CANADA - EUROPEAN UNION PROGRAMME FOR CO …



CANADA - EU PROGRAMME FOR CO-OPERATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH

Transatlantic Exchange Partnerships - TEP

Call for Proposals

Application Form

2008

Application Deadline: April 11, 2008

[pic] [pic]

European Union

Union européenne

A. TITLE PAGE

CANADA - European Union PROGRAMME FOR COOPERATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION, TRAINING AND YOUTH (2008)

|Project Title |Collaborative student training in Quantum Information Processing |

|Lead | |

|Canadian Institution |University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario |

|Lead |LRI, Université Paris-Sud, France |

|EU Institution | |

|Discipline(s) |Quantum algorithms, complexity theory, communication, cryptography, error-correction, information theory; |

| |experimental implementation of quantum computing, communication, and cryptography |

|Level(s) of Study |Graduate |

|Duration of Project |October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011 |

|(start and end dates) | |

|Project Abstract |This project will formally initiate student and faculty exchange across several Canadian and EU institutions which |

|(brief) |have a strong research effort in quantum information processing (QIP). The project will consolidate and expand |

| |existing collaborations so as to provide a larger pool of talented students access to expertise available beyond |

| |their home institutions and get credit for this international experience. The project will also provide a platform |

| |for developing a standardized suite of courses dedicated to the rapidly developing field of QIP. |

Certification by Authorizing Official

The undersigned certifies to the best of his/her knowledge that the data in this application is accurate and that the filing of the application has been duly authorized by the governing body of the applicant.

Name Title Signature Date

We confirm that identical proposals have been submitted to Human Resources and Social Development Canada and to Directorate General for Education and Culture (DG EAC):

Ashwin Nayak April 10, 2008

Canadian Project Leader Signature Date

Frédéric Magniez April 10, 2008

EU Project Leader Signature Date

B. PROJECT SUMMARY

|Title of project |Collaborative student training in Quantum Information Processing |

|Brief project description. |Quantum information processing (QIP) is a rapidly evolving field of study |

| |which has the potential to revolutionize future technologies. Research |

| |groups in the area are forming in academic institutions around the world, |

| |and graduate curricula in the subject are being developed gradually. The |

| |project is aimed at giving graduate students in Canada and the EU exposure|

| |especially to study opportunities in QIP that lie outside of the expertise|

| |of their local research groups. The primary vehicle for this will be |

| |internships abroad under expert faculty, coupled with suitable course |

| |work. Courses offered will be kept up-to-date and new ones will be |

| |developed at partner institutions through faculty interactions. The |

| |program will boost progress in the field and in the development of |

| |graduate training programs through the combined effort and resources of |

| |the project partners. |

|Objectives (List goal and key objectives that have been |(i) Signing of a memorandum of understanding to allow for credit transfer |

|established). |and recognition and tuition fee waivers at host institutions. |

| |(ii) Enable 36 graduate student mobility experiences in quantum |

| |information processing (QIP) through scholarships for internships and |

| |study abroad. |

| |(iii) Develop an internationally recognized suite of graduate level |

| |courses in QIP. |

| |(iv) Enable faculty interactions for dissemination of recent developments |

| |in QIP and development of a standardized curriculum. |

|Activities: (For each objective listed above, outline the |(i) Officials from partner institutions will study existing agreements |

|activities that will be carried out to support the objectives). |with other institutions to develop and sign an agreement for graduate |

| |student exchange. |

| |(ii) Collectively design and implement a mechanism for student exchanges |

| |with active recruitment of outstanding students. |

| |(iii) Discuss curriculum development, exchange course syllabi, teaching |

| |materials, problems sets, etc., and refine them with the help of feedback |

| |from students. |

| |(iv) Key faculty from partner institutions will visit each other for short|

| |durations on an annual basis. |

|Expected outcomes, including number of Canadian and EU |36 students in total will participate in the exchange |

|students/length of study abroad (for each objective, indicate the|An average of three students from each of the four Canadian and EU |

|anticipated results). |partners per year will participate (Total: Canadian 18, EU 18) |

| |The length of study abroad will range from one term (4 months) to 1 year |

| |depending upon the nature of the internship and the degree requirements of|

| |the home institution |

| |Roughly four faculty members in total will travel between partner |

| |institutions per year. |

|Duration of the project (start and end date). |October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011 |

|Field(s) and level(s) and objectives of study/training, duration,|Level: Graduate |

|language(s) of instruction. |Fields: quantum information processing, its sub-disciplines, and allied |

| |subjects. Includes algorithms and complexity, error-correction, |

| |cryptography, communication, information theory; experimental |

| |implementation of QIP devices, communication and practical cryptography |

| |Duration: 4 months (one term) to 1 year |

| |Courses in the Canadian institutions will be taught in English; Courses in|

| |EU countries can be taught in English at the request of at least one |

| |student. Language training courses in the relevant language are available |

| |at all partner institutions. |

|Summary of study programme and project activities (maximum 20 |The study program will consist of an internship with a faculty supervisor |

|lines). |at the host institution and course work in relevant topics. Students will |

| |be matched with project supervisors based on the specialization within |

| |quantum information processing (QIP) that they choose. The internship will|

| |train graduate students in the chosen specialization, and the results of |

| |the project will be counted towards the project or thesis requirements of |

| |the degree programs at their home institution. Course work will vary from |

| |one institution to another. We expect that the students will take |

| |advantage of the advanced courses that may not be available at their home |

| |institution. This experience is aimed at both producing highly qualified |

| |personnel (on the verge of joining the work force) in transformative |

| |future technologies and for preparing them for an increasingly |

| |international environment in the academia and the high-tech industries. |

|List of Canadian and EU consortium institutions or organisations |Canadian: University of Calgary (Alberta) and University of Waterloo |

|as well as associated organisations. |(Ontario) |

| |EU: LRI Université Paris-Sud and École Polytechnique (France), and |

| |Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany) |

|If applicable, number of faculty exchanges for programme teaching|Expected four faculty visits per year in total across the institutions. |

|and length of stay. | |

C. COMMON PROPOSAL NARRATIVE

Collaborative student training in Quantum Information Processing

1. Overview of the project

Current day information processing devices, such as computers and communication networks operate according to the laws of physics as we experience them, i.e., at a macroscopic level. With increasing miniaturization of their components, these devices are beginning to enter the realm of quantum mechanics, which is a more accurate theory of how nature behaves at the scale of atoms and molecules. In fact, this theory allows for a far greater range of operations than imagined before. Quantum information processing (QIP) studies the ramifications of the use of these quantum mechanical operations in information processing devices.

In 1994, it was discovered that computers based on quantum mechanics could quickly break encryption schemes such as RSA, which are commonly used in protecting personal and financial information in electronic transactions. This galvanized the scientific community worldwide into investigating not only whether such computers could be built, but also into investigating what other computational, cryptographic, and communication tasks would be enabled by quantum mechanical technology. Several research groups with this focus have sprung in institutions across the globe, and graduate level courses in the subject are increasingly being offered on a regular basis.

This project aims to formally initiate student mobility across several Canadian and EU institutions which have a strong research effort in quantum information processing (QIP): University of Calgary and University of Waterloo in Canada; LRI Université Paris-Sud and École Polytechnique (France), and Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (Germany). Each of these institutions has expertise in one or more aspects of the subject. There are ongoing research collaborations between the Canadian and EU institutions, along with some informal graduate student exchange. The project will consolidate and expand this exchange so as to provide a greater number of students access to expertise available beyond their home institutions and get credit for this international experience. The primary focus of the exchange is on international internships wherein graduate students study and research specific topics under the guidance of experts in the area. We expect that the students be able to enroll for appropriate courses during the exchange and get credit for it towards their respective programs of study. The project would also provide a conduit for exchanging ideas and resources on developing a standardized suite of courses dedicated to the emerging field of QIP.

1(a) Project objectives, strategies, and outcomes

(i) Memorandum of understanding for student exchange

We plan to sign a memorandum of understanding between the participating institutions that facilitates the student exchange. The goal is to enable students to pay fees only at the home institution while studying abroad, for them to get appropriate credit for the exchange, and to provide them with access to international student services at the host institutions. Senior academic officers from our institutions are enthusiastic about the proposed program, and have expressed support for such an MOU (Section I). At the outset of the project, we will study existing exchange programs at our institutions and outside to understand the issues involved. Our plan is to agree on a suitable mechanism for the exchange and sign the student exchange MOU within the first six months of the project, i.e., before March 31, 2009.

