- “They have a lot to contribute and deserve support, for example, in the development of quantum computing”
“I hope Chile knows how to support the great scientific talent it has,” stressed physicist Enrique Solano, founder of Kipu Quantum, also emphasizing how much Chilean and South American researchers have to contribute to global progress, precisely thanks to their creativity and innovative work. “We must not let ourselves be left behind,” he insisted.
Prof. Solano, an international authority on quantum simulation, technologies and artificial intelligence, directed the Center for Quantum Artificial Intelligence for Science and Technology (QuArtist) in Shanghai and was a researcher for more than 7 years at the Max Planck Institute of Quantum Optics. He was the keynote speaker at the main day of Quantum Technologies Week held at CEDENNA, as part of the International Year of Quantum Science and Technology declared by the United Nations and with the support of the Ministry of Science. He also talked with USACH researchers, trying to answer their endless questions.
“Usach has a lot of talent, many young people interested in fundamental science, physics and quantum computing. They showed it at this meeting by asking the speakers complex and challenging questions. I would like to be able to generate much more support for research teams like the one they have here, and for the authorities to trust the local talent I found at CEDENNA and the Universidad de Santiago,” he stressed.
“South Americans are pigeonholed in world science, with the assumption that we are all obliged to think the same way and research only certain things. No. I believe we are part of humanity, that we make universal contributions and that we can make our mark on the history of science and technology like any researcher from another region. We must never feel inferior,” he stressed.
Creativity to overcome limitations
Taking up this challenge, CEDENNA researcher Francisco Albarrán said that “Chile and South America in general have something very important that does not happen in more developed countries: since we have more limited resources, we make the most of the talents we have and contribute greater creativity.”
“Today, when quantum technologies are emerging and are not yet perfect, South America and Chile have much more capacity to create with these more limited tools. We have always done it this way throughout our history,” he stresses.
“We have the opportunity to bet on creative people, to bet on education in quantum technologies, to create specialized university programs, startups and businesses in this field. There is certainly a lot of interest among our researchers,” he concluded.
