Gulf Cooperation Council Region Reaching Out to Quantum Computing Research Groups

(ComputerWeekly) Universities in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have launched quantum computing research groups. The UAE is reaching out to global tech giants to form early-stage partnerships. Big US IT companies such as IBM, Google and Microsoft are investing in research into quantum computing. Innovations in AI and machine learning are predicted to be of “particular interest” in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
The UAE minister for artificial intelligence recently partnered with Canadian company D-Wave to house the region’s first quantum computer in the Museum of the Future in Dubai. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) in June 2018 announced plans to work with Microsoft to develop quantum-based products to address energy optimisation where classical computers have serious limitations, making it the first organisation outside of the US to participate in the Microsoft Quantum programme. As part of the deal, Microsoft will work closely with Dewa to identify the challenges where quantum computing will have the greatest impact.