Koç University
Koç University (KU) is a leading research-intensive institution in Türkiye, known for its strong emphasis on scientific excellence, interdisciplinary collaboration, and international engagement. The university hosts advanced experimental and computational research infrastructure and fosters innovation across engineering, physical sciences, and emerging technologies, including quantum computing and artificial intelligence. Within the QEC4QEA project, KU participates as a member of Cluster D alongside major European research centers, contributing to the development of a pan-European ecosystem for quantum-enhanced applications. KU supports the project’s vision of a one-stop shop by engaging in collaborative research, training, and dissemination activities that connect academic advances with practical use cases. Through its involvement, KU contributes to strengthening Europe’s quantum innovation capacity and promoting the adoption of hybrid quantum-classical methodologies across scientific and industrial domains.
Role within QEC4QEA
Within QEC4QEA, Koç University (KU) contributes to all work packages and primarily to WP3 on multiple application domains, focusing on hybrid quantum-classical optimisation, quantum machine learning, and benchmarking of quantum-enhanced simulations. KU is actively involved in key tasks such as nonlinear optimisation for finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) and finite element models, where quantum algorithms like QAOA are explored to address NP-hard energy minimisation problems in physics and engineering applications. Additionally, KU contributes to financial optimisation and predictive modeling, leveraging quantum approaches for portfolio optimisation and crash forecasting, as well as industrial and logistics applications including manufacturing optimisation and maritime routing. In collaboration with leading European partners, KU supports the development of scalable, hardware-independent workflows that integrate quantum algorithms with HPC infrastructures. KU also plays a critical role in benchmarking, validation, and comparative analysis against classical methods, ensuring robust performance evaluation. These contributions position KU as a key driver of practical, high-impact quantum-enhanced applications across multiple sectors.