Funded by the European Innovation Council, the service gives researchers access to cutting-edge machines to perform advanced quantum computing tasks on European devices.

Although current quantum devices do not outperform traditional supercomputers, the new capabilities have the potential to usher in a new era of innovation in healthcare and industrial advancements.

Building on the results from the project, some of the small research teams have been able to realise the first hardware implementations of advanced calculations for biochemical research and computational fluid dynamics.

Meanwhile, others have been able to simulate materials with unique properties and optimise manufacturing processes to improve efficiency and reduce waste in industrial production.

With groundbreaking access to quantum machines, scientists and engineers have simulated complex molecular interactions.

These initial proof-of-concept demonstrations have enabled researchers to investigate their potential applications in sectors such as electronics, energy storage, and manufacturing.

Unmatched Power

Quantum computers are powerful devices that leverage the fundamental laws of quantum mechanics to process information in a fundamentally different way, which might allow them to perform calculations which are impossible for classical computers.

Unlike traditional computers, which process data in a linear fashion, quantum computers exploit quantum entanglement to process information, giving them the ability to simulate highly complex systems like molecules and materials with unmatched speed and accuracy.

Imagine the task of trying to solve a maze: a traditional computer would explore every single path one at a time, checking each route until it finds the solution. In contrast, a quantum computer can ‘compare’ all the possible paths at once, evaluating them in parallel and choosing the best route.

To put this into perspective, the total computing power from a vast data centre filled with rows of traditional computers, stretching across several football fields, might not be able to match the speed and capability of just one quantum machine operating at its full capacity.

These complex tasks that can be challenging for traditional computing, or even supercomputers, will eventually be made possible with quantum machines developed and operated by Alpine Quantum Technologies (AQT) – an Innsbruck-based company specialising in general-purpose ion-trap quantum computing.

Nitrogen Cycle Modelling

A noteworthy collaboration took place between AQT and a team from QC Ware (USA), Covestro (Germany), and Boehringer Ingelheim (Germany), who all worked together to simulate the interaction energies of intermediate states in a chemical reaction – a key task in quantum chemistry and an essential step in understanding the complex molecular interactions in the Nitrogen Cycle.

By using a quantum algorithm called Variational Quantum Eigensolver (VQE), the team was able to calculate the molecule’s energy, even on noisy intermediate-scale quantum (NISQ) devices.

The VQE algorithm works by creating a trial state of the molecule and then adjusting it to find the most stable, lowest-energy configuration. Even though the quantum computer used is still in its early stages, the results were impressively accurate, closely matching classical calculations.

New Possibilities

This leap in computational power means that the advantages of quantum computing for drug development can arrive earlier, while material scientists can unlock new possibilities in energy storage, sustainability, and manufacturing.

QCDC Project Leader and Director of Quantum Technologies at AQT, Juris Ulmanis, said:

“This project represents a significant step forward in making quantum computing a practical tool for researchers across Europe.

“By giving scientists access to AQT’s world-class quantum technology, we’ve enabled them to solve problems that were previously out of reach for quantum computers. Whether it’s drug discovery, designing better materials, or improving sustainability, the potential for quantum computing is vast, and we’re excited to see what impact it can have across industries.”

While the QCDC project has concluded, its impact is only just beginning. It has equipped researchers with the tools to address some of the world’s most complex challenges.

European Innovation

With the QCDC project now completed, Europe has taken a giant leap toward establishing itself as a leader in quantum computing.

From biochemical simulations to material science and manufacturing optimisation, the project has demonstrated the potential of quantum technologies to transform industries and solve global challenges.

As Europe continues to build its quantum ecosystem, this groundbreaking work will be the foundation for the next generation of quantum-driven innovations.

The QCDC project strengthened Europe’s technological sovereignty by providing local access to world-class quantum computing, eliminating reliance on non-EU providers.

This enables European researchers and industries to innovate independently, protecting critical data and research from external influence.

The EU’s new customs pre-arrival safety and security system – Import Control System 2 (ICS2) – will introduce a new process for entry of goods by maritime and inland waterways, road and rail in the EU as from 3 June 2024.

