CQTech's PI, Dr. Taha Rouabah, participates in the WSF 2022

The World Science Forum (WSF) is a prestigious event, hosted by South Africa in Cape Town from 6 to 9 December 2022. It consists of a series of biennial conferences organized in partnership with leading global science organizations, including the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Science Council (ISC), the InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council (EASAC), the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the initiator and historic custodian, the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA.)

The WSF is one of the most influential global platforms to interrogate the role science should play in society. In 2022, this event took place for the first time in Africa, convened under the theme of “Science for Social Justice.” The program brought together from across the world, scientists, government officials, industry leaders, media representatives, students as well as representatives from broader civil society, especially from communities often excluded from these types of events. The Forum deliberated in plenary and thematic sessions, and during side events, what role science should play in ensuring that resources, opportunities, and privileges are accessible to all and distributed fairly.

Dr. Taha Rouabah attended WSF as a representative of CQTech and University of Constantine 1. He took that opportunity to attend the panel discussion organized by GESDA on: “Making the most of quantum computers, inclusively and openly, to reach the SDGs.” In a short word, Dr. Rouabah exposed the “quantum situation” in Algeria and exhorted GESDA member to help CQTech promote the importance of quantum technologies on the high political level in Algeria and African countries.

Aside of the panel session, Dr. Rouabah had the pleasure to meet Prof. Francesco Petruccione, Interim Director at National Institute for Theoretical and Computational Sciences and South African Research Chair, to discuss opportunities for collaboration between Constantine Quantum Technologies and NITheCS for the promotion of quantum awareness in their respective countries and the African continent, toward a continental quantum network.

Dr. Rouabah also had a fruitful discussion with Matthias Troyer, Technical Fellow, and Corporate Vice President at Microsoft Quantum. During a two-hour discussion, Dr. Troyer and Dr. Rouabah exchanged opinions on the current quantum technologies landscape and how Constantine Quantum Technologies can best contribute to this lively field.

Dr. Rouabah also attended the interesting panel session dedicated to “ICTP Physics Without Frontiers,” where he met ICTP official and discussed the ways to increase the presence of Algerian students in ICTP programs and the involvement of ICTP in the promotion of theoretical physics in Algeria in general and CQTech activities specifically.