The winners were a team of students from FIT CTU and a student from SPŠE Plzeň called Tangus, who proposed a solution to the complex problem of mine detection in the seas and oceans, usable for civilian cargo ships and the navy. The second place went to the Quties team, represented by students of FIT CTU, with Quantum Radar as a solution for screening technologies in medicine. The third place went to the Toobee team, consisting of students from FJFI and FIT CTU, for the orbital cleaning project with a solution using quantum optimization and the use of satellites for mechanical cleaning. “We’re the garbage men who pick up rocks in space,” laughs Michael Wagner for the Toobee team. The three winning teams will receive the award on Thursday 27. Jaroslav Zajíček, Director of the Foreign Department of the Chancellery of the President of the Republic.
The Quantum Hackathon was followed by the Quantum Day conference, which brought information about the latest trends in quantum technologies, stories of promising startups and the award ceremony for the successful student teams of the previous International Quantum Hackathon.
The program of the second edition of the conference was attended by top experts from the scientific community, industry, investors and government organizations, who discussed the possibilities of using quantum technologies to solve real problems.
Keynote speakers included Deputy Prime Minister for Digitalisation and Minister for Local Development Ivan Bartos and Minister for Science, Research and Innovation Marek Zenesek.
Both agreed that quantum technologies are key and are already shaping and will continue to shape our future.
They stated that for the Czech Republic to be successful in global competition, it is essential that we intensively support research, education and technology transfer.
“Education will play a key role. Qualified professionals, not only highly qualified researchers, but also people who will be able to use quantum technologies in their daily lives. In terms of education, we have several university programmes in the Czech Republic, but it is still not enough. We need to intensify the education of students, because currently not enough graduates are coming out of schools with knowledge of quantum technologies. We need to popularise quantum technology among the young. That is why I am extremely happy that the International Quantum Hackathon took place, actually for the first time in the Czech Republic. We need to make this area more attractive and attract the interest of young people. It was great that high school students were also at the hackathon – I think we will definitely hear more about them,” added Petr Kavalíř, Government Commissioner for Quantum Technologies.
The conference offered several panel discussions and lectures. A big topic, to which we devoted one large session, was the impact of quantum technologies on cybersecurity.
“The biggest threat is that we don’t pay attention to it, which is what I’m afraid of in the Czech Republic, lest we miss the train. But here I would like to extremely praise the cooperation with academia, and also the fact that the commercial sector has started to pull together. So the main thing is not to slacken in the efforts that we have been able to launch,” replies Martin Švík, IBM’s Chief Technology Officer for the North, Central and Eastern Europe region, adding: “I am extremely proud of everyone who was part of the hackathon. If someone is currently working on AI, they should also be working on quantum technologies, because it may soon become apparent that the biggest benefit will come from that combination.”
“At the CzechInvest agency, we want to actively support the development of quantum technologies through the Technology Incubation programme, especially through a hub dedicated to advanced materials and technologies. Within its framework, we develop and market promising startups in the field of artificial intelligence, eco-innovation or creative industries that use quantum technologies. CzechInvest will continue to actively cooperate with academia, the private sector and the state administration to promote these technologies in the Czech Republic, which are used, for example, in cybersecurity, the financial sector, simulation in energy, optics, medicine or the development of new materials.” said Jan Michal, Director General of the CzechInvest agency.
This action was implemented within the framework of the Entrepreneurship Support Project, which is part of the National Recovery Plan, Component 1.4. Digital Economy and Society, Innovative Start-ups and New Technologies, funded by the EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility.
Source.
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