This is the third phase or release of the implementation of the new system that will extend safety and security data reporting requirements to all modes of transport.

Similar requirements already went into force for air transportation of goods, Techeconomy gathered.

With this third release, maritime and inland waterways, road and rail carriers will also need to provide data on goods sent to or through the EU prior to their arrival, through a complete Entry Summary Declaration (ENS).

This obligation also concerns postal and express carriers who transport goods using these modes of transport as well as other parties, such as logistics providers.

In certain circumstances, final consignees established in the EU will also have to submit ENS data to ICS2.

Traders are strongly advised to prepare in advance for Release 3 to avoid the risk of delays and non-compliance.

Affected businesses will be required to make sure they collect accurate and complete data from their clients, update their IT systems and operational processes, and provide adequate training to their staff.

Information available to Techeconomy indicates that back on 11 December 2023, traders were required to successfully complete a self-conformance test before connecting to ICS2, to verify their ability to access and exchange messages with customs authorities.

EU Member States will grant authorisation, upon request, to the affected traders to gradually connect to ICS2 within a time-limited deployment window.

Member States can grant the deployment window anytime within the following timeframes: from 3 June 2024 to 4 December 2024 (maritime and inland waterway carriers); from 4 December 2024 to 1 April 2025 (maritime and inland waterway house level filers); and from 1 April 2025 to 1 September 2025 (road and rail carriers).

If traders are not ready on time, and do not provide the data required under ICS2, goods will be stopped at the EU borders and will not be cleared by the customs authorities.

The EU is a major player in international trade – it accounts for around 14 % of the world’s trade in goods.

By collecting safety and security data, EU customs authorities will be able to detect risks earlier and to intervene at the most appropriate point in the supply chain to keep trade safe for the EU and its citizens.

ICS2 will simplify the movement of goods between customs offices at the first point of entry and final destination in the EU.

ICS2 will provide a single access point to communicate with all EU Member States’ customs authorities for all EU operations instead of 27 national interfaces.

For traders, ICS2 will also streamline requests for additional information and pre-departure risk screening by customs authorities, thus reducing administrative burdens for businesses.
ICS2 in detail.

ICS2 has been prepared in close collaboration between the European Commission, Member States’ customs authorities and businesses.

The system is being implemented in three releases that will gradually replace the existing import control system.

With Release 1, from 15 March 2021, postal and express consignments coming to or through the EU by air became subject to a subset of the Entry Summary Declaration (so called pre-loading advance cargo information – also known as PLACI) prior to their loading onto the aircraft bound for the EU.

With ICS2 Release 2, from 1 March 2023, air cargo general consignments also became subject to the PLACI filing and to the complete set of data of the Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) prior to their arrival.

Release 3 is the third phase and will include maritime and inland waterways, rail and road modes of transport from 3 June 2024. Affected traders will need to be operationally ready for ICS2 within a time-limited deployment window.

Like Release 2, the data filing will be provided in one single complete ENS filing, if all the necessary data is available to the party that files and assumes the responsibility for bringing the goods into the EU customs territory.

Alternatively, it can be done with multiple filings, where more than one partial ENS filing is submitted by different actors in the supply chain.

In case of multiple filings, each filer is responsible for ensuring that their own filings are submitted in a timely, accurate and complete way.

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Part of that focus involves realising the region’s data sovereignty.

Earlier this year, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu signed the Data Protection Bill 2023 into law, concluding a years-long effort to effectively regulate the processing and protection of personal data.

The bill provides for data protection principles that are common to internationally recognised frameworks and obligations for “controllers” and “processors”, referring to organisations that gather and store personal data.

This should prompt enterprises to consider their data residency business strategies and how they can adhere to local and international laws.

While cloud computing in Nigeria may be on the rise, many local enterprises still face limited options. For many, a hybrid approach is the way forward.

Compliance is critical

Enterprises need to be fully compliant when handling other people’s data, including employees, clients, suppliers, and more.

As the term implies, data compliance refers to the applicable governance for data protection, security, storage, and other related activities.