(ii) International study and internships

The primary purpose of the project is to provide graduate students in quantum information processing with transatlantic study and internship opportunities. This experience will give students a chance to take courses and to participate in research projects not available locally. The target number of student exchanges is 36 over three years, nine from each Canadian province or EU member state. We expect to begin recruiting students in late Fall 2008 for exchanges beginning after March 2009. The exchange program will be publicized within our institutions through standard channels such as the posters, the internet, student advisors, etc.

(iii) Courses and curriculum development

A number of upper level undergraduate and graduate level courses in quantum information processing and allied subjects have been developed in the partner institutions. The main challenge here is for the courses to keep pace with a rapidly evolving and expanding field of study. We will study the structure and content of existing courses and those under development with the intention of determining equivalences for credit transfer, for improving contents, study materials, and resources to provide cutting edge training to our graduate students. The goal is to develop a standardized, internationally recognized suite of basic as well as advanced courses of relevance to quantum information. Whenever feasible, we will provide course outlines, materials such as lecture notes and problem sets, and other resources on the web to assist in the dissemination of knowledge to partner institutions as well as beyond this exchange program.

(iv) Faculty exchanges

The program will be bolstered by short visits, around once per year, by some of the project partners from Canada to EU or vice-versa. During such visits, faculty members will deliver lectures on recent developments in quantum information processing. They will also monitor the implementation of the exchange program, especially with regard to curriculum development.

1(b) Multilateral and Transatlantic cooperation

Some of the project partners are already engaged in bilateral projects with each other. IQIS at University of Calgary and IQC at University of Waterloo are part of QuantumWorks. This is an NSERC-funded Innovation Platform that links Canadian researchers with industrial and government agency partners for developing and implementing quantum information processing. A priority of this joint endeavour is to ensure that our students, the work-force of the future, be ``quantum aware’’.

Frédéric Magniez (LRI) and Ashwin Nayak (C&O and IQC, U. Waterloo) hold a France-Canada Research Foundation Grant on ``Quantum algorithms and complexity theory", 2007-2009. The grant facilitates faculty and student exchange between the two institutions for collaboration on the above topic. Both faculty members have visited the other’s institution over the past couple of years, and have given lectures on quantum information processing. With this grant, Ashwin Nayak is currently supervising a six-month project undertaken by a student from École Normale Supérieure, Paris. This internship experience will count towards her Master’s degree.

Norbert Lütkenhaus (Physics and IQC, U. Waterloo) has four ongoing research projects with Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, in the areas of optical implementations of quantum cryptography, especially of continous variable implementations of quantum key distribution. Four of his PhD students are officially registered in and are financially supported by Erlangen. He regularly visits Erlangen, most recently in November 2007. A postdoctoral fellow from Erlangen is currently visiting Waterloo for a month. Prof. Lütkenhaus is also a ``Privatdozent’’ in Erlangen, and therefore continues to be an official member of the university.

The above collaborations have proven to be very successful in advancing the state-of-the-art in quantum information processing, in the exchange of knowledge between the research personnel involved, and the dissemination of new discoveries to a larger audience. The proposed project aims to extend existing intra-Canada and EU-Canada bilateral collaborations significantly by providing a formal channel and financial support for a larger graduate student exchange. It also provides a platform for cooperation on the development of an internationally recognized curriculum. The exchange program will give project partners access to a larger pool of talented students for graduate level work, while giving the students access to training opportunities with expertise not available at their home institutions. For example, a student in LRI that wishes to conduct her internship on quantum interactive proof systems would have access to experts in the area at Waterloo. Similarly, a student at Waterloo that wishes to study property testing would be able to learn from experts at LRI. The exposure to foreign cultures and practices students get while studying abroad will prepare them for work in the increasingly international environments that we now see in the academia and high-tech industries. It will also increase awareness and appreciation of career opportunities in the partner countries among a highly skilled population.

The memorandum of understanding which we create will pave the way for outstanding students who wish to undertake study abroad even beyond the duration of the project. We will actively explore other funding programs with which we could continue to provide scholarships to such students for living, travel, and related expenses.

1(c) Dissemination

We will create a website on the exchange program, describing its activities, opportunities for faculty and student participation, application procedures for the exchange, etc. Information about the courses in QIP that are being taught at the partner institutions will be advertised. Every attempt will be made to make course materials that are developed available through this website. Academic, career, and job opportunities for the participants will also be advertised.

