Investing in the Revolutionary Power of Quantum Computing
Associate Vice Provost for Research Computing and ECE Associate Professor Devesh Tiwari says a quantum computing project to be launched in Holyoke, Massachusetts with a $5 million investment from the state demonstrates the increasing interest in the public and private sector in quantum computing’s potential impact on the future of computing.
This article originally appeared on Northeastern Global News. It was published by Cody Mello-Klein. Main photo: Quantum computers are capable of solving complex problems in a matter of minutes, says Northeastern University’s Devesh Tiwari. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University.
Massachusetts is launching a new quantum computing project. An expert explains why that’s a big deal not just for the state but the world
When Devesh Tiwari first started working on quantum computers, people would tell him, “This is not going to go anywhere.” A lot has changed.
Quantum computers, which use subatomic particles to far more quickly and more efficiently achieve what classical computers can, are pushing the boundaries of what computers can do. Tiwari, an associate vice provost for research computing at Northeastern University, says the work being done now is “the stuff made of dreams” and “leading and being part of an unique intellectual movement.”
Tiwari, who, along with the Goodwill Computing Lab that he directs, has been at the forefront of quantum computing for years, says there is a reason that industry leaders in finance, transportation and medicine have been steadily investing more in quantum computing.
Eying the future, governments and companies across the world are now investing in the ultra-powerful computing technology. Most recently, the state of Massachusetts invested $5 million to launch a quantum computing project in Holyoke. The state partnered with QuEra, a Boston-based company and major player in the quantum computing space.
For a long time quantum computing was seen as pie in the sky thinking, says Devesh Tiwari, associate vice provost for research computing at Northeastern University. Now, governments across the globe are investing in it. Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Tiwari says the project is just the beginning of where quantum computing is headed.
“I wouldn’t say Massachusetts will be the only one, and I won’t say we will be the last one to do it,” Tiwari says. “You will see more such investment throughout the U.S. and throughout the world. … This is the time to do quantum computing.”
Today, standard computers and even supercomputers can achieve a lot, but there are some computational problems that are simply too complex for them to handle. Issues in cryptography, and supply chain optimization that would take a supercomputer a million years to solve, quantum computers can achieve in minutes.
Quantum computers can even help expedite the discovery of new drugs, Tiwari says.
“Figuring out what is the best drug for one particular person and the computer simulations of how to design new drugs has the potential to be sped up drastically by quantum computers,” Tiwari explains. “What it really means is we will really make a lot of progress towards better drug discovery or better drug development.”
Read Full Story at Northeastern Global News