The Quantum World in the Akademia program: revolutionizing computing and communications from Physics

Understanding quantum technology is crucial for college students, regardless of their field of study, because its impact transcends science and engineering. In Business Administration, quantum computing will revolutionize decision-making and process optimization. In medicine, quantum technologies will drive advances in diagnosis and personalized treatments. In Bioengineering, they will allow the design of more precise and efficient systems. Even in law, the development of quantum cryptography will transform digital security and data protection, creating new legal challenges.

The future of many professions will be closely linked to this technological revolution, so understanding it will be key to being competitive and adding value in any field.

The quantum world: a new era in computing

Quantum technologies are redefining the boundaries of today’s technology, offering the ability to solve problems that are unapproachable for conventional computers. But when we talk about quantum technology, we are not only referring to quantum computing. We also cover communication technologies, sensors and cryptography, all of which have one element in common: they are based on the properties of matter and energy at the quantum level, that is, on interactions at the atomic and subatomic level.

These technologies have the potential to significantly exceed the performance and processing power of traditional technology. And their impact goes further: they are opening up new ways of approaching complex problems, which is driving the development of new scientific approaches and innovative algorithms. This phenomenon is what some experts call ” quantum inspired“.

These emerging technologies are based on quantum physics phenomena, such as superposition and entanglement, which allow information to be processed in entirely new ways. In the Bankinter Innovation Foundation’s Akademia programme , students have the opportunity to learn more about this revolution and explore how it will transform industries and sectors in the coming decades.

Overlay and Intertwining: The Foundations of the Future of Computing

During the Akademia sessions, participants discover the physical and technological basis of quantum computing. A qubit, or quantum bit, is the basic unit of information in quantum computing. Unlike the classical bit, which can only be 0 or 1, a qubit can be in both states at the same time thanks to the phenomenon of quantum superposition. This property allows much more complex calculations to be performed and at much higher speeds than in traditional computer systems.

While a classical bit processes one operation at a time, a qubit can process multiple operations simultaneously due to its ability to exist in multiple states at the same time.

To illustrate what we just said, imagine that you have a labyrinth with multiple possible paths. A classical computer would be like a person going through each path, one by one, until they find their way out. This process is slow, as you have to review each option sequentially. On the other hand, a quantum computer, thanks to qubits and superposition, is as if you could send several people down all the paths at the same time, evaluating all the paths in one go. This means that you can find the way out much faster, because you explore all the options simultaneously, not in a linear way as in classic systems.

Thus, qubits allow complex problems to be tackled as if they were “traveling” through multiple solutions at the same time, which offers a huge advantage in terms of speed and efficiency.

Quantum entanglement, on the other hand, is another very curious phenomenon in quantum physics. To put it simply, imagine that you have two coins that are somehow connected to each other invisibly, no matter how far away they are from each other. If you flip one of these coins and it comes up “heads,” you’d automatically know that the other coin, without even looking at it, came up “tails,” even if it’s miles away or light years away. It’s as if both currencies “talk” to each other instantly, sharing information instantly. That is, when two quantum particles, such as electrons or photons, become entangled, what happens to one instantly affects the other, even if they are far apart. It’s a concept that defies our intuition because it seems that information travels faster than light, something that shouldn’t be possible under the traditional laws of physics. However, it is a fundamental property that allows quantum technologies, such as computing and cryptography, to work surprisingly efficiently.

Approaches to quantum computing at Akademia

Throughout the program, experts such as Esperanza Cuenca, Head of Quantum Computing Developer Relations at NVIDIA, Carlos Kuchkovsky, co-founder and CEO of QCentroid and Víctor Canivell, co-founder of Qilimanjaro Quantum Tech, present various applications that are already emerging in quantum computing and those that are projected for the coming years. One of the key approaches is the use of quantum computing in advanced simulations. These simulations make it possible to replicate complex processes that are currently impossible to model accurately, such as molecular interactions in the creation of new drugs or materials. These types of simulations have the ability to accelerate scientific discoveries, driving advances in sectors such as health and energy.

Another topic addressed at Akademia is optimization, one of the areas in which quantum computing is expected to have a significant impact. From improving transport routes to energy efficiency, quantum optimization techniques can offer more effective solutions to complex problems, which until now had no viable answer in the classical world.

Going deeper into the above, the union between artificial intelligence (AI) and quantum computing promises to profoundly transform the way we solve these types of highly complex problems. While quantum computing brings an unprecedented ability to process large volumes of data and execute calculations impossible for traditional computers, AI can harness this power to optimize its algorithms and learning models, accelerating their development and improving their accuracy. In turn, AI also contributes to the advancement of quantum technology, facilitating the design of quantum hardware and software, and proposing new, more efficient architectures and algorithms. This synergy between the two technologies has enormous potential in areas such as personalized medicine, global logistics and financial optimization. To better understand this technological revolution, we invite you to read our report “Quantum Computing and Artificial Intelligence: The Silent Revolution“, where, with the help of international experts, we explore in depth how these two forces are intertwining to shape the future.

Pre-reflection process: preparing the mind for the quantum world

Before starting the quantum computing sessions at Akademia, students are offered a reflection exercise that helps them understand the basic concepts and their implications. They are provided with resources, such as videos and articles, to gain a solid foundation in topics such as superposition and quantum entanglement, two phenomena that make this revolutionary technology possible. Below are some of the resources provided to Akademia students:

• Quantum computing explained by IBM, one of the pioneering companies in this technology.
• Perspectives on quantum computing by Darío Gil, Senior Vice President and Director of IBM Research, on quantum computing.
• The technological singularity according to Vernor Vinge, one of the pioneers of this concept, in one of the articles that popularized this idea.

From there, students must answer questions that invite them to think about the advantages of these quantum phenomena and how they could be applied in the present and in the near future, in areas such as process optimization, simulation and artificial intelligence. They are also challenged to imagine the economic and geopolitical implications of some countries or companies mastering this technology, and to reflect on the ethical and social impact of quantum advances.

This process does not seek correct answers, but rather to prepare students to face the challenges and opportunities that the quantum world will bring with it.

The Future of Quantum Technologies: Looking Beyond

During the sessions, participants also explore the potential implications of quantum computing in the very long-term future. Questions are discussed such as how these technologies will affect the global economy, what new business models could emerge and how nations will be able to compete in a geopolitical scenario where the dominance of quantum computing will be key.

Long-term projections include the possibility of developing ultra-fast and ultra-secure communications, as well as advances in artificial general intelligence, which would profoundly transform sectors such as cybersecurity, logistics or materials science.

This process of reflection stimulates students to go beyond technical understanding and to think about the broader consequences of the use of quantum technologies in the current and future world.

In short, the Bankinter Innovation Foundation’s Akademia programme allows students to enter the fascinating world of quantum computing, preparing them to become leaders in a future dominated by this technology. Through the analysis of quantum foundations and their practical applications, participants gain a deep understanding of how this technological revolution will define the coming decades. With Akademia, the quantum future is within reach.

If you want to learn more about quantum technologies, we recommend the webinars given by our international experts:

• #FutureTalks: Quantum computing with Darío Gil
• #FutureTalks on Quantum Computing with Ignacio Cirac
• Challenges of quantum technologies by José Ignacio Latorre

More articles in this series:

Exploring the Future with Akademia: Innovation, Energy, AI and more.

Innovation in the Akademia Program

Telecommunications and Digital Future: Akademia

Sustainable Energy and the Future: Bankinter Innovation Foundation’s Akademia

Big Data: The Data Revolution at Akademia

If you are interested in learning more about the Akademia Program, we invite you to visit the Foundation’s website.