The University of Coimbra gears up to take the "quantum leap" with IBM

Translation: Diana Taborda

Coimbra will be home to a technological innovation centre in the field of quantum computing. The announcement was made following the signing of a cooperation protocol between the University of Coimbra (UC), IBM Portugal, Coimbra City Council (CMC) and Softinsa.

The creation of a technological innovation centre is just one of the added values of this synergy. According to the president of IBM Portugal, Ricardo Martinho, the aim of the cooperation agreement is to draw up an integrated development programme for the central region, "using Coimbra as a model city". Coimbra will be a living laboratory where new functions can be tested and adapted to the reality of the city, in order to improve the well-being of citizens and the business ecosystem. "Why Coimbra? Because the commitment, relentlessness, dedication and vision we see in the CMC and UC leaderships clearly make a difference". Ricardo Martinho is committed to " privileging Coimbra's talents in recruitment processes", thus contributing to the creation of jobs and the retention of qualified professionals.

The Rector of the University of Coimbra, Amílcar Falcão, says that "This is a cutting-edge area of great interest to us. The first 100% Portuguese computer was created at the University of Coimbra." Amílcar Falcão believes that this partnership will make it possible to " take the quantum leap". Over the next 2-5 years " data analysis and cybersecurity will undergo a major change". Future computing will be "different in its nature, approach, methodology and results", a future to which the University of Coimbra will contribute "both in training, research and development", he concludes.

Mayor José Manuel Silva stated that "it's a huge challenge for us to be associated with IBM, but it's also a massive opportunity.” The establishment of an IBM Technology Innovation Centre in Coimbra “is an extremely important step towards the future that we intend to achieve with this partnership". Referring to the young talent graduating from the region's higher education institutions, especially the UC, the mayor argues that the city has an "obligation to provide these new talents with the opportunity to settle in Coimbra".

The agreement was signed as part of Coimbra Invest Summit 2023, held from the 27^th to the 29^th of September, aiming to get Coimbra on the radar of investors, with a focus on the tech and health clusters, bringing together the region's innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem.