The central goal of this research semester programme is to unite the Dutch and international quantum community who are engaged or interested in exploring the topics of Quantum Algorithms and Quantum Error Correction. This programme will offer participants a comprehensive introduction to these topics, provide insights into state-of-the-art advancements and foster a collaborative environment for novel research.
Quantum error correction
Quantum error correction (QEC) is a very active field of research, dominated on the one hand by practical considerations (such as the building of quantum computers) and on the other hand by the theoretical construction of novel error correction codes with good properties (high rates, distances). On both of these fronts significant progress continues to be made, with the invention of Floquet codes, the implementation of colour codes in neutral atoms and the development of “good” (constant rate and linear distance) quantum Tanner codes as noteworthy examples. Many difficult problems also remain, both practical (such as the development of fast and reliable decoders) and theoretical (such as the construction of locally testable quantum codes).
Quantum algorithms
By developing quantum algorithms (QAs), we explore which computational problems are amenable to quantum speedups. The field has advanced significantly since Shor’s algorithm put it in the spotlight. Although we strive to discover more such examples, achieving even super-quadratic speedups remains a challenging task. Moreover, there are still seemingly basic combinatorial problems, such as finding triangles in a graph, for which we are uncertain how much help a quantum computer will be. To better understand which computational tasks can be accelerated, it is crucial for researchers to keep their toolkit of quantum algorithmic design paradigms up-to-date.
The programme
The programme will consist of a weeklong summer school and two workshops, complemented with a group of long-term visitors, in the fall of 2026.
- 24-28 August, summer school on QA and QEC
- 16-18 September, workshop on QA (more information will follow)
- 28-30 October, workshop on QEC (more information will follow)
Organisation
This research semester is organised by Jonas Helsen (CWI), Sebastian Zur (IRIF, CWI), Sander Gribling (TiU), Dmitry Grinko (UvA), and Subhasree Patro (TU/e).
Support
In addition to support from CWI, our research semester programme acknowledges the support from the Dutch Research Council (NWO/OCW), as part of the Quantum Software Consortium and the Challenges in Cyber Security, and from Quantum Delta NL.
Visits
Registration for each of the events will open in Spring 2026. If you wish to visit CWI for a longer period during the semester program, please reach out to one of the organizers.
