With the participation of prominent authorities from the Ministry of Science, national academics, international researchers and representatives of the public and private sectors, CEDENNA hosted the main day of Quantum Technologies Week, an unprecedented commemoration promoted by the Ministry of Science as part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology declared by the United Nations.
The activity was part of the 4th edition of the meeting QuSantiago, organized by CEDENNA together with the Ministry of Science and various universities. This edition brought together high-level figures such as physicist Enrique Solano, founder of Kipu Quantum, and Kristan Temme, IBM researcher, who gave keynote lectures on the current challenges of quantum computing and its potential disruptive applications in areas such as health, energy, communications and mining.
During the visit, Ignacio Silva Santa Cruz, head of the Ministry’s Emerging Technologies Division, announced that Chile will have a National Quantum Technologies Strategy in December 2025, proposed by an advisory council made up of representatives of universities, research centers and companies. “This is a field under construction, with enormous potential. Chile cannot be left behind,” he said.
Activities included technical workshops such as “Infinite and finite DMRG: fundamentals and practice”, led by researchers Natalia Valderrama, Guillermo Romero and Francisco Albarrán, the latter a CEDENNA researcher and member of the ministerial commission for the development of the strategy. Albarrán also took part in the closing panel discussion, which highlighted the need to train young talent and promote public policies that foster the quantum ecosystem in Chile.
“While quantum technologies are emerging and are not yet perfect, Chile and South America have the human talent and creativity that can perfectly supplement and complement the large investments of the developed world. The ability to create with limited tools. We have always done it this way throughout history,” stresses Dr. Francisco Albarrán, CEDENNA associate researcher and academic at the USACH Department of Physics.
“Now we have the opportunity to bet on creative people and on education in these technologies, create specialized university programs and seek to form startups and businesses in this field”.
Quantum Technologies Week included activities in different regions of the country, with seminars, open laboratories, talks for schoolchildren and technical workshops, reaffirming that Chile has quantum!
