Frederick II among the winners of the Fujitsu Quantum Challenge

Using artificial intelligence and quantum computers to design and implement the smart cities of the future is the theme of the project with which the research group of Professor Giovanni Acampora, composed of Roberto Schiattarella and Autilia Vitiello of the "Ettore Pancini" Department of Physics, won one of the prizes provided byFujitsu as part of the prestigious Quantum Simulator Challenge, a global competition in which the Japanese multinational invited members of industry and academia to use and test a high-performance quantum simulator in solving complex problems and developing innovative applications.

In this area, Neapolitan researchers have succeeded in the feat of designing and implementing the first quantum algorithm capable of monitoring and controlling different aspects of a smart city, such as, for example, traffic light systems and air conditioning systems, in an efficient and interpretable manner, realizing one of the first practical and high social impact applications of quantum computation. This feat takes on even greater significance considering the current context of quantum computers, which are still in an embryonic state of development.

And, in a landscape where quantum computing is being explored and experimented with, the achievement of the Neapolitan researchers emerges as a true vanguard, clearly indicating the leadership of the University of Frederick in the creation and practical application of quantum algorithms for artificial intelligence.

"The result achieved is a further demonstration of the excellence achieved by the areas of physics, engineering and computer science at our university in the development of quantum technologies in the context of computation, communication and hardware development, and places Federico II in a leading position with respect to future governmental, national and regional development strategies that will be launched in the area of quantum technologies," comments Professor Acampora.

The Federico II quantum algorithm was implemented using Fujitsu's quantum simulator, and the experiments took about 1,500 hours of computation. The Federico II team challenged 43 international research groups, divided between startups and academic institutions, from 17 different countries. Among them, 20 groups passed the first selection process in which Fujitsu evaluated the candidates' use cases in relation to their innovativeness and how they exploited the computational capabilities of the quantum simulator. Participants spent a total of about 56000 hours using the quantum simulator during the challenge and created several use cases ranging from basic research results, including error-correcting technology, to developing algorithms that help solve societal problems. After the operational phase, the participating teams submitted a report on the results of their research, and based on these results, the 13-member awards committee, including researchers from the Fujitsu Quantum Laboratory, identified four winning teams, including the University of Naples Federico II, the only academic group to be awarded.