Michigan State, Purdue and U of Michigan form Midwest Quantum Collaboratory

(MSU.Today) Michigan State University has joined Purdue University and the University of Michigan to form a Midwest-based alliance that will push the frontiers of quantum science and engineering research, education and training.
The Midwest Quantum Collaboratory, or MQC, will foster new cutting-edge projects across the universities, creating new opportunities for leading researchers in quantum computing and information science. MQC will also bolster the universities’ work preparing their graduates to power the rapidly growing quantum workforce.
“Each of the MQC universities is bringing its unique strengths and partnerships to the collaboration to provide even greater training and opportunities for our students,” said Angela K. Wilson, John A. Hannah Distinguished Professor in MSU’s College of Natural Science’s Department of Chemistry.
“The demand for technically skilled quantum employees is exploding,” said Johannes Pollanen, the Jerry Cowen Chair of Experimental Physics at MSU and associate director of MSU-Q.
“Finding qualified employees for these positions is already a critical bottleneck for advancing the quantum information age,” he said. “MQC is not only pushing the envelope of quantum technology development but also actively working to train this next generation workforce and connect them with the leading companies in the field.”
For its part, MSU brings extensive and interdisciplinary expertise in quantum computing technology and algorithms to the table. With decades of experience in these realms, MSU researchers, including Pollanen, have helped start companies and driven the formation of MSU-Q.

Although navigating everyday life usually doesn’t require expertise in quantum mechanics — the science governing atoms and electrons — it can revolutionize how we solve a variety of real-world problems. For example, researchers are creating quantum computing hardware and software and that could lead to paradigm shifts in finance, logistics and cybersecurity.
“In the future, the use of quantum computers will be everywhere, regardless of field. Quantum computers are predicted to take the place of computers as we now know them, so jobs will become quite prevalent,” said Wilson, who is also the director of the MSU Center for Quantum Computing, Science and Engineering, or MSU-Q.
“Bringing together three of our nation’s largest universities and three of the largest quantum computing efforts provides potential employers with a great source of interns and potential employees encompassing a broad range of quantum computing.”