The recent IEEE Systems, Man, and Cybernetics (SMC) session brought together leading researchers and industry experts to explore the practical intersection of quantum hardware, software infrastructure, and hybrid computing. Following up on our event announcement, the afternoon featured an engaging lineup of talks focused on turning quantum physics into scalable, real-world systems engineering.
The event opened with Bo Zhao from Aalto University, who addressed the challenge of scaling software infrastructure through agent-driven AI, demonstrating how autonomous orchestration can bridge classical supercomputing and quantum processors. Russell Lake from Bluefors then turned the spotlight to hardware engineering, offering a grounded look at the thermal and signal-integrity challenges of wiring up cryogenic peripherals in dilution refrigerators.
Following the break, the technical sessions moved into advanced algorithm design and application modeling. Cristian A. Galvis-Florez (Aalto University) presented a quantum algorithm for low-rank Gaussian process quadrature, while Ahmad Farooq (VTT) demonstrated a practical application of hybrid quantum machine learning applied to the dynamic control of a Furuta pendulum.
Together, the presentations made it clear that achieving practical quantum utility is fundamentally a systems engineering challenge. Success relies on tight integration across every layer of the stack – from cryogenic hardware interconnects and AI-driven middleware to hybrid algorithms tailored for complex control systems. Thank you to all our speakers, organizers, and participants for an insightful session, and stay tuned for future events and research updates!
