South Africa's Industrial Research on Quantum Technologies |September 30 @2PM SAST
Only a day away to this amazing community event
Dear Friends,
We are less than 24hrs away to yet another amazing event focused on Industrial Research on Quantum Technologies in South Africa featuring the following great speakers:
Dr. Ismail Akhalwaya, a Research Scientist at IBM Research South Africa, will kick off the event with a talk about Quantum Computing and Quantum Chemistry as potential tools we can harness to solve problems relevant to the continent. Ismail’s work at IBM is primarily in fundamental SKA physics/astronomy research through machine-learning with his current work on Bayesian Interferometry and Unsupervised Machine Learning.; exploring quantum information research and supervise/co-supervise Wits postgraduate students. He is also a Visiting Lecturer in the School of Computer Science and Applied Mathematics at Wits University.
Raùl Palacios, a Tech Industry Executive and OneQuantum Chile Chapter President will follow up with a talk on Turning Potential Quantum use cases into Business Actionables for Africa’s industries. With a Trusted Advisor career approach, Mr. Palacios has successfully transferred cutting edge technological innovations into real-world daily operational solutions. Both, achiever and enabler, Mr. Palacios is involved in the Quantum Computing community to drive the fascinating and futuristic world of Quantum towards turning the potential into future business actionables.
A panel discussion with Dr. Celia Merzbacher on the importance of building strong local quantum ecosystems. Celia is an Executive Director at Quantum Economic Development Consortium; QED-C is a consortium of stakeholders that aims to enable and grow the U.S. quantum industry. She has experience working across industry, government, nonprofits, and academia spearheading multidisciplinary R&D in areas of emerging technology, developing public-private partnerships focused on innovation, and establishing programs to grow a diverse STEM workforce.
The business and research ecosystem in Africa is not new to her as she has been involved in various projects in the continent during her time as Assistant Director for Technology R&D in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, where she oversaw the establishment and coordination of the National Nanotechnology Initiative. She also served as Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST).
Also featuring on the panel discussion, Prof. Barry Dwolatzky an Emeritus Professor in the School of Electrical & Information Engineering at Wits University. He is the founder and Director of the University’s Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE). He is also the founder of Wits University’s Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg. While he remains the Director of the JCSE, in July 2021 he was appointed as Director of Innovation Strategy in the Office of the Wits Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation.
We sign off with our infamous networking where we all have an opportunity to forge new business relationships and friendships.
Please come out to learn, listen and support.
I look forward to connecting with you Tomorrow!
Phumzile Madonsela | President | OneQuantum South Africa