The Quantum Computing Industry: An Inside-Out Perspective

This is a guest lecture I gave at UC Davis for a course; see https://qist.ucdavis.edu/events/dr-travis-scholten-ibm-quantum-quantum-computing-industry-inside-out-perspective

Abstract:
In recent years, the commercialization of quantum computing has begun in earnest. Major enterprise companies, as well as startups, are rapidly working to develop business lines and commercial know-how around this nascent technology. Amidst such activity, identifying ways to jump in and join this growing industry can be hard. In this talk, I share my journey going from a newly-minted UNM PhD just over three years ago, to joining IBM Quantum, to the evolution of my role within the organization. Along the way, I'll discuss the opportunities and exciting challenges ahead, as well as useful resources for those who are curious about the transition from academia to this industry.

Transcript

1. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation Travis L. Scholten @Travis_Sch Quantum Applications Architect The Quantum Computing Industry: An Inside-Out Perspective UC Davis — 2022 February 16
2. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 2 What I plan to 
 cover today Why 
 should I get involved in the industry? How 
 do I get involved? Who are you?
3. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 3 So… 
 who are you, anyway?
4. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 4 Pivot, pivot, pivot: 
 my journey to the industry 2008 
 Enter Caltech 2011 
 Research with 
 John Preskill 2012 
 Enter UNM 2013 
 1st Quantum Conference 2018/09 
 Finish PhD 2013 
 Student 
 internship 2018/10 
 Join IBM Quantum “Physics Prof” “Wall Street” “Data scientist” “Quantum industry”
5. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 5 Pivot, pivot, pivot: 
 my journey within the industry 2018/09 
 Finish PhD 2022/02 
 This talk! 2018/10 
 Join IBM Quantum 2020/12 
 Research 
 paper 2020/06 
 Research 
 paper 2021/12 
 Research 
 paper 2020/10 
 SW Workshop 
 Organizer; 
 Podcast speaker 2020/11 Podcast 
 speaker 2019/03 
 Invited 
 speaker 2021/04 
 Panelist 2021/08 
 Panelist “Applications Researcher” “Applications Architect”
6. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 6 Why should I get involved in the industry?
7. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 7 Major enterprise companies, plus startups, are building out an entirely new computing paradigm. Systems Software Applications Services IonQ Intel QCI AQT PsiQuantum ColdQuanta Silicon QC Zapata CQC QC Ware 1QBit Riverlane Entropica Qu & Co Horizon QC Phasecraft h-bar Consultants Entanglement Partners Creative Destruction Lab Strangeworks IBM Google Microsoft Honeywell Quantum Solutions Xanadu D-Wave Systems Rigetti Computing Q-CTRL Quantum Benchmark Opacity Inspired from https://www.bcg.com/en-us/publications/2018/ next-decade-quantum-computing-how-play
8. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 8 Industry offers opportunities for 
 developing non-research professional skills. Communication Teamwork Organization Decision making Emotional intelligence Leadership
9. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 9 Industry is advancing the 
 state-of-the-art in quantum research. Since 2017… * 170 IBM Quantum papers * 84 IBM Quantum + 
 collaborator * Published in journals such 
 as Nature, PRX Quantum, 
 Quantum, PRL
10. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 10 Industry is advancing the 
 state-of-the-art in quantum research. Possible Job Roles: 
 Experimentalist, Quantum Information Science Theorist
11. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 11 Industry is building the quantum systems of the future. https://www.ibm.com/blogs/research/2020/09/ibm-quantum-roadmap/
12. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 12 Industry is building the quantum systems of the future. Possible Job Roles: 
 Experimentalist, Hardware Engineer, Product Manager
13. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 13 Possible Job Roles: 
 Design Researcher, Product Manager, Software Engineer, User Experience Designer, 
 Algorithm Developer Industry is nucleating the quantum developer ecosystem.
14. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 14 Industry is building the quantum business ecosystem. https://research.ibm.com/blog/quantum-accelerator-program The Accelerator offering is designed to set forward- thinking organizations on the path to quantum advantage: applications for which quantum computers outperform classical computers. It is meant to make quantum computation part of mainstream company workflows for any organization, regardless of quantum computing maturity level.
15. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 15 Industry is building the quantum business ecosystem. Possible Job Roles: 
 Design Researcher, Product Manager, Consultant, Architect, Business Development
16. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 16 How do I get involved?
17. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 17 Observation 1/3 Quantum know-how, plus an additional skill, is a powerful combination. Every skill you acquire doubles your odds of success.
18. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 18 Observation 2/3 Seek opportunities to 
 learn new skills in a low-risk environment. http://travisscholten.com/2017/06/14/computing-workshop.html https://unitary.fund/posts/advisory_board.html
19. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 19 Observation 3/3 For networking to be 
 effective, it must be 
 win-win. vs
20. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 20 Tactic 1/3 Attend industry-specific business conferences to learn who the players are. https://q2b.qcware.com/ https://iqtevent.com/ https://www.quantumtechcongress.com/
21. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 21 Tactic 2/3 Follow industry-related news and media outlets. https://thequantuminsider.com/ https://quantumcomputingreport.com/ https://anchor.fm/quantumcomputingnow
22. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 22 Tactic 3/3 Make yourself visible with impactful contributions. Contribute to open-source software Develop your own project!
23. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 23 Developing & deploying quantum computers is a 
 “whole-of-the-economy” opportunity.
24. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 24 Let’s create 
 what’s next.
25. IBM Quantum / © 2021 IBM Corporation 25