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Source: Cover News

On October 19, 2023, visitors visited the quantum information science experiment and training platform of Yangtze University. (Photo by He Zhigang)

Cover News reporter Bian Xue

Recently, the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education issued the "Notice on the Establishment of Undergraduate Majors in Ordinary Higher Education Institutions in 2024", which clearly stated that it supports colleges and universities to deploy relevant majors in key areas such as quantum technology, and to cultivate national strategic talents and urgently needed talents in a targeted manner.

At present, countries are engaged in fierce technological competition in the field of quantum computing. The US Department of Commerce has included 22 Chinese quantum computing units in the Entity List. The superconducting quantum computers of IBM and China's Benyuan Quantum are providing paid quantum computing services to the world at the same price. Some domestic quantum computing experts once thought that in the context of my country's determination to expand the training of quantum computing talents, should we use the quantum computing education program of Europe and the United States, or use China's independent quantum computing education program to train China's future quantum computing talents?

Should China's future quantum computing talents learn to use "knife and fork" or "chopsticks"? This is a question worth pondering.

Expanding the training of talents in quantum computing

Scientific and technological innovation is ultimately a practical activity of human beings. Strengthening the confidence in independent talent cultivation, enhancing the ability to independently cultivate talents, and cultivating a large number of scientific and technological innovation talents have far-reaching strategic significance for a country.

As a powerful engine to promote scientific and technological progress, the training of professional talents in quantum computing is crucial.

The "Notice on the Establishment of Undergraduate Majors in Ordinary Higher Education Institutions in 2024" recently issued by the Department of Higher Education of the Ministry of Education clearly stated that it supports colleges and universities to deploy relevant majors in key areas such as quantum technology, and to cultivate national strategic talents and urgently needed talents in a targeted manner.

In this regard, Guo Guoping, the main person in charge of the "Original Wukong" quantum computer development team and a professor at the University of Science and Technology of China, told the Cover News reporter that the Ministry of Education has issued a document at this time, proposing the strategic requirements of strengthening quantum computing education and carefully cultivating high-level quantum computing talents. This move demonstrates my country's forward-looking vision and firm determination in promoting quantum computing education. "This not only lays a solid foundation for the development of quantum technology in my country, but also accurately predicts and lays out the future scientific and technological competition landscape."

In 2020, the Ministry of Education added the major of quantum information science for the first time. In March 2024, the Ministry of Education approved Hefei University of Technology, Xidian University, Taiyuan University of Technology, Fuzhou University, and Henan University to add the major of quantum information science. So far, there are 13 colleges and universities in China that offer the major of quantum information science.

Faced with fierce competition in the field of quantum technology around the world, my country is accelerating the construction of a quantum technology talent team with unprecedented determination and strength, laying a solid talent foundation for seizing this high ground in future technological competition.

Learn to use “knife and fork” or “chopsticks”?

"Currently, there are only about 1,000 professionals in quantum computing in China, and the shortage of talent has become a bottleneck restricting the development of quantum computing technology in my country." Guo Guoping bluntly stated that my country's quantum computing talent training must pay attention to the choice of "knife and fork" and "chopsticks". We cannot rely on foreign quantum education systems and resources, but must build an independent quantum computing education system.

According to statistics, many countries around the world, including the G7, have included the training of quantum technology talents in their national plans: the UK's "National Quantum Technology Project", the EU's "Quantum Technology Flagship Project", the US "National Quantum Initiative Act", Japan's "Quantum Technology Innovation Strategy", etc., and countries have explored new ways to train and introduce quantum talents. Among them, the US "National Quantum Initiative Act" puts the education system at the top of the quantum innovation ecosystem, focusing on promoting the coordinated development of multiple disciplines and attaching importance to the development of traditional basic disciplines.

Guo Guoping told the Cover News reporter that Europe and the United States have laid out quantum talent strategies based on their scientific research environment and cultural background, forming a close innovation ecosystem among education, government and enterprises. However, my country is still in its infancy in the field of quantum computing research and talent cultivation. If it wants to catch up in the future, it must find a development path that suits its own national conditions.

"The top priority is to build an independent quantum computing education system," Guo Guoping believes that since China already has its own quantum computers, it must build an independent quantum computer real-machine education environment.

"We need to cultivate a Chinese team that can use and make good use of independent quantum computing technology, and by using China's independent quantum computers to 'connect' with various industries, we can solve the real problems that arise at present," said Guo Guoping.

At this year's two sessions, Guo Guoping, as a representative of the 14th National People's Congress, proposed that a national quantum computing science popularization education system should be systematically laid out, and that real talents with practical ability and innovative research in quantum computers should be cultivated by building an independent quantum computer real-machine training education environment and establishing domestic quantum computer operating systems and language usage habits.

Autonomous quantum computing education begins

Quantum computing, as the core advanced computing technology of the future, is a "national weapon".

By the end of July this year, "Benyuan Wukong" had completed 250,000 quantum computing tasks in 125 countries around the world. This is the first time that China has stably exported quantum computing power to the world on a large scale over a long period of time.

It is understood that since the launch of "Origin Wukong", the United States has ranked first in overseas user visits, and the United States has restricted Chinese students from studying quantum computing technology in the United States 20 years ago. In May this year, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the U.S. Department of Commerce included 22 Chinese quantum computing entities including Origin Quantum on the trade restriction list on the grounds of "threatening national security." Obviously, the United States is concerned about China's development in the field of quantum computing and is trying to increase restrictions.

At present, it is particularly important for my country to accelerate the development of independent quantum computers and the construction of a talent team.

"At present, nearly 40 universities, including Yangtze University and Hubei Normal University, have cooperated with Benyuan Quantum to proactively deploy independent quantum computing education solutions and promote the development of quantum computing talents in my country." Zhao Xuejiao, vice president of Benyuan Quantum Computing Technology (Hefei) Co., Ltd., introduced that Benyuan's independent quantum computing education solution includes the Benyuan Suzhi series of quantum education products such as the full-physics system quantum computing learning system, the quantum computing teaching and research integrated platform, and the quantum computing learning machine. "This is a quantum computing full-chain education research and development learning platform independently developed by the team during the construction of 'Benyuan Wukong'."

It is reported that Benyuan Quantum is the first quantum computing company in my country and the only Chinese quantum computing company included in the Entity List by the United States. The Benyuan Suzhi education series products developed by the team fully meet the educational needs of cross-disciplinary talent training and scientific research, from basic courses, introductory textbooks, full-scenario learning to practical experience environments. Last October, Bengbu Medical University and Benyuan Quantum jointly established the first data medicine experimental class in China in the direction of quantum computing to cultivate compound talents in quantum computing and medical big data.

As the main battlefield for talent cultivation, some universities in my country have optimized courses, strengthened practical teaching based on my country's independent quantum computing education system, and taken firm steps in quantum computing education, striving to achieve self-sufficiency in talent cultivation and scientific and technological research and development, and ensuring China's independence and initiative in the global quantum technology competition.

"Quantum computing is not a task that can be accomplished by one generation. It requires generations of Chinese quantum computing professionals to continue their efforts," Guo Guoping told the Cover News reporter.