2. Formats and Activities

2(a) Existing programs of study

University of Waterloo (UW)

The quantum information processing (QIP) effort at UW is spearheaded by the Institute for Quantum Computing (IQC). The institute provides a unique environment that fosters cutting-edge research and collaboration between researchers from computer, engineering, mathematical and physical sciences. It comprises of 15 faculty members, 18 post-doctoral fellows, and over 60 graduate students across these disciplines. IQC partners with several government agencies and commercial enterprises with an interest in developing quantum enabled technologies.

From IQC, the exchange program is lead by Ashwin Nayak from Dept. C&O: Combinatorics and Optimization. The other key partners are Raymond Laflamme (also Director, IQC) and Norbert Lütkenhaus from Physics. In the computer and mathematical sciences, faculty expertise lies in algorithms, complexity theory, communication and information theory, and cryptography. Specific strengths include algorithms for algebraic problems, algorithms based on quantum walks, simulation of physical systems, continuous time algorithms, query complexity, interactive proof systems, non-locality, communication complexity, error correction and fault tolerance, and communication channel capacities. In physics, faculty expertise lies in the theory and experimental implementation of quantum computation and communication. Specific strengths include NMR quantum computing, implementation of linear optical elements, single photon sources and detectors, error control in devices, practical quantum key distribution, entanglement verification, theory of state detection and estimation, sources of entangled photon pairs, semiconductor quantum optics, and fibre optics.

IQC welcomes students from a variety of backgrounds into its graduate programs, and the students may pursue studies in one of six academic units. These include the departments of C&O and Physics, with which the key UW project partners are affiliated. All six units offer Master’s and PhD programs with the same general structure, each with a set of requirements specific to the department. Students typically specialize in quantum information processing by following a prescribed number of courses and conducting original research in the area. For example, the master’s program (thesis option) requires four single term courses and a written thesis with original research. In the C&O department, students have the option to complete the ``quantum information core’’ within the MMath program. The core consists of 2 courses in quantum information processing and 2 breadth courses in other areas. Master’s thesis research is conducted under the direction of a faculty member typically over the span of one to two terms, each four month long. PhD thesis research may take two or more years.

A host of new graduate level courses in QIP have been developed at UW and are now offered either annually (basic courses) or once in two years (advanced courses). In addition, courses on special topics are offered when the opportunity arises. Courses are often cross-listed across departments with which there are links, but may sometimes be taken for credit towards degree requirements even in the absence of such cross-listing. Each course runs for one term (36 hours of lectures). Regular courses include Introduction to QIP; Quantum Physics; Quantum Algorithms and Complexity Theory; Information Theory, Error-correction, and Cryptography; Quantum Optics; and QIP devices. Special offerings in the past included Quantum Error Correction; Interpretations of Quantum Mechanics; Superconducting Qubits; and Theory of Quantum Information.

The faculty members participating in the exchange program have considerable experience in graduate student training and supervision. Their involvement in teaching, curriculum development, and master’s/PhD thesis supervision is summarized more particularly in their resumés in Section H.

University of Calgary

The University of Calgary Institute for Quantum Information Science (IQIS) comprises 60 faculty members, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate students plus technical and administrative staff and several undergraduate project students. The seven faculty members are highly active in quantum information science and are spread over three departments: Physics & Astronomy, Mathematics & Statistics, and Computer Science. The Institute is especially strong and renowned in algorithms and complexity, quantum resource theory, and both experimental and theoretical quantum optics.

The Institute has strong ties with the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, which is a Calgary-based polytechnic that has laboratories and collaborations on quantum cryptography, and with General Dynamics Canada, which is a leading supplier of information security to the Defense establishment. The two experimental groups undertake state-of-the-art work on entanglement generation, quantum-limited measurements and state characterization, and quantum memory, in both atomic gases and optical fibers.

Graduate students at Calgary may study quantum information during their Master’s and PhD programs in any of the three departments involved in IQIS. The each of these consists of a specified number of courses along with thesis research. For example, the MSc program in computer Science consists of five one-semester courses at the graduate level plus a thesis. The students are encouraged to take courses that span a breadth of subjects within computer science. They specialize in QIP by following courses and conducting thesis research on the topic.

The following courses are offered either every year or every two years in applied mathematics, physics or computer science: Introduction to Quantum Information; Introduction to Quantum Computation; Advanced Quantum Mechanics I & II; Quantum Optics and Nonlinear Optics; Implementations of Quantum Information; and Quantum Cryptography.

