We are now seven QCousins (QLatvia, QTurkey, QHungary, QBalkan, QPoland, QRussia, and QSlovakia) looking for entangling with new ones. Potential new QCousins should invite some of the present QCousins, and organize a public educational event together with them. We aim to expand our scope globally by having 50+ QCousins by the end of 2023.


Quantum cousins (QCousins) are operational groups all around the world willing to popularize quantum technologies and quantum software and to involve more people to the field by working locally and/or internationally.

The idea behind “being cousins” is to create active groups on a global scale, who can support and encourage each other, even though they may operate only locally. If you are interested, please check the details below.


The outline for a candidate

Please first check the information on the pages QCousins, and the minimal expectations of being a QCousin: three public-education and one academic-education challenges.

If you are interested in being a QCousin, you may contact us to discuss the details and how to proceed. You can send an e-mail to our coordinators or some of QCousins. All contact e-mails are given below.

Each QCousin and its members must accept our code of ethics and code of conduct and then respect and follow the codes, rules, and regulations.

Local team: You can start with forming a local team with at least two people who are interested in (i) teaching and popularizing science and technology and (ii) organizing and leading academic and public workshops.


The first event for entangling with new QCousins

QBronze is our three-day long public event to introduce the basics of quantum computing and quantum programming. Bronze refers to our open source and free material we have been using during the workshops.

We have organized more than 30 workshops and handed out almost 600 diplomas in 13 (by May 2020, check the whole list). Our workshops were welcomed by the (local) participants and they created considerable interests for further collaboration and activities. 

At this moment, we, as QCousins, offer to organize a 3-day long QBronze together with the local team in a local venue as the first step of the entanglement. In this way, we can raise local interest and also exchange our knowledge and experiences for future events. 

Over time, different activities can be formulated similar to the first entangling event. We are also open to proposals of the candidates.


QHost

The local team, called QHost, should take care of the local organization of the first event. We refer to the QHost page to give some ideas on organizational matters.


QMentors

The local team should have at least two mentors for the first event. These mentors can be the local leaders and/or mentors for future events. The local mentors (QMentors) should check the material in advance and then should help the participants during the first workshop. We will give online support to QMentors.


Visiting team

Depending on the availability of QCousins, ideally, two experienced workshop leaders[*] visit the candidate group to lead the workshop. 

In principle the QHost should cover the expenses of the visiting group, however, exceptions can be made.

[*] Any person who has led at least two workshops.


Application

The candidate should send an e-mail to the project coordinators (see below) with the following information:

  • Local team members;
  • Preferred time-intervals to organize the first event, preferably within 12 months;
  • The venue of the workshop;
  • Confirmation of taking care of the organization of the first event;
  • Names of the two local mentors;
  • Whether the expenses of the visiting team can be covered or not.

Processing applications

Our intention is to give priority to those countries in which quantum computing is less developed.

The coordinators reply within 72 hours to confirm the application.

All applications are kept in a pool. Depending on the availability (and budget) of people from QCousins, a tentative date is scheduled, and then the candidate is informed, and a video call is scheduled. This may take up to 2 months.

It is expected that all QCousins will be visiting a similar number of candidates per year.


Project team and contacts

Current coordinators (2019 and 2020): 
Maksims Dimitrijevs, Paweł Gora, and Zoltán Zimborás (qcousins [at] qworld.lu.lv)

QCousins’ contacts:
QLatvia: Abuzer Yakaryilmaz (qlatvia [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QTurkey: Özlem Salehi Köken (qturkey [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QHungary: Zoltán Zimborás (qhungary [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QBalkan: Mohamed Elsayed Yahia (qbalkan [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QPoland: Paweł Gora (qpoland [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QRussia: Ilnaz Mannapov (qrussia [at] qworld.lu.lv)
QSlovakia: Daniel Reitzner and Tomáš Samuely (qslovakia [at] qworld.lu.lv)

QDesigner: Agnieszka Wolska (qdesigner [at] qworld.lu.lv)

Former coordinator: Abuzer Yakaryilmaz (August 2019 – January 2020)


Frequently asked questions

1) What is the relation of this project with IBM?

QWorld is a not-for-profit network, founded with the goal of serving society and humanity in general, and not to generate income. We do not have a formal relationship with IBM. Nevertheless, currently our project (e.g., our educational materials Bronze) does rely on, and benefit a lot from, the recent public project Qiskit founded by IBM Research, and we are grateful to IBM for this. Beyond acknowledging this, we do not promote IBM products at our workshops or other public interfaces. Also, we wish to diversify our activities by involving different, competing public quantum technology platforms.