EDHEC Business School has unveiled the EDHEC Quantum Institute (EQI), a new centre aimed at helping decision-makers understand and shape a future increasingly dominated by quantum technologies.
The institute will be led by Professor Lionel Martellini, PhD, and will drive research, education, innovation, and knowledge-sharing initiatives linking quantum science to its real-world applications in business and society.
“EDHEC is pursuing growth by expanding its research fields, following successes in finance, climate, and legal studies. This launch marks a new stage in our diversification strategy, opening up to science and technology, which are critical to the future of the economy and business,” said Emmanuel Métais, Dean of EDHEC Business School. “True to our approach of useful research, we will use this field to develop solutions for businesses and educational programmes.”
The first quantum revolution, which underpinned technologies such as lasers, transistors, MRIs, and atomic clocks, fundamentally altered society’s understanding of the physical world. The second quantum revolution, harnessing principles such as superposition and entanglement, promises to accelerate computing, communication, sensing capabilities, and artificial intelligence. Global investment in quantum technologies now exceeds $40 billion, with finance, energy, cybersecurity, space, and biotechnology poised to reap early benefits.
The EQI aims to convert these innovations into practical solutions. It will focus on applied research, education, industrial innovation, and public knowledge dissemination, building a “quantum culture” accessible to students, businesses, and the wider public.
“Quantum physics is often seen as incomprehensible or mystical, but it has its own logic,” said Professor Martellini. “Our goal is to move ‘from mystery to mastery’, helping decision-makers, students, and society grasp quantum technologies and use them to drive innovation.”
The institute’s initial research phase will target three flagship programmes. The first will explore the conceptual and philosophical foundations of quantum mechanics, producing a white paper to clarify key concepts. The second, in partnership with EURECOM, will focus on quantum technologies for information, communications, and cybersecurity, including quantum algorithms, cryptography, and post-quantum security solutions. The third programme will examine the implications of quantum technologies for finance and insurance, from portfolio optimisation and derivative pricing to safeguarding financial transactions and evaluating investment opportunities in the emerging quantum sector.
The launch builds on EDHEC’s existing collaboration with EURECOM and reflects the school’s broader strategy of applying cutting-edge science to societal and economic challenges.
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