Case
Large new investments to boost drug discovery with quantum simulators
Researchers from the University of Copenhagen have received large-scale funding to build two entirely new research centres, which will develop and use quantum simulators for developing the medicine of the future.
Today, it is largely ‘trial and error’ when developing new medicine. However, with its enormous computational power, the quantum computer is expected to be able to solve complex and important problems in medicine, biology and chemistry - and on top of that make it faster to develop new medicine that works. Even though we do not have a universal quantum computer yet, it is possible to use so-called quantum simulators and already now obtain advantages in complex problem solving, which require a lot of computational power. Now, this quantum advantage will be tailored to support the development of new medicine at Copenhagen University in Denmark.
Two new research centres: SolidQ and Quantum for Life
Jointly researchers from the Niels Bohr Institute and the Department of Mathematical Sciences at the University of Copenhagen receive a total of DKK 108.6 million (app. EUR 15 million) from the Novo Nordisk Foundation for two new research centres: SolidQ and Quantum for Life.
Professor Peter Lodahl receives DKK 60 million for his research and will lead one centre, called "Solid-state quantum simulators for biochemistry" (Solid-Q), which will work on using and integrating two types of quantum simulation hardware to make quantum mechanical calculations of complex biomolecules.
"Today, people are trying very hard to develop new medicines, because with normal methods it is not possible to calculate how proteins and other complex systems react to new medical products. Here, quantum technologies give us new opportunities, as we will be able to develop specialized quantum simulators that are tailored to tackle these processes,"
The second centre is called "Quantum for life" and is led by Professor Matthias Christandl, Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, who receives DKK 48.6 million for his research. The "Quantum for life" centre aims to develop mathematical algorithms that can be used for quantum simulation of biomolecules and thus make it possible to study complex biochemical processes.
"The centre will develop and use tailor-made quantum algorithms, which provides an opportunity to open a new chapter in ‘computational life sciences’ here in Denmark”,
A stronger ecosystem for quantum R&D
Denmark is already one of the strongest research hubs for quantum technology in Europe and is globally acknowledged for its research competences. With the investment from the Novo Nordisk Foundation, the ecosystem has just become even stronger:
I anticipate that the two new research centres will open up new opportunities for strategic partnerships and access to specialized talent for companies working with quantum simulation and NISQ era applications for pharma,
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