Quantum Communications in Europe
Building the next generation of European quantum technologies
- AXA Auditorium, Barcelona
- 5 June 2024
See you in...
About the event
Quantum Communications in Europe: Building the next generation of European Quantum Technologies is a premier gathering of experts, researchers, and industry leaders in the field of quantum communication technologies.
This event aims to foster collaboration, innovation, and knowledge exchange to advance the development and deployment of European quantum technologies.
Programme
Morning session:
- 9:00h Welcome words
Salvador Estevan Martínez (General Director of Digitalization and AI, Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Function, Spanish Government) and Gustav Kalbe (Acting Director of Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure, European Commission)
- 09:30h Keynote Talk
- 10:00h Europe and the international ecosystem
Chaired by Eleni Diamanti
- Gustav Kalbe, Acting Director of Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure, European Commission
- Tanner Crowder, Senior Policy Advisor at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
- Mikio Fujiwara, General Director of Quantum ICT Collaboration Center
10:45 – 11:15h Coffee break
- 11:15h QSNP Introduction – Valerio Pruneri (ICFO, QSNP coordinator) + Pillar Leaders
- 11:45h QIA Introduction – Stephanie Wehner (TUDelft/QuTech, QIA coordinator) + WP Leads
- 12:15h Open discussion – Synergies between QSNP and QIA projects
- 12:30h Qu-Test / Qu-Pilot – Gabriele Bulgarini & Mika Prunnila (Project coordinators)
13:30 – 14:30h Networking Lunch
Afternoon session:
- 14:30h Panel of start-ups – Start-ups in Quantum Communications
- 15:30h Flash talks
- Innovation-focused Workshops & Trainings:
- 16:30h Session on Intellectual Property – Pere Arqué Castells, Stream Leader at the EPO Observatory
17:15 – 17:30h Short coffee break
- 17:30 Session on standardization – Vicente Martín, Professor, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid
- 17:45h Technology Initiatives (Forum, deployment and commercialization)
- QIAFT – Vlora Rexhepi-van der Pol, Innovation Manager, QuTech/QIA
- QSNP technology deployment and commercialization – Hannes Hübel, Researcher, Austrian Institute of Technology
- 17:45h Technology Initiatives (Forum, deployment and commercialization)
- 18:15h Poster session
- 19:15h Closing words
19:30h Social dinner (Served at AXA auditorium hall)
Speakers
Salvador Estevan
Ministry of Digital Transformation and Public Funtion, Spanish Government, Director General de Digitalización e Inteligencia Artificial
Salvador Estevan Martínez, formerly Deputy Director General at the General Secretariat of Digital Administration, managed digital transformation strategies and international e-government relations. Now, as Director General of Digitization and Artificial Intelligence, appointed in 2021, he leads strategic planning for digital transformation and coordinates digitalization plans under Spain Digital 2025 and the Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan. He holds a degree in Telecommunications Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Valencia (2005) and completed the Leadership Program for Public Management at IESE Business School (2014-2015).
Gustav Kalbe
Digital Excellence and Science Infrastructure, European Comission, Acting Director
Dr. Gustav Kalbe, with a PhD in Physics from Université Catholique de Louvain, Belgium, began his career in photonic networks before joining the European Commission in 1998. Over the years, he managed research projects in quantum technologies and cybersecurity. In 2014, he became Head of Unit for Administration & Finance, later leading the High Performance Computing and Quantum Technology unit. By 2018, he spearheaded the European High Performance Computing Joint Undertaking, serving as Interim Executive Director. Appointed Deputy to the Director of DG Connect C in 2021, he currently serves as Acting Director of the same department.
Valerio Pruneri
ICFO, Coordinator of QSNP
Valerio is an ICREA Industrial Professor and Corning Inc. chair at ICFO, he leads the Quantum Flagship project Quantum Secure Networks Partnership (QSNP) and the spanish initiative for EuroQCI, related to quantum communications. Previously worked in industry, he holds over 50 patents, an h-index of 58, and has contributed to the creation of three spin-offs. He has received numerous awards for his research, including the Philip Morris Prize and IBM Faculty Award.
