To study what does not exist yet
- D-ITET
- D-ITET
Innovation also means not just treading on well-prepared paths. At ETH Zurich, students from all over the world can apply by 15 December 2019 – and European and Swiss students by 31 March 2020 – for what is probably the world's first Master of Science in Quantum Engineering. The Departments of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering and Physics work closely together for this Master's course, which starts in autumn 2020 for the second time.
After four semesters (120 ECTS points), the Quantum Engineers will be trained in an entirely new field. This is currently evolving in parallel with the technological advances in research and industry. Whereas the general direction of development can be anticipated, nobody knows in detail what exactly the future will bring, and how fast the process will develop.
Quantum research needs engineers
Just as the professions of programmer, computer scientist and IT engineer developed in the 1950s together with computer technology, quantum research similarly requires specialised engineers. They will use quantum mechanics, such as discrete energy levels, state superpositions, quantum entanglement or tunneling effects.
Programme director Prof. Lukas Novotny, from the Department of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering of ETH Zurich (D-ITET), welcomed the first 25 students from around the world for an orientation day in September of this year (Link). During the Master's degree programme, students have the opportunity to visit lectures by around fifteen professors from both departments.
Quantum research has tradition
“Quantum research has a long tradition at ETH Zurich. For more than ten years now, there is the National Research National Centre of Competence in Research 'Quantum Science and Technology' (QSIT), with research groups from the fields of physics, electrical engineering, chemistry and computer science,” says Klaus Ensslin, Professor at the Department of Physics about the innovative degree programme. “It goes without saying that the emerging quantum technologies now also require engineers to translate exactly these findings from physics into applications. For this reason, the two departments at ETH Zurich have intensified their cooperation in addition to research and teaching, and have embarked on a common path. This makes ETH Zurich a pioneer in this new field of training.”
Enjoy listening!
With the knowledge from both disciplines, the Master programme will continue to develop something new in exchange with students and industry.
Anja König started her Master in September 2019. In the 17-minute podcast Quantum Engineering she talks about her motivation. Lukas Novotny and Sadik Hafizovic, CEO and co-founder of Zurich Instruments, a spin-off of ETH Zurich, explain the curricula and industry's hopes for future Quantum Engineers.