Both public and private organisations need to ensure data is protected from unauthorised access and use.

Over the last several years, we have witnessed efforts to standardise data handling regulation, with notable frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) developed by the European Union (EU) and frameworks put forward by many individual nations.

Organisations that don’t comply or protect customer data face several risks. They can be more susceptible to data breaches, leading to cybercrimes such as identity theft and financial fraud.

Breaches can subsequently damage an organisation’s reputation and result in legal repercussions from affected parties and fines from regulatory bodies.

Even in the case of minor incidents, companies waste time, energy, and resources in repair and recovery efforts, resulting in lowered productivity levels.

A duty of care towards data

Nigeria’s leveraging of data comes at a time when cloud computing is becoming the new standard for enterprise IT.

Recent studies indicate that the approach has the potential to generate trillions of naira in additional economic value by the 2030s and enhance local enterprises’ internet-based database capabilities.

Cloud computing adoption is being driven by several factors, most significantly, new models of work and the emergence of the hybrid workforce, evolving customer needs, and a growing ecosystem of hyperscalers and integrators.

Organisations that use the cloud to store data may have a responsibility to store that data in the country of origin, depending on that country’s regulatory requirements.

This can be a concern for enterprises that use hosted services as they may not know where their data is physically located.

Under Nigeria’s new Data Protection Act, data controllers and processors must seek the services of a data protection compliance organisation (DPCO) to perform audits and ensure enterprises are meeting their regulatory obligations.

Remember, the cloud is flexible, meaning that the hardware on which specific data is stored can be located anywhere in the world.

In light of that, enterprises need to carefully consider their IT infrastructure and approach to migrating to cloud-based services and systems.

Taking control with the hybrid cloud

According to the Red Hat 2023 Global Tech Outlook, cloud infrastructure was in the top three of companies’ leading IT technology funding priorities, with hybrid cloud strategies continuing to dominate as companies look to transform digitally.

Hybrid cloud combines on-premise, third-party private cloud providers, and public cloud vendors to create a single entity capable of moving workloads between environments.

The hybrid cloud offers several advantages for enterprises, such as greater flexibility, cost savings, and security. However, it also offers a major advantage in adhering to data compliance and residency obligations.

With a hybrid cloud, an organisation can operate and move workloads according to the regulatory landscape.

Availability zones, such as those offered by major cloud providers such as AWS and Google Cloud, means Nigerian enterprises can assert further control over where their data resides.

A hybrid cloud is not the optimal solution for every organisation. But, as Nigeria’s digital landscape expands and organisations’ responsibilities to customers and data evolve, so too must the technologies we utilise to adhere to them.

By working with enterprise IT and cloud vendors, organisations can invest in the systems that best suit their needs and obligations and let them exercise full control over their data.

This funding is part of the AGoSE-AO program, which aims to improve governance in the energy sector in West Africa.

The program was commissioned through the 11th European Development Fund and will be implemented between May 2022 and April 2024.

The AGoSE-AO program is designed within the framework of a cooperation agreement between the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU), and the European Union.

Its goal is to make the energy architecture and regional instBusitutions in West Africa more effective in dealing with global challenges.

To further this objective, officials from ECOWAS, the EU, and other development partners convened in Abuja for talks on boosting the energy sector in Nigeria and other countries in the West African sub-region.

The event was jointly organized by ECOWAS and WAEMU and attended by various specialized agencies responsible for energy, such as the ECOWAS Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE), the West African Power Pool (WAPP), and the ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA).

Representatives from the European Union Delegations to Nigeria, Benin, and Burkina Faso, as well as the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), Energy Charter, British Council, and NTU International A/S, also participated in the event.

Anastasia Oikonomou, the representative of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and the ECOWAS Commission, stated that the AGoSE-AO program aims to strengthen the West African energy architecture and regional institutions to effectively address global challenges.

She emphasized the importance of enhancing governance, transparency, and accountability in the energy sector to promote sustainable development and reduce poverty in West Africa.

Bayaornibe Dabire, the Director of Energy and Mines of ECOWAS and chairman of the meeting, urged all stakeholders within the energy sector to collaborate in improving governance and transparency.

