Samara University Joined the Consortium on Development and Application of Inter-University Quantum Network

Inter-University Quantum Network (IUQN) unites NRC “Kurchatov Institute”, which executes scientific management and administration of IUQN, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow Technical University of Communications and Informatics, Lobachevsky University in Nizhny Novgorod, ITMO University in Saint-Petersburg and Samara University.

Quantum infrastructure of IUQN is based upon main quantum infrastructure of Russian Railways and NIX telecommunication equipment.

Consortium of participants created on the basis of IUQN will use the network for scientific and educational purposes for development of quantum technologies, university technology entrepreneurship, and also together with industrial partners for implementation of scenarios of practical use of data transmission quantum systems. The uniqueness of IUQN is in the open architecture. As it scales, scientific centers, development teams and other participants of quantum communications development ecosystem will be able to join its work.

Agreement on creation of the consortium for IUQN development was signed on November 27 at IV Congress of Young Scientists in Sirius.

One of the discussions moderated by Mikhail Kovalchuk, President of SIC “Kurchatov Institute”, was devoted to use of quantum technologies in the next 5–10 years, prospects of development of quantum communications and possibilities of creating of quantum Internet.

“Creation of IUQN is the foundation for future powerful technologies, in which we must be the first like in anything else”, – noted Mikhail Kovalchuk.

Vladimir Bogatyrev, Rector of Samara University, took part in the event. “Within the framework of the project implementation not only the appropriate infrastructure is created in our university, but also new educational program “Quantum communications and optoelectronics” has been launched. The first enrolment took place in 2024. Among those admitted to this program there are students who scored 270–290 USE points on three subjects: physics, mathematics and Russian language. Today quantum technologies are at the cutting edge of science and providing that this is one of the key areas in our university, we considered it necessary to be one of the first in the country to join IUQN”, – Rector said.

IUQN launch between the universities of Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Nizhny Novgorod and Samara is planned on December, 2024. After that students will be able to use the obtained theoretical knowledge in practice. IUQN will be a testing ground for innovative solutions.