A national center on Quantum Technologies and Artificial Intelligence, dedicated to Alessandro Volta and with the involvement of the University of Calabria. It’s the announcement of Alessio Buttiundersecretary to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with responsibility for technological innovation and digital transition, spoke in Rome at the General States of quantum, the event on the future of quantum technologies in Italy.
«On the occasion of the bicentenary of the death of Alessandro Volta we support the creation of a national center dedicated to him. It will not be a local laboratory, nor a limited initiative, but a national infrastructure that will enhance the skills distributed from north to south”, he said Butti. The undersecretary cited a network already started with universities, including Insubria, the University of Calabria in Cosenza and the Federico II in Naples.
An open platform between research, business and public administration
Second Buttithe new center will be “an open platform” in which research, advanced training, business and public administration will be able to work together on quantum algorithms, artificial intelligence, simulations and high-impact industrial applications. «It will not be a closed place intended for restricted oligarchies, but a space in which theory becomes concrete», he added.
Greco: “The challenge is on skills, we need interdisciplinarity”
The possibility of concrete involvement of the University of Calabria was confirmed by the rector Gianluigi Grecowho spoke at the General States of Quantum as a speaker on the topics of higher education and the skills necessary to develop a second generation quantum ecosystem.
«We are developing technologies that until a few years ago were confined to science fiction. They place the university system in front of a great responsibility. The question we must ask ourselves is clear: are we able to face the skills challenge?”, he underlined Greekduring an event which also saw the participation of ministers Anna Maria Bernini (University), Guido Crosetto (Defense), Gilberto Pichetto Fratin (Environment) e Adolfo Urso (Businesses).
In his speech, Greek highlighted how training to address the quantum revolution requires a highly interdisciplinary approach. «Training courses in the quantum field must be able to go beyond simple collaboration between physicists, computer scientists and engineers. We need to train professionals capable of mastering all these different languages, of understanding the physical basis of quantum technologies, of translating this knowledge into engineered solutions and of developing algorithms capable of creating value for the productive fabric”, he explained.
The rector then recalled a parallel with the complexity of the first computers of the 1950s: today, on traditional computers, students are used to developing systems with a high level of abstraction, but quantum “takes you back in time”, to the figure of the programmer who must know the physical architecture of the computer. Furthermore, training will have to integrate the use of artificial intelligence, combining quantum computing and advanced analysis tools to create innovative application processes and manage complex datasets.
«Knowledge in the sector today flows more rapidly among researchers than in textbooks. Italy has done a lot in recent years, financing important research programs based, in particular, on PNRR resources. Today we therefore have a network of talented researchers who will have to represent the lever of future training for the world of quantum”, he concluded Greek.