-out of NIST and JILA, is playing a critical role in this development and discuss how the Colorado quantum tech-hub, Elevate Quantum, is helping to enable and accelerate the quantum 2.0 revolution.
Wednesday – Sept 18
1:00 – 2:30 pm

Session 5: QET05 – Quantum Initiatives and Consortium Activities – Pt 2

  • Talk 1 – Harnessing Quantum Computing for Proactive Heart Health Management: A Collaborative Approach
    May Siksik, CEO, Canadian Innovation Network
  1. Overview of the Heart Disease Crisis: Highlighting the global burden and economic impact of cardiovascular disease.
  2. Innovative Solutions Using Quantum Computing: Discussing how quantum computing, AI, and wearable technology can revolutionize heart health management.
  3. Collaborative Efforts: Showcasing the partnership between several industry partners, and users, and various government initiatives, illustrating the collaborative approach to tackling heart disease.
  4. Lessons Learned: Sharing experiences from our ongoing projects.

  • Talk 2 – Building a quantum innovation ecosystem, the Québec experience
    Marco Blouin, Director General of Science & Partnerships, Quebec Ministry of the Economy, Innovation, and Energy

    With a population of just 8,5 million inhabitants, the province of Québec is nevertheless positioning itself as a world-class ecosystem for quantum technologies. With our small size, agility, collaborations, and nurturing talents have been key to our development, built on a recognized research community and a vision and consequential funding from the government of Québec. Québec’s Innovation Zones, collaborative infrastructures, and academic-industrial partnerships are all clear examples of the Québec experience in quantum, which will be discussed during this presentation.

Wednesday – Sept 18
3:00 – 4:30 pm

Session 6: QET06 – Quantum Exhibit Theater Talks

  • Talk 1 —  Data: The Key to Your Future
    Melissa Handa    , Program Director, IEEE
    The advancements in data analysis, AI, and machine learning are accelerating at a very fast pace!  Researchers need data – lots of data! – and tools to help them manage research data.  IEEE DataPort is a data management platform that can help all researchers who are in need of datasets or who need to store and manage their data.  This panel discussion will provide:
        – information on IEEE DataPort and it’s capabilities
        – examples of the 6500+ datasets available on IEEE DataPort
        – how IEEE DataPort can provide researchers with more opportunity for citations

        – specific IEEE DataPort use cases

  • Talk 2 – QuEra: an introduction and invitation to partner to grow regional quantum ecosystems
    Pedro Lopes    , Quantum Advocate, QuEra
     

    Quantum computing is advancing rapidly, but uncertainty remains about when it will deliver practical benefits beyond scientific discovery. Recognizing its potential for economic growth and national security, governments are increasingly viewing quantum computing as a public interest. Strategic public investments and public-private partnerships are key to bridging the gap between foundational research and commercialization, also offering a chance to build an inclusive industry with meaningful socioeconomic impact from the outset. In this talk, I will outline QuEra Computing’s technology, focusing on the promising future of neutral-atom systems, and then discuss how QuEra collaborates with governments and regions worldwide to utilize this technology to drive initiatives that promote economic development, R&D translation, and the cultivation of a diverse, industry-ready workforce.

  • Talk 3 – Quandela’s Photonic Quantum Computing: From Fundamentals to Applications
    Nicolas Maring, Director of Hardware Engineering, Quandela
    This talk introduces Quandela’s photonic quantum computing technology, covering foundational principles, industrial roadmap and recent advancements. We’ll explore our innovative hardware architecture, including quantum dot single-photon sources and integrated photonic circuits, alongside our software stack. Learn about our cloud-based quantum computing services and discover real-world applications across industries. 

     

Thursday – Sept 19
10:00 – 11:30 am
Session 7: BOF05 – Navigating the QC Journey: Student to Professional Opportunities
Thursday – Sept 19
1:00 – 2:30 pm

Session 8: QET08 – Developing the Quantum Computing Workforce

  • Talk 1 – Hiring the Next Intern or Employee: How USherbrooke built Quantum Education Pathways from Bachelor’s to PhDs and Postdocs
    Ghislain Lefebvre, Chief Partnership Officer, Sherbrooke
    Two years ago, USherbrooke launched one of the few undergraduate programs in Quantum Information Science in the world. This program is unique in that it incorporates a co-op format, ensuring all students graduate with three semesters of industry-related work experience. For graduate studies, a similar format allows students to integrate quantum computing into their skill set and gain industry internship experience. The program is open to individuals with science and engineering backgrounds, whether or not they have a physics background.

  • Talk 2 – Building Multidisciplinary Teams that Build Quantum Stacks
    Nicholas R. Lee-Hone, Manager of Quantum Stack Development, Photonic Inc.

     

    Topics: Paths to Quantum, Talent Development, Hiring, Professional Development, Team Building

    Takeaways: Advice for companies interested in starting a ‘quantum’ team or developing capacity in this area. This presentation will increase audience understanding of:

  • paths that can lead to careers in quantum
  • that currently most of the quantum talent is in academia and needs to be brought into industry
  • how to progress from academic to manager
  • the skills and experience required to build a cohesive high-performance team
  • the fact that Quantum teams will have, and will benefit from, individuals with a variety of personal and professional experience – there is no single definition of ‘successful quantum talent.’