image: From left to right: Patricia Marques Castilho, Gustavo Wiederhecker, Jens Eisert and Felipe Fanchini
Credit: Elton Alisson/Agência FAPESP
The Albert Einstein Jewish Brazilian Hospital, in the city of São Paulo (Brazil), has launched a project to evaluate the application of quantum computing to develop new drugs, advance the understanding of genomics and improve the diagnosis of some diseases.
“The idea is to create a quantum computing group at the hospital’s research center. We’re starting this research now. We know there’s a long way to go to use and apply this technology, but we believe it can have a great impact on society,” said Felipe Fanchini, a professor at the São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Bauru and a participant in the project, in a presentation during FAPESP Week Germany.
The hospital is one of the Brazilian companies that have recently begun to explore the application of knowledge in this new interdisciplinary field, located at the intersection of physics, mathematics, computer science and engineering, with potential impacts in several areas.
“There are a number of potential industrial applications of quantum computing that can solve problems in areas such as logistics, financial services, health and biological sciences. We can use quantum computers to solve practical problems, just as we use classical computers,” he said.
Together with two other colleagues, the researcher founded a startup called QuaTI, which aims to develop technologies based on information and quantum computing.
One of the technologies under development at the startup is aimed at predicting the formation of heavy rainfall associated with recent natural disasters, such as the floods that affected the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul in 2024.
“The idea is to try to use quantum computing to somehow predict and send alerts to the population in order to mitigate the problems caused by these extreme events,” Fanchini emphasized.
To do this, the researchers developed a station that collects rainfall data, which was recently installed in the municipality of São Carlos, in the interior of the state of São Paulo. Machine learning and quantum optimization algorithms will be used to analyze the collected data and make the predictions.
Also known as hybrids, these algorithms make it possible to take advantage of the current stage of development of quantum computers, the researcher explained.
“Current quantum computers are at an intermediate scale and are subject to noise. Given this scenario, the need arose to develop algorithms that could have some parameters adjusted by classical computers and be processed on current quantum computers in order to reduce noise,” Fanchini explained to Agência FAPESP.
“Quantum algorithms have the potential to profoundly transform a wide range of fields, from data science to health, and even help mitigate the impacts of climate change. All signs point to progress, but only with less noisy quantum computers will it be possible to truly validate this potential and turn these promises into reality,” he reflected.
This view is shared by Jeins Eisert, a researcher at the Dahlem Center for Complex Quantum Systems at the Free University of Berlin. In his presentation, the scientist said that quantum computing has the potential to establish new paradigms in supercomputing. However, before this potential can be fully realized, several critical research issues must be addressed.
“Latin American countries, especially Brazil, have been particularly active in the field of quantum technologies and offer many opportunities for future collaboration,” he noted.
Decreasing dependence
In order to reduce its dependence on the main developers of quantum computers and superconductors, such as the United States and China, Germany has been investing in the field. One of the most important recent initiatives in this direction was the creation of the Munich Quantum Valley, according to Christian Schneider, a professor at the Faculty of Computing, Information and Technology at the Technical University of Munich.
Last year, the country launched its first hybrid quantum computer. “These regional projects illustrate efforts to promote independent academic expertise and technological self-sufficiency, which are essential to reduce dependence on dominant global players,” the researcher concluded.