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Lebanon hosts its first quantum computing hackathon at the American University of Beirut (AUB)

11th April 2025

Photo by AUB

On 5th April,  the Centre for Advanced Mathematical Sciences (CAMS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted Lebanon’s first-ever quantum computing hackathon–organised in collaboration with the Open Quantum Institute (OQI) and New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).

The hackathon followed the Satellite Activity Quantum Day, which aimed to introduce participants to the world of quantum computing through a series of workshops and lectures. 25 students from nine universities across Lebanon took part, having already undergone pre-training sessions using OQI’s Hackathon in a Box toolkit.

OQI’s Hackathon in a Box is a practical guide that can be used to plan and resource hackathons in quantum underserved regions, providing practical methods to learn how to develop quantum computing applications focusing on the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Hackathons can either be supported (receiving active involvement by OQI) or inspired (building on the open-access materials published by OQI).

During the hackathon, participants formed teams to work together and tackle real-world problems, using quantum computing to create innovative solutions. Ideas spanned a range of fields—such as healthcare, climate action and urban planning. A panel of mentors, including three from NYUAD, helped to guide teams as they refined their ideas. 

The winning team, Q-Tes (Quantum Traffic Enhancer System), explored the idea of reducing urban traffic emissions using quantum computing—showcasing how quantum algorithms could be used to model small-scale traffic networks efficiently. 

The Q-Tes team is made up of:

The winning team will receive mentorship from AUB as they work towards further developing their project. At OQI, we are proud to celebrate this milestone with AUB and congratulate the winning team and all participants of the hackathon. 

Learn about OQI’s Hackathon in a Box: https://open-quantum-institute.cern/hackathon-in-a-box/

2025 | Open Quantum Institute

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The Open Quantum Institute (OQI) is a multilateral governance initiative that promotes global and inclusive access to quantum computing and the development of applications for the benefit of humanity. As a novel science diplomacy instrument, it brings together research, diplomacy, private sector and philanthropy stakeholders. OQI is hosted by CERN during its pilot phase (2024-2026).

 

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• Accelerating applications for humanity: Realising the full potential of quantum computing to have the widest possible societal impact by accelerating the development of use cases geared towards achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and succeeding framework , thanks to the combined forces of researchers, developers and entrepreneurs from academia and private sector as well as the United Nations, and large NGOs
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