Barry Sanders, Director of IQIS, is the key project partner from U. Calgary. He has extensively supervised internships by students from across the globe. His experience in teaching and student thesis supervision is summarized in his resumé in Section H.

LRI Université Paris-Sud

The ``Quantum Group" of the Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique (CNRS - Univ. Paris-Sud) was created by Miklos Santha at the end of the nineties inside the team ``Algorithms and Complexity" of LRI. This group is usually rated as one of the two best computer science teams in Europe in quantum computing; the second being the group of Harry Buhrman at CWI, Amsterdam. The quantum group has four faculty members: Miklos Santha (Head, Algorithms and Complexity), Iordanis Kerenidis, Sophie Laplante, and Frédéric Magniez; one postdoctoral fellow, four PhD students, and hosts several Master’s interns every year.

The research activity at the Quantum Group of LRI is centered around studying the computational potential of quantum mechanical computers. They have contributed to the elaboration of the model, the development of complexity measures, and the construction of new quantum algorithms. Specific strengths include algorithms for combinatorial and group theoretic problems, quantum walk algorithms, communication and computational complexity. They also have collaborations with physicists whose objective is to study the practical problems raised by the implementation of quantum computers. The members of the group are also experts in classical algorithms and complexity theory (e.g., property testing algorithms), and they often work on the interface of classical and quantum computing.

Miklos Santha was co-organizer of the Institut Henri Poincare trimester on ``Quantum Information, Computation and Complexity", from January 4 to April 7, 2006. During the trimester 14 long courses (12 hours of lectures) and 10 short courses (6 hours of lectures) were held and benefited 120 participants.

Three students have successfully completed their PhD in QIP and allied subjects from LRI, under the direction of its faculty members. The group have hosted and supervised five postdoctoral fellows most of whom now hold faculty positions in universities and institutions in different countries. Frédéric Magniez is the leader of the exchange program from LRI, and he will be joined by Iordanis Kerenidis. Their experience in graduate teaching and supervision is summarized in his resumé (Section H).

The Quantum Group of LRI is involved since 2001 in the joint Master and Graduate program MPRI (Master Parisien de Recherche en Informatique) including University Paris 7, Écoles Normales Supérieures (Paris and Cachan), and École Polytechnique. In this program Frédéric Magniez is responsible of the module ``Randomized algorithms and complexity", and Iordanis Kerenidis is responsible of the module ``Quantum information and applications". All members of the group give regularly courses on randomized and quantum computation. Both kinds of courses are given in English if at least one student does not speak French. They supervise every year several Master internships from this program. Students from this program are encouraged to make their internship abroad, which fits perfectly the purpose of our exchange program.

Frédéric Magniez is responsible and a teacher of a yearly course on quantum computing at the École Polytechnique since 2005. He developed this new course with Philippe Grangier, an experimental physicist from Institut d'Optique Graduate School. Students are in 1st year of Mater from different graduate programs: physique, computer science or applied mathematics. They are around 15 students per year. The lectures are usually in French, but could easily been given in English. Again, after this course, students are invited to pursue an internship abroad.

Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Research on quantum information processing at the University of Erlangen-Nürnberg is conducted in mathematics and physics. The activity is lead by the Institute of Optics, Information and Photonics. Altogether, nine faculty members, eight post-doctoral fellows and 20 graduate students actively work in quantum information at Erlangen. The funding comes from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, government agencies, the Max Planck Society and the European Community. The Institute of Optics Information and Photonics is operated as a Max Planck Research Group from 2003 to 2008. The decision about the establishment of an unlimited regular Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light at Erlangen is pending.

At Erlangen the exchange program is lead by Gerd Leuchs (optics & quantum information); and Christine Silberhorn (integrated quantum optics). The quantum information related expertise at Erlangen lies in linear optics and quantum processing and communication, both with discrete and continuous variables, and in developing superconducting quantum bits for quantum information processing. On the mathematics side, the expertise lies in geometry and complexity in quantum information.

The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg recently switched from diploma to bachelor and masters programs. It participates in the Europe wide European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) which could also be applied to the collaboration with Canada. In 2005 an International Max Planck Research School on Optics and Imaging was established which hosts also graduate students working in the quantum information area. The University of Erlangen-Nürnberg succeeded in attracting a graduate school in advanced optical technologies in 2006 and a research cluster in 2007, both within the prestigious excellence initiative of the German federal government.

