COUNTRY FOCUS : SOUTH AFRICA
Amira Abbas , Mmapula Baloi and Ismail Akhalwaya of IBM Research Africa , discuss quantum computing on the African continent and which organisations are well positioned to gain the most from this emerging technology .
IBM Quantum Challenge Afr Researchers Are Building a
Johannesburg city and the northern suburbs in the far distance
Quantum computing promises to unlock problem-solving capabilities that could change the world . But which parts of the world might it change ? And who will be best positioned to gain the most from this emerging technology ? To ensure an ethical and equitable future for quantum computing , it is important that voices from all regional , cultural , and ethnic backgrounds contribute to research and development efforts happening today . This isn ’ t just a philosophical ideal . For members of the fast-growing African quantum community and for the global quantum community writ large – it ’ s a mission of critical importance .
Part of that mission has to do with ensuring that quantum computing is used to solve problems and create opportunities that are specific to the African continent .
Some members of the quantum community have expressed concerns that this will not be the case , with headlines like “ Will Africa miss the next computational revolution ?” or will Africa “ be ready to take the quantum leap ?” However , for the quantum experts who live and work in Africa today , it ’ s not just a matter of whether the continent will miss out on quantum computing ’ s enormous promise , but whether quantum computing will miss out on the tremendous potential of African talent . Given the direction the continent ’ s population is headed , that could be a major loss .
“ By 2050 , the population of Africa will double ,” said Barry Dwolatzky , Emeritus Professor of Electrical and Information Engineering , University of Witwatersrand ( Wits University ) in Johannesburg , South Africa . Current projections indicate that most of this growing
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