3 May 2021

QIP2021 - latest developments and breakthroughs in theoretical quantum information science in a new format

This year’s Quantum Information Processing (QIP) conference, the 24th instantiation of a series started in 1998 by pioneering quantum researchers, was hosted by the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and the Munich Center for Quantum Science and Technology (MCQST). As in previous years, the meeting featured numerous exciting talks about the latest developments and breakthroughs in theoretical quantum information science, scientific updates from leading experimental groups and discussions of the state-of-the-art in industry. As usual, the conference brought together a diverse and rapidly growing international community of committed quantum enthusiasts. The conference program reflects the highly interdisciplinary nature of the field, where conceptual and technical advances are highly valued and collectively appreciated.

Historically, QIP has played an important role by bringing together different and often entirely novel research threads and creating cohesion within the community. It has offered not only a platform for the dissemination of scientific results and corresponding education (e.g., in the form of tutorials), but also provided a physical space for the exchange of ideas, new interactions, and collaboration.

Unlike in previous years, QIP 2021 was held online. In spite of the lack of physical presence, the event seems to have retained some of the characteristics that make QIP unique. The conference was hosted using a combination of conferencing tools, allowing us to offer the participants a varied program, which included live talks, round tables, industry sessions, mentoring meetings, poster presentations, a virtual quiz, lab tours, and many networking possibilities. Especially the lively discussions demonstrated that this vibrant community stays undeterred in its enthusiasm for science by small or large changes in format. Perhaps most importantly, the switch to an online-conference with sessions catering to almost all time zones led to a significantly higher participation than usual (registering over 3500 registrations). It remains to be seen how the experience with QIP 2021 will translate into future instantiations of QIP.

A big thank you to all participants and everyone involded in the organisation of QIP2021.

QIP 2022 will take place in March 07-11, 2022 and is hosted by Caltech and AWS.

Visit the QIP2021 website to get an overview of the program. You can also watch all talks presented at the conference on the MCQST YouTube channel.

Virtual lab tours at QIP2021

During QIP2021 serveral local researchers opened the doors to their laboratories, allowing participants from all over the world to get an insight into the experimental research done within MCQST. Below you can find a list of all lab tours.

• Single atoms in crossed optical fiber cavities with Dominik Niemietz | Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
• Tour around the department of Mathematics with Alexander Kliesch and Yifan Jia | TU Munich
• Quantum Magneto-Optics with Viviana Villafañe | TU Munich
• Bosonic quantum-gas microscope with Antonio Rubio Abadal and David Wei | Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics
• Quantum Technologies Lab with Timo Sommer and David Hoch | TU Munich