Author: sergiyde

We have just wrapped up three busy days of talks and discussions. The QOpen WG2–WG3 workshop, “Open Quantum Matter: Characterization and Control”, ran from 7 to 9 October 2026. It was an event with plenty of questions, exchanges at the whiteboard, and a lot of brainstorming.

The programme brought together 20 speakers (altogether 26 participants) from institutions in 12 countries (Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom; see the booklet).

Topics ranged from quantum information and quantum supremacy to the technology of quantum computing and the fundamental mathematics of open quantum evolution. We discussed noisy quantum processors, quantum simulators, entanglement, memory effects, thermalisation, and ways of using dissipation to prepare and control quantum states.

A highlight was the colloquium by G.-S. Paraoanu from Aalto University, “Controlling quantum systems through phase modulation: from fundamental quantum physics to sensing applications”. He showed how phase modulation can make superconducting-qubit operations more robust, linking quantum control to sensing and dark-photon searches.

The workshop was entirely financed by COST through QOpen, COST Action CA24109 and was hosted by OsloMet’s Quantum Hub. Thank you to all the speakers and participants for three days of lively discussion!

We applied with the project “Resource-Efficient Local-to-Global Quantum Tomography” to the EuroHPC Quantum Access Pilot Call. The application was supported, and we now have a LOT of QPU time for running experiments on the cloud-accessible 24-qubit quantum computer located in Ostrava, Czech Republic.

Research Council of Norway has just approved the new eX-C3 SLICES infrastructure project, which will substantially extend Simula’s existing eX3 experimental computing cluster. OsloMet is a partner in the application, together with Simula, NTNU, UiO, UiB, UiS, SINTEF, Sigma2 and NORA.

Importantly for us, eX-C3 will also extend the recently established Q-NRI quantum infrastructure and provide remote access to several quantum-computing platforms and different qubit technologies. This builds on the ongoing work providing access to VTT’s 50-qubit quantum computer in Finland and to European EuroHPC resources such as LUMI-Q/VLQ, while Simula reports interest from several additional quantum-computing providers.

For OsloMet, this opens a direct route for our researchers and students to gain hands-on experience with different quantum hardware platforms, test algorithms on real devices, and develop new projects combining quantum computing with large-scale classical HPC resources.

OsloMet has become part of the broader Nordic Quantum Alliance through its membership in the Norwegian Quantum Cluster. The Alliance was launched at IQT Nordics 2026 and brings together the main quantum ecosystems of Norway, Denmark, Finland and Sweden to strengthen collaboration between research, industry, investors and public-sector actors.

OsloMet and it s Quantum Hub were the main organizer of the event. It was a three-day international forum held at OsloMet on June 22–24, 2006 bringing together more than 300 participants, 72 speakers from 22 countries, and 40 sponsors and exhibitors. Under the theme “Quantum Technology in a Changing World,” it covered quantum computing, sensing, communication, software, commercialization, investment, and the development of the Nordic quantum ecosystem.

Here are some feedbacks:

One of my biggest surprises was discovering how much the Nordic quantum community values open conversations. Whether speaking with researchers, founders, engineers, investors, or industry leaders, I found people incredibly approachable, generous with their time, and genuinely curious to exchange ideas. Some of my most memorable discussions weren’t even about quantum—they wandered into geodesy, cosmology, education, psychology, and what it really takes to build breakthrough technologies.

Quantum is on fire. I mean that literally. But the fire I really mean is the energy in the room.

In addition to a strong program of insightful presentations, knowledge sharing, and thought-provoking discussions… plenty of opportunities for networking and connection.

We are inviting all interested and curious about Quantum Information Technologies to the upcoming event, IQT Nordics: Quantum Technology in a Changing World, 4th all-Nordic annual meeting co-organized by the QH together with Simula and 3DHoldings.

Do not hesitate to sign up; the seats are assigned acording to a first come, first served policy.

We hosted Pedro Ribeiro (University of Lisbon) and Lucas Sá (University of Cambridge) in late January and early February. As always, their visit gave a strong boost to our research activities in quantum computing. Three of our PhD students (see photo) took part in near-daily discussions in the Quantum Hub lab, where we worked to connect current projects to new ideas and directions.

Alongside theoretical topics, we discussed practical plans for exploring Q50, a 50-qubit quantum computer at VTT Research Centre of Finland, to which we have access starting January 1.

Most importantly, the Donut Physics advanced substantially! We made a plan for experimental retrieval not only of the “pie vs donut” distribution, but also of different symmetry classes of quantum maps. We even ran experiments on Q50 — which turned out to be noisy, but extremely stable (see below).

We’ve just concluded the workshop “Entangled Visions: Exploring Quantum Visualizations in Culture, Dissemination, and the Arts,” which we consider the zenith of QH activity this year. As parts of the workshop, we had an exhibition and two (actually, 2.5, since one of the invited speakers, Krystyna Gnatenko, played violin and piano during her presentation) concerts.

Rather than writing a brief report, we’ll simply let our guests, invited speakers, and participants speak for themselves:

Chad Orzel: As noted earlier, I spent a week in Oslo at the start of the month in order to speak at the Entangled Visions workshop put on by the Quantum Hub at Oslo Metropolitan University. They had an exceptionally wide range of speakers, ranging from physicists and physics educators to philosophers and historians of science to artists and musicians, all talking about visualizations of quantum physics, construed extremely broadly.

Stefano Calzati: My big thanks goes to the organisers of the event – as well as to all the international participants – for setting up a truly interdisciplinary space where a highly diverse top-class group of scholars, researchers, artists, scientists, and curators could get together and generate brilliant discussions around quantum physics’ hard-to-pin down “meaning” (rigorously in quotation marks) and the effects of emerging quantum information technologies across disciplines and fields, especially the arts.

Caterina Benincasa: Enjoyed participating in the #quantum interdisciplinary conference ENTANGLED VISIONS at OsloMet – Oslo Metropolitan University last week! Met most amazing people, love exchanging on quantum and #uncertainy with Paul Thomas , #aesthetics of science with Henrik Zinkernagel , Quantum #Ecology with Stefano Calzati , fascinated by #Archetypes of Entanglement by artist/researcher Aurora del Rio, loved also the talk on Quantum #Iconoclasm by Anders Kvellestad and so many more….

Khrystyna Gnatenko: Thank you very much to the organizers for inviting me to give a talk on quantum information research, music, and quantum music at the international event “Entangled Visions: Exploring Quantum Visualizations in Culture, Dissemination, and the Arts” at the University of Oslo (Norway). Many thanks to all participants for the excellent discussions!

OsloMet’s two-qubit quantum computer, acquired in 2021 (the first quantum computer in Norway!), has found a new home at the Norsk Teknisk Museum (Norwegian Museum of Science and Technology).

It was moved there on 25 November and is now part of the museum’s exhibition on the history of computing in Norway.

A few days later, Sølve Selstø, Scientific Manager of QH, gave a popular-science lecture on quantum computing at the museum to an audience of nearly 90 people — a great kickoff for the computer’s retirement!