A proposal to set up an International Partner Group on Quantum Information at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) passed the scrutiny of a panel of experts. The meeting was organized by the CAS Bureau of High-Technology Research and Development in 24th, December and chaired by Gui Wenzhuang, director of the Bureau. USTC Vice President Hou Jianguo was present.
International partner groups are a new vehicle of CAS to attract the outstanding overseas scholars. The overseas cooperators are required to be established young faculty members who at least hold associate professorship. The proposed group at USTC has already had seven such cooperators, including Professor Shao Zhong from Yale University. Four of them are USTC alumni of prestigious Special Class for Gifted Youngsters.
The quantum information is one of the essential research orientations of CAS since it is the new rapid-developing subject with important prospect of development and potential of application. The overseas cooperators of the group have made a series of world-class achievements in theory and experimental research in the fields of quantum information, condensed matter, computer science and atomic physics. They have relative favorable conditions of research and certain reputation. The research group, headed by CAS member Guo Guangcan, is the most important research team focusing on the study of quantum information in China. It has received the support from a program of innovation teams of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, and one of them is the Chief Scientist of a project financed by the National Basic Research Program. All members are complementary and have spirit of teamwork.
The group will mainly focus on the basic and applied studies of the quantum information technology. They are expected to make innovative progresses in the fields of quantum information theory, quantum cryptography, network of quantum communications and quantum computation, so as to work out some key problems concerning the practical application of the technology.
The team has a detailed and operational research plan. It is expected that through several years’ substantial cooperation, the group may make substantial contributions to the basic research and the practical application of the secure communications, and play an important role in establishing world-renown research bases in the country. Its innovation ability would also be enhanced accordingly.
The experts listened to the reports from the overseas scientists and Prof. Guo Guangcan. After the serious discussion, the experts all approve of the plan, moreover, they show supporting attitude to the plan and suggest that it be started as soon as possible.
