New research grant for the development of future quantum programming
With a Sapere Aude grant, Assistant Professor Robin Kaarsgaard will develop new quantum programming languages to make quantum computing more accessible across disciplines and support broader use of quantum technology.
Quantum computers hold enormous potential for the future of technology, particularly in cybersecurity, optimization, and the simulation of complex physical systems. But to realize this potential, a new generation of programming languages is needed—languages that align with the unique computational principles of quantum machines while remaining accessible to researchers without specialized backgrounds in quantum physics or computer architecture.
That is precisely the ambition of the research project FunQ: Quantum Programming Beyond the Circuit Model, which has now been awarded a prestigious Sapere Aude: DFF-Research Leader grant. The project is led by Assistant Professor Robin Kaarsgaard from the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, affiliated with the Center for Mathematics, who, with a background in both programming languages and mathematical theory, aims to develop new conceptual models for quantum computation—and thus new ways of thinking about and writing quantum programs.
“Most existing quantum programming languages resemble the earliest computer systems, where extensive technical knowledge was required to program them. We need languages that allow us to describe quantum computations on a more abstract level—much like we are used to with modern classical programming languages,” explains Robin Kaarsgaard.
From Mathematical Curiosity to Quantum Technological Research
The path into quantum computation began with the mathematical discipline of category theory, which opened new perspectives on the understanding of computation. With this theoretical foundation, the project aims not only to develop new tools but also to establish a deeper mathematical basis for quantum programming—drawing inspiration from the early pioneers of classical computer science, including the Dane Peter Naur.
“Today, we have good abstractions for describing classical computation without needing to know the details of hardware and data representation. That’s something we still lack in the quantum world. These are the kinds of abstractions I want to develop,” says Robin Kaarsgaard.
Quantum Technology Across Disciplines
A key long-term goal of FunQ is to make quantum computation accessible to experts beyond computer science—whether in pharmaceutical chemistry, materials science, or quantitative social sciences. This requires programming languages that are both expressive and intuitive—bridging the gap between the quantum mechanical machine level and the researcher’s conceptual thinking.
A New Chapter in a Research Career
The Sapere Aude grant gives Robin Kaarsgaard the opportunity to build his own research group and fully put his ideas into action. This will happen in close collaboration with both young talents and international colleagues—and with a strong foundation in the Center for Quantum Mathematics.
“I’m incredibly excited to finally test many of the ideas I’ve been working on for years, and to bring the results directly into teaching the next generation of quantum computer scientists,” says Robin Kaarsgaard.