Stephanie Wehner
TuDelft/QuTech, Coordinator of QIA
Stephanie, an Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Professor in quantum information at TU Delft, leads the European Quantum Internet Alliance (QIA), focusing on large-scale quantum network realization. She is member of the Royal Dutch Academy of Arts and Sciences, she has received the KNAW Ammodo award and co-founded QCRYPT. She was also Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore, and a professional hacker in the industry.
Mika Prunnila
VTT, Coordinator of Q-Pilot
Mika is a professor at VTT’s Microelectronics and Quantum Technologies research area. He has been involved in the preparation and execution of several collaborative national and international research projects, including Quantum Flagship project Qu-Pilot and quantum technology ecosystem project QuTI. Mika received his PhD from Aalto University in 2007. He is a co-founder of SemiQon company.
Gabriele Bulgarini
TNO, Coordinator of Qu-Test
Gabriele started his journey in quantum technologies with a PhD at DTU on semiconductor non-classical light sources in photonics nanostructures. In 2014, he joined Single Quantum where he contributed to establishing the company. Since 2019, Gabriele is Program Manager for quantum technologies at TNO and is coordinator of the European project Qu-Test that aims to establish the first network of distributed testbeds for quantum devices and systems.
Tanner Crowder
National Quantum Coordination Office, Senior Policy Advisor at White House Office of Science and Technology Policy
Tanner Crowder is a Senior Policy Advisor in the National Quantum Coordination Office where he leads activities around the economic and national security implications of QIS and access to quantum-related research and development, as well as industrial engagement. He is currently on detail from the Naval Research Laboratory, where he is a Research Mathematician and has served as PI on several QIS projects addressing challenges in error characterization and correction and performance analysis of quantum information processing systems. Tanner earned a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics from The College of William and Mary (2008) and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from Howard University (2013).
Mijio Fujiwara
Quantum ICT Collaboration Center, General Director
Mikio Fujiwara received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in physics from Nagoya University, Japan, in 1990, 1992, and 2002, respectively. His career as a researcher began at NICT (formerly Communications Research Laboratory, Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications). Over the years, he ascended through various roles, notably as a Senior Researcher in the Quantum Information Technology Group and later as Director of the Quantum ICT Laboratory at Koganei Frontier Research Center. In 2023, he assumed the pivotal role of Director General of Research at the Quantum ICT Collaboration Center, furthering his commitment to advancing quantum technologies.
FAQ
AXA Auditorium is conveniently located at L’Illa Mall (Av. Diagonal, 547, Les Corts, 08029 Barcelona), close to the Tram station “L’Illa”. It is also easily accessible within a 10-minute walk from the “L3 Les Corts” metro station. Additionally, several bus routes (7, 59, 63, 67) serve the area, providing further accessibility options for attendees.
In our effort to prioritize environmental sustainability, we kindly encourage attendees to use public transportation whenever available. Your cooperation in this regard is greatly appreciated. Thank you for helping us reduce our carbon footprint and contribute to a more eco-friendly event.
Find all the information about tickets and fares here.
Find in this link the Barcelona map with hotels near AXA Auditorium.
For insights into dining options in Barcelona, we suggest checking out the Instagram account @bcnbyfood (run by QSNP’s communications manager). This account offers suggestions and reviews of restaurants, bars, and cafes across the city. Whether you’re craving authentic Catalan cuisine or international fare, they provide reliable guidance on the finest establishments for enjoying a delightful meal in Barcelona. Be sure to explore their recommendations!
Registration is only available to QSNP and QIA members at the moment. If you are part of these consortiums please check your email for the registration link. In case you haven’t received the invitation don’t hesitate to get it touch with the organisation (projectmanager@icfo.eu)
AXA Auditorium
Av. Diagonal, 547,
Les Corts, 08029 Barcelona