A number of quantum information courses are offered to graduate students of physics, mathematics and computer sciences. A one-year full time thesis work is compulsory for master students. The target duration required for the preparation of a dissertation by PhD students is three years. Each course comprises lectures and problem sessions of 36 to 48 hours per term per course. The spectrum of courses ranges from introduction and motivation towards quantum information, quantum information theory I and II, experimental quantum optics, and optical quantum information theory to condensed matter quantum information. These courses are offered regularly since 2001. The faculty members in charge of the Erlangen site of this planned co-operation have a long standing experience in supervising undergraduate and graduate students, as may be seen in Gerd Leuch’s resumé in Section H.

2(b) Transatlantic exchange in the context of existing curricula

As is evident from the description of the curricula above, the graduate student experience in quantum information processing varies vastly across institutions. Common elements include introductory courses in the subject and thesis work on a specific topic. Advanced courses are aligned with faculty expertise. As part of the transatlantic exchange, students will conduct internships abroad, under the guidance of faculty members at the host institutions. This experience will contribute towards the thesis or project work component of their degree program. Any written project report or thesis will be in accordance with the guidelines of the home institution, and will be defended accordingly. The supervising faculty, in consultation with the project partners, will ensure that the internship meets the standards and requirements of the home institution. The exchange students may also take courses at the host institutions. Courses would have to be approved by the appropriate academic units at the home institution so that any credit accumulated counts towards degree requirements.

We expect to support at least 36 graduate student exchanges over the three years of the project, with an average of three students per year from each of the two Canadian provinces and each of the two EU states. Each exchange will run from four months to up to a year. The longer periods of stay are expected in the case of PhD students, especially those engaged in an internship in experimental quantum computation (which entails longer training periods). We also anticipate an active faculty exchange (roughly four per year) from the Canadian institutions visiting their EU counterparts, or vice-versa. These visits are expected to range from a few days to a couple of weeks. They will include a lecture component, for the dissemination of recent progress in quantum information. The project partners will exchange their experiences with the implementation of the exchange program during such visits. They will also discuss issues of curriculum development such as the syllabi of courses that are common to the institutions, keeping them up-to-date, and the development of new courses.

2(c) Implementation of student mobility

The partner institutions have committed to providing the necessary administrative support for implementing the exchange program (Section I). The program will be advertised through the established channels in all partner institutions, and more actively through the research groups in quantum information processing. Scholarships for international internships/study abroad will be awarded on a competitive basis. Applications including academic transcripts, a letter of reference, and a work plan will be solicited from interested students. The applications will be reviewed by a faculty committee, which will forward a short list of applicants to the host institutions. The final decision for an award would rest on the host, and would depend on issues such as finding a suitable internship supervisor, whether the course(s) sought by the student are being offered during the study abroad period, etc. Scholarships will be disbursed by the host to the visiting students.

The host institutions will provide the support necessary for incoming exchange students. The support will cover help with academic (registration, etc.) as well as non-academic matters (immigration requirements, housing, health and safety concerns, insurance, cross-cultural adjustment and adaptation, etc.). All the partner institutions have established services for international students. This includes intensive courses for language training. We expect the EU students participating in the exchange to have a working knowledge of English. The language of instruction in courses taught in the EU partner institutions may be switched to English at the request of any one student. The students will nonetheless be encouraged to avail of the facilities provided for language and cultural training, as this will enhance the students’ experience living abroad.

Senior officials at each institution have endorsed the proposed program and are committed to agreeing on a suitable mechanism to enable credit transfer and tuition waivers (Section I). A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between partner institutions will be signed in this regard. The MoU will ensure that approved courses completed at a host institution are recognized by the home institution. It will also provide for students to pay tuition fees to the home institution, and to have access to student support services and faculty advising while on exchange; no student will pay tuition to her/his host university.

The student mobility experience will be evaluated largely through `exit questionnaires’ which will track the experiences of the participants through the entire process. Other indicators of the success of the program would be the number and academic strength of the participants, the number of faculty participating in the supervision of international interns, changes to the syllabi or programs of study triggered by the project, etc.

The exchange program will help realize a unique educational experience for graduate students. The resulting academic interactions will generate exactly the kind of cross-fertilization of ideas that propels cutting-edge research. In turn, the skills developed from learning and working at the frontiers of an exciting field such as quantum information processing will remain with the students for years to come. We expect that the program will create a large pool of highly qualified personnel that are `quantum-aware’, one that will usher in a new era of technological innovation as they enter the international work force.