He highlighted the need for a harmonized regulatory and legal framework in the region to create a secure, transparent, stable, and vibrant energy market. This, in turn, would attract investors and enhance access to modern, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy services.

Emmanuel W. Ramde, the Team Leader of the AGoSE AO program, emphasized that access to modern, affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy services is crucial for poverty alleviation.

One of the program’s components focuses on harmonizing the regulatory and legal framework in the region to create an enabling environment for investment and improved energy services.

The AGoSE-AO program, funded by the EU, aims to strengthen governance and regulatory frameworks in the energy sector in West Africa, promote sustainable development, and enhance access to modern energy services in the region.

This EU funding will allow the Nigerian Red Cross to provide emergency assistance to affected and at-risk communities by reducing the impact of diphtheria through risk communication, outbreak control activities, surveillance, patient referral and hygiene promotion, and early case detection in affected areas.

Humanitarian assistance will be provided directly and indirectly to approximately 1,585,080 people, with a special emphasis on vulnerable people at risk of diphtheria.

Humanitarian assistance will, directly and indirectly, target around 1,585,080 people, with a particular focus on vulnerable people at risk of diphtheria, those living in sheltered communities or hard-to-reach locations.

This funding is part of the EU’s overall contribution to the Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

On 20 January 2023, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) officially declared an outbreak of diphtheria in Kano and Lagos states after several suspected cases appeared a month earlier.

The disease then spread rapidly to other states. From 136 cases in the first week of 2023, the country now records a total of 733 suspected cases and deplores89 fatalities.

The outbreak is described as one of the most serious occurrences in Nigeria in recent years. Children aged between 5 and 18 years are the most vulnerable group.

Diphtheria is a highly contagious bacterial infection transmitted between humans. It causes an infection of the upper respiratory tract, which can lead to breathing difficulties and suffocation. Those most at risk are children and people who have not been fully vaccinated against the disease.

At a press conference, Barry Andrews, a member of the European Parliament and the Chief Observer of the EU EOM, announced the beginning of the election observation mission.

“This is the seventh EU Election Observation Mission to Nigeria since 1999. The EU attaches great significance to these elections,” Andrews said.

He urged the Nigerian government, candidates, and political parties to ensure that the general elections are peaceful and that election-related violence is prevented.

The 2022 Electoral Act, which features new measures adopted to improve several parts of the electoral process, will be monitored by the EU EOM as part of its overall review.

Following an invitation from Nigeria’s election watchdog, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the EU deployed the EU EOM.

The EU EOM is independent in its findings from EU Member States and all EU institutions, and it has a separate and distinct mandate from the EU Delegation in Nigeria.

Violence in the area is leading to widespread displacement, interruption of livelihoods, and a lack of access to essential services, with the civilian population becoming more and more the target of targeted attacks.

As the humanitarian situation in the Lake Chad region worsens, the Commission has provided €102.5 million in humanitarian aid to assist vulnerable communities in Nigeria, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.

Violence in the region, where the civilian population is increasingly the victim of targeted attacks, is resulting in large-scale displacement, disruption of livelihoods, and lack of access to basic services.

The pledge was made on the occasion of the High-Level Conference on the Lake Chad Region, held in Niamey on 23-24 January. The total amount for 2023 will be distributed as follows: Nigeria (34 million), Niger (25 million), Chad (26.5 million), and Cameroon (€17 million).

The funding is part of the total €181.5 million allocated this year for the Lake Chad basin, the Central African Republic, and the Sahel, as announced last week.

• The EU’s humanitarian aid in the Lake Chad region is targeted to:
• Providing life-saving assistance to people displaced by conflict and hosting communities;
• Responding to the most acute food needs of households and communities affected by conflict and treating severe acute undernutrition in children under 5;
• Giving access to healthcare to populations that are newly displaced or outside the reach of health authorities, and improving the access to safe water and sanitation;
• Supporting emergency education for displaced children and those in hard-to-reach areas;
  Strengthening disaster preparedness (e.g. early warning systems and climate resilience actions).