On 21 and 22 May, our delegation visited Poznań, Poland, for a two-day programme focused on strengthening international cooperation in quantum technologies, photonics, and advanced research infrastructures.
One of the highlights of the delegation trip was our visit to PSNC/PSCC. Our host and the visit programme were coordinated by Piotr Rydlichowski, researcher within the Network Technologies Division at the institute. We received a comprehensive introduction to the institute’s initiatives in high-performance computing (HPC) and their extension into current quantum technologies.
Among the key initiatives presented was the Polish national network PIONIER, originally established to connect computing capabilities across the country, as well as its quantum extension, PIONIER-Q. This initiative has enabled the development of one of the world’s longest quantum-secure networks, in which PSCC plays a leading role. As part of the visit, we had the opportunity to see the ion-trap quantum computer developed under the PIAST-Q project and provided by AQT, as well as several types of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) nodes integrated into the quantum-secure infrastructure.
Furthermore, our visit to the Poznań University of Technology included meetings with representatives from companies and local institutions. We toured several laboratories dedicated to both teaching and research activities, including work involving NV centers and research initiatives connected to the chemistry department and quantum computing applications.
Concluding the first day, an extended pitching and networking session was organised together with our local partner network PPTF, represented by Igor Deryło, the university, and the Łukasiewicz Network, represented by Agnieszka Możejko. During the session, representatives from both sides presented their technologies and discussed potential areas for future cooperation and joint projects.
The second day of the delegation included visits to GLOptics and Airoptic. These visits provided valuable insights into optical and light-source characterisation technologies, as well as gas-laser measurement systems.
At GLOptics, accompanied by co-founder Jan Lalek, we visited the company’s characterisation laboratories and received detailed demonstrations of their technologies for uniform lighting and calibration systems, which are supplied to industries worldwide, particularly within the automotive sector.
At Airoptic, hosted by founder Paweł Kluczyński, we explored the company’s advanced devices for gas measurement applications used across a broad range of industries in Europe, the United States, and the Middle East.
We sincerely thank all our hosts and partners for their warm welcome, openness, and willingness to share valuable insights into their technologies, infrastructures, and ongoing activities. The delegation provided an excellent opportunity to strengthen existing relationships and explore future collaboration opportunities between research institutions, companies, and innovation networks.