The Institute of Corpuscular Physics (IFIC), a joint centre of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and the University of Valencia, organized the LHC Quantum Computing Workshop from 22 to 24 September at the Assembly Hall of the IFIC Headquarters Building, located at the University of Valencia Science Park. The international workshop was dedicated to exploring the potential of quantum computing in high-energy physics, with particular emphasis on its applications to CERN’s Large Hadron Collider (LHC).

The event brought together around 70 participants, both in person and remotely, including researchers, physicists, professionals working in the private sector, and computing specialists. The talks were streamed via Zoom, while the hands-on sessions were held exclusively at the Assembly Hall of the Headquarters Building.

One of the workshop’s defining features was its open nature: it was designed for participants at all levels, from those just starting out in quantum computing to those already working in the field. This created a synergy between people interested in the field and expert researchers, which was key to fostering the community.

The programme combined talks and discussions on the latest advances in quantum algorithms and their synergy with machine learning, as well as their potential use in data analysis, detector simulation, and real-time event reconstruction, among other applications. One of the highlights was the hands-on sessions delivered by Fujitsu and Parity QC, which enabled participants to work directly with quantum computing tools and simulators.

The workshop aims to foster interdisciplinary collaboration between quantum computing specialists and the LHC community, facilitating knowledge exchange and opening up new avenues of research. The event was supported by CERN’s Quantum Technology Initiative (CERN Quantum Technology Initiative).

The organizing committee comprised Ahmed Abdelmotteleb (University of Warwick), Michele Grossi (CERN Quantum Technology Initiative), Nicole Skidmore (University of Warwick), and Miriam Lucio Martínez (IFIC), who served as the local organizer.

The local committee highlighted the excellent collaborative atmosphere throughout the three-day event, with highly active participation both in person and online, as well as the high quality of the presentations, which stimulated discussion and fostered new connections between the LHC community and quantum computing specialists.