7 May 2025

Large-scale simulation of quantum systems

EDUCATION PROJECT:

The Department of Mathematical Sciences and the Niels Bohr Institute have teamed up with DTU to develop new teaching programmes in quantum science. Simulation modules will teach how to handle the upcoming quantum technology. The modules will be aimed at universities and continuing education and training for the industry.

Gefion
The AI supercomputer Gefion was inaugurated in October 2024 and has already been used for a project at QMATH. Photo: Novo Nordisk Foundation

The overall goal of the project is to bridge the gap between quantum hardware and quantum computing through advanced educational initiatives. Among other things, we will simulate the behaviour and performance of quantum algorithms on classical computers. With Denmark's strategic position, the goal is to leverage the country's investments and expertise to train and retain talent in quantum technology development.

‘Large-scale simulation of quantum systems’ gets expert input from industry leaders such as NVIDIA and the Gefion project. It is supported by the Danish e-infrastructure Cooperation (DeiC) under the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science for a two-year period starting 1 March 2025.

Simulation modules

At the core of the project is the development of eight training modules focusing on large-scale quantum simulations, i.e. simulations that require a lot of computing resources. The simulation modules will be designed to increase understanding of quantum mechanics and prepare students for practical challenges in the rapidly growing quantum industry.

Each module will emphasise transferable skills in Quantum Computing (QC) and High-Performance Computing (HPC), connecting students with state-of-the-art usage scenarios and the use of modern software tools.

It should be possible to implement different combinations of simulation modules across educational contexts. Potentially, the training programmes can also be for employees in sectors that may benefit from the latest knowledge in quantum technology in the future.

Through these initiatives, the project seeks to create a talent pool capable of using HPC and QC for large-scale simulations. Ultimately, this will contribute to the development and commercialisation of the next generation of quantum technologies. By making the modules and code available online, the project aims to reach a global audience.

Strategic project guidance

To foster closer collaboration with industry, the project has hired a full-time specialised consultant (scientific project coordinator). The specialised consultant will coordinate hackathons, networking events, help develop the modules and gather feedback from industry stakeholders to tailor the educational content to their needs.

In the coming months, a steering committee consisting of industry experts from various companies and institutes will be established to provide strategic guidance and ensure the relevance of the project to the quantum industry.

"I am very excited about this project, which allows us to develop exciting new teaching initiatives for the master’s programme in Quantum Information Science (QIS) and to create an advisory board of relevant companies that can provide us with feedback on the programme. I very much look forward to working with Kasper Wibeck Olsen, who is the scientific project coordinator," says Jan Philip Solovej, Head of Studies at the QIS programme.