You are invited to attend a fireside chat with whurley, CEO@Strangeworks
Bring all your questions on life, business, careers, and quantum to make this fun.
OneQuantum Africa highlights this week
Many thanks to Professor Andrew Forbes of the University of the Witwatersrand for a fantastic presentation at the OneQuantum Africa meet-up last week. His talk touched on South Africa's quantum technology framework, ongoing engagement under BRICS, and how WitsQ is set up to drive partnerships that support quantum technology development across Africa. We also got to learn that South Africa has put in place R8m (~US$560 000) as a seed fund to move quantum forward in 2021. I think this is a good start and we will see other countries in Africa coming up with their own initiatives soon.
"Africa doesn't have to build a quantum computer in order to be a part of the quantum computing economy that could come in the future. We can focus on building quantum apps to solve important problems in society." Andrew Forbes
You can watch the recording here https://youtu.be/ELZCVu0bAS8
OneQuantum connects local communities with the global quantum tech ecosystem and this week the Africa community goes global and hosts a fireside chat with whurley (William Hurley), CEO of Strangeworks
This is a great opportunity to learn from someone driving quantum forward and the chat will focus on the role of open access in workforce development and the future of quantum technology in Africa. whurley (William Hurley) is kindhearted and easygoing and we urge you to bring all your questions on life, business, careers, and quantum to make this fun.
Register to be part of this exciting conversation on 4 August @ 1900hrs CAT
The cocktail is a great way to conclude our meetings and we keep getting kind comments for hosting it. Join us for this great opportunity to have one-on-one networking sessions. Make sure you sign up here.
This event is inclusive and open to anyone who is interested. Please share this note with your friends, and encourage them to attend!
US-Africa Business Summit 2021 highlights
I attended the US-Africa Business Summit this past week and here are a few key takeaways:
1. “Digital technology is a critical tool and a critical enabler to build economic growth and economic opportunities. Digital technologies will help create new products and new markets for millions of Africans. Policymakers, corporations, and entrepreneurs have a unique partnership opportunity to develop digital infrastructure, skills, and ecosystems in order to build fit-for-purpose solutions.” South African Minister of Trade, Industry, and Competition, Ebrahim Patel.
2. The COVID-19 pandemic has transformed the digitalization of life and work and changed attitudes around technology adoption and collaboration. Africa is now building local capacity to manufacture vaccines and going forward the idea is to never get left behind again. A key lesson from the continent is that you can't rely on others to shape your health security. In light of the vaccine inequity we are currently witnessing, the African continent needs to step back and look at how to translate science into technology to respond to future pandemics and take advantage of its biggest opportunities.
“Let's use the urgency of this moment to identify similar opportunities for partnership, between Africa and the United States, focusing especially on the young, men and women on both our continents who see solutions where others only see problems.” HE Paul Kagame
3. African businesses and consumers have shifted towards e-commerce and digital payments. That creates a lot of data that needs to move securely. Quantum Random Number Generators on mobile phones are introducing new possibilities for secure communication, especially in a continent relying on mobile-first solutions - see this article.
4. In designing digital solutions, it is essential to understand that innovation goes beyond technology. Using a human-centered approach and understanding the African continent and its unique heavy public sector role will enable relevant solutions. The simplicity of the technology/ solution is the incentive that drives utilization by users and primarily the public sector in the continent.
5. Prosper Africa which connects U.S. and African businesses and investors with new trade and investment opportunities, will prioritize investment in Climate change, Global health, Communication technology, and Gender equality going forward.
6. Manufacturing is relocating to Africa from China. Investment in digital infrastructure, digital skills, physical infrastructure, energy/power generation, and health services will be crucial for Africa’s development. Furthermore, governments in the continent were urged to fully and quickly implement innovation and commercialization-friendly rules and regulations.
Looking forward to your feedback.
See you at www.onequantum.org/africa for more community, mentorship, careers, and projects.
Hope to see most of you today at the meeting!
Farai | President | OneQuantum Africa
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📢 Important Announcements
If you are passionate about quantum and want to make quantum technology accessible in your local community, get in touch.
OneQuantum is always searching for chapter presidents who would like to open a new chapter in all countries or regions, as well as volunteers and partners to help us expand and improve our efforts.
Get in touch via brooke@onequantum.org and share your goals.
Call for Papers: Special Section on Physics and Cryptology--an Inevitable Couple
Call for Participation - Malawi Python Week of Code
We invite students, scholars, and professionals to participate in the First Malawi Python Week of Code 2021, hosted at Mzuzu University, Malawi.