D. PARTNER INFORMATION

Canadian Project Leader

|Name |Ashwin Nayak |

|Title |Associate Professor |

|Institution |University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics |

|Department/Faculty |Dept. of Combinatorics and Optimization, Faculty of Mathematics; and Institute for Quantum Computing |

|Address |200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada |

|E-Mail |anayak@math.uwaterloo.ca |

|Telephone |+1 519 888 4567 ext. 33601 |

|Fax |+1 519 725 5441 |

|Type of Institution |University |

Canadian Project Partner

|Name |Barry Sanders |

|Title |Director, Institute for Quantum Information Science, University of Calgary |

|Institution |University of Calgary |

|Department/Faculty |Institute for Quantum Information Science |

|Address |2500 University Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 1N4, |

| |Canada |

|E-Mail |bsanders@qis.ucalgary.ca |

|Telephone |+1 403 210 8462 |

|Fax |+1 403 210-8876 |

|Type of Institution |University |

Canadian Project Partner

|Name |Raymond Laflamme |

|Title |Director, Institute for Quantum Computing, University of Waterloo |

|Institution |University of Waterloo and Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics |

|Department/Faculty |Institute for Quantum Computing; Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Science |

|Address |200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada |

|E-Mail |laflamme@iqc.ca |

|Telephone: |+1 519 888 4567 x 32430 |

|Fax: |+1 519 888 7610 |

|Type of Institution |University |

Canadian Project Partner

|Name |Norbert Lütkenhaus |

|Title |Associate Professor |

|Institution |University of Waterloo |

|Department/Faculty |Institute for Quantum Computing; Dept. of Physics, Faculty of Science |

|Address |200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada |

|E-Mail |nlutkenhaus@iqc.ca |

|Telephone: |+1 519 888 4567 x 32870 |

|Fax: |+1 519 888 7610 |

|Type of Institution |University |

D. PARTNER INFORMATION (continued)

EU Project Leader

|Name |Frédéric Magniez |

|Title |CNRS researcher (CR1) with Habilitation (HDR) and instructor |

|Institution |Université Paris-Sud and École Polytechnique |

|Department/Faculty |Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique (LRI) (Algorithms and Complexity team) |

|Address |LRI - bâtiment 490, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France |

|E-Mail |magniez@lri.fr |

|Telephone: |+33 1 69 15 42 48 |

|Fax: |+33 9 55 77 92 49 |

|Type of Institution |University |

EU Project Partner

|Name |Gerd Leuchs |

|Title |Professor |

|Institution |Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg |

|Department/Faculty |Institut für Optik, Information and Photonik |

|Address |Günther-Scharowsky-Str. 1, Bau 24, D-91058 Erlangen, Germany |

|E-Mail |leuchs@physik.uni-erlangen.de |

|Telephone: |+49 9131 6877 100 |

|Fax: |+49 9131 6877 109 |

|Type of Institution |University |

EU Project Partner

|Name |Iordanis Kerenidis |

|Title |CNRS researcher (CR2) |

|Institution |Université Paris-Sud |

|Department/Faculty |Laboratoire de Recherche en Informatique (LRI) (Algorithms and Complexity team) |

|Address |LRI - bâtiment 490, Université Paris-Sud, 91405 Orsay, France |

|E-Mail |jkeren@lri.fr |

|Telephone: |+33 1 69 15 70 82 |

|Fax: |+33 1 69 15 65 86 |

|Type of Institution |University |

E. WORK PLAN

|OBJECTIVES / DESCRIPTON OF ACTIVITIES / TARGETED CLIENTELE / EXPECTED RESULTS/TIMELINES |

|OBJECTIVES: |

|1. Sign a memorandum of understanding to allow for credit transfer and recognition and tuition fee waivers at host institutions. |

|2. Enable 36 graduate student mobility experiences in quantum information processing (QIP) through scholarships for internships and study |

|abroad. |

|3. Develop an internationally recognized suite of graduate level courses in QIP. |

|4. Enable faculty interactions for dissemination of recent developments in QIP and development of a standardized curriculum. |

|EXPECTED RESULTS ( for each objective) |

|1. A mechanism to enable student internships and stubby abroad will be established by agreