The focus of the workshop is on the application of Quantum Computing for downstream data processing and Earth Observation data exploitation. It aims to prepare the ground for the opportunities that will be presented when the quantum community will be able to produce software for quantum-enhanced optimisation problems of direct use in big data management. Together with Machine Learning, Quantum Computing has the potential to be a game-changer in data science and applications.
This event was conceived during a mini-workshop on Quantum Computing for Earth Observation which was held on 15 November 2018 at the ESA Phi-Week (http://phiweek.esa.int/page_phiweek2018.php) in ESA’s ESRIN establishment in Frascati, Italy. At this event representatives from the Quantum Computing community, from both academia and industry, met with Earth Observation practitioners. The aim was to explore possible synergies between the two technologies to stimulate their further development and to accelerate their impact for societal benefit.
One of the recommendations following this event was to increase the mutual awareness of the needs and capabilities of the Quantum Computing and Earth Observation communities. The Fifth Quantum Technologies Conference was deemed a good occasion to bring the communities together, taking advantage of the availability of quantum experts attending the conference, and the large pool of EO experts from industry, academia and public organisations situated in the Rome area.
The focus of the workshop is on the application of Quantum Computing for downstream data processing and Earth Observation data exploitation. It will not discuss the use of quantum technologies for sensing. The workshop aims to prepare the ground for the opportunities that will be presented when the quantum community will be able to produce software for quantum-enhanced optimisation problems of direct use in big data management. Together with Machine Learning, Quantum Computing has the potential to be a game-changer in data science and applications.