The mission of the event is to provide a stimulating and safe environment, where a new community is created through new collaborations between participants and facilitators. The week of code aims at attracting and sustaining participants of diverse backgrounds in the field of data science and to support participants in their careers.
The target audience is (not in order of priority): a) students in Computer Science, ICT, and related fields, from the bachelor, master, and Ph.D. and Ph.D. programs from Malawi and the SADC region b) professionals using python and c) researchers and lecturers who wish to learn about python.
Contact
info@mwdata.science
News, events, and updates
The quantum community in Zimbabwe is organizing its first event. Sign up today and support them here.
Welcome OneQuantum Chile
¡Hola todos!
Bienvenido a OneQuantum Chile, una organización sin fines de lucro orientada a crecer, nutrir y construir el ecosistema cuántico de Chile guiado por cuatro pilares: comunidades, mentoría, carreras y proyectos.
Weekly Quantum World Detangled S4E3 | Michael Marthaler, CEO @ HQS
HQS provides software for materials scientists in the chemical industry, as well as in academia.
Day 1 Keynote - Quantum Summer Symposium 2021
Hear from Hartmut Neven, Director of Engineering for Google Quantum AI, and the latest progress made by the team on building an error-corrected quantum computer and NISQ algorithms
Quantum Technology | Our Sustainable Future
From Blackholes to Satellites – Taking Quantum into Space by Dr. Sonali Mohapatra | QWorld
Sonali Mohapatra (https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonalimoh...) works as Space Quantum Technologies Deputy Lead at the Space Engineering Company, Craft Prospect, and has an IAA research fellowship with the University of Strathclyde. Sonali talks about her journey translating academia and industry working in the quantum and space sector. She discusses building a QKD payload for a small satellite for the upcoming mission ROKS (Responsive Operations for Key Services) due to be launched in 2022.
AI, quantum computing, and other technologies poised to transform healthcare
One of the big factors accelerating technological innovation is the healthcare workforce, which has been stressed during the pandemic.
Quantum computing's next big challenge: A quantum skills shortage
Increasing qubit counts and improving error correction is hard enough. But quantum computing companies are finding one of the biggest challenges might be to find the right people to do that.
Xanadu awarded DARPA grant to develop novel quantum compiler for NISQ-based machines
The grant will enable Xanadu to develop a unique general-purpose "circuit-cutting" compiler that can automatically break down a circuit into a multi-circuit hybrid model—leveraging both classical and quantum computing—which will be ideal for near-term quantum computers.
EU to build its quantum communications infrastructure
The initiative aims to “enhance existing communication infrastructures by adding a level of security based on the principles of quantum mechanics.”
With 58% of all entrepreneurs in Africa are female, (the highest rate of female entrepreneurs in the world), economic inclusion is not a privilege but a right and other inspiring stories from Africa.
Join The Future Africa Collective – an exclusive community of co-investors partnering with mission-driven startups to build the future of Africa.
Inconsistent policies are killing African startups
Data, infrastructure, policies, and more
International Conference on Applications of Quantum Technologies | September 13-14, 2021
Quantum technology will change the future! Right now is the time to set the course for quantum technologies and their applications, whereas certain attention focuses on room temperature technologies. QuApps 2021 prepares the definition of the quantum technology roadmap until 2030.
Government of Canada launches public consultations on National Quantum Strategy
Thanks to a Budget 2021 commitment of $360 million to launch a National Quantum Strategy, the Government of Canada will build on previous investments in the sector to advance the emerging field of quantum technologies. The strategy will support a vibrant Canadian quantum industry and help build the workforce needed to solidify Canada's global leadership in this growing sector.
Quantum computing investor Quantum Exponential announces go public plans
Quantum Exponential, a company that identifies investment opportunities in the quantum technology sector, is planning an IPO with hopes to raise up to £5m ($6.9m). The move would make it the first company of its kind listed in London.
The collaboration promises $500,000 to support research and education in quantum optics and photonics at historically Black colleges and universities
AQT’s trapped-ion quantum computers are now supported by the HQS Quantum Simulations backend
HQS extends the open-source quantum computing library
qoqo
and allows developers to run their quantum algorithms on AQT’s simulators. This is the first step on the way to granting access to AQT quantum computers in the near future.New viable means of storing information for quantum technologies?
There is a lot more happening that we miss. Please share your quantum news, challenges, successes, and support with us via <farai@estrapadus.com>
and we will share them with the Africa community. We love to celebrate with you or even help you to find a match or someone who can offer you support.