In today’s special episode, Patrick and Ciprian speak to Dr. Deborah Berebichez and Dr. Pekka Pursula from VTT Finland to celebrate their November 30th announcement of their development of a 5 qubit quantum computer. In this episode, they talk about the technology they picked and why, the advantages of superconducting technology, the competitive angle a 5 qubit quantum computer will give them, and what advancements this will help them make in quantum computing.

Dr. Deborah Berebichez is a Lead Scientist in Microelectronics and Quantum Computing at VTT, one of Europe’s leading research institutes. Her responsibilities include setting the research agenda for VTT’s quantum computer and for its quantum-adjacent technologies. Her main focus is to build relationships with potential client companies who plan to use VTT’s quantum facilities to create innovative products.

 Deborah Berebichez is the first Mexican woman to graduate from Stanford University with a Ph.D. in Physics. Deborah’s work in quantum technologies is solidified by her academic background:

Her physics Ph.D. adviser at Stanford was Nobel Laureate Bob Laughlin who discovered the fractional quantum Hall effect. She also worked with Nobel Laureate Steve Chu on cooling atoms with laser light. She completed two postdoctoral fellowships at Columbia University's Applied Math and Physics Department and at NYU's Courant Institute for Mathematical Sciences where she carried out research in the area of waves and optimization. She published in the area of photonics for quantum computing. Deborah’s work in science education and outreach has been recognized by the WSJ, Oprah, TED,

DLD, WIRED, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and others.

Dr. Pekka Pursula was born in Vantaa, Finland, in 1978. He received the M.Sc. degree (with distinction) and D.Sc.in technical physics from Aalto University, Helsinki, Finland, in 2002 and 2009, respectively.

 Since 2003 Dr. Pursula has been with the VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland in several research and research management positions, where he is currently Research Manager in Microelectronics and Quantum Technologies. His interests include microelectronics, electronic components and system integration from RF and millimetre wave frequencies to THz, in addition to quantum technology in general. Between 2011 and 2016 he was also an adjunct professor of Electronics at Tampere University of Technology. In 2012 Dr. Pursula has been a visiting researcher at IMTEK Department of Microsystems Engineering at University of Freiburg, Germany in 2021 and at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California, USA in 2018.

 D.Sc. Pursula was the vice chair of IEEE MTT/AP/ED chapter in Finland 2014-2020. He received Microwave Prize at European Microwave Week, Nürnberg, October 8-13th 2017. He has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed journal and conference articles, and he is a co-inventor in 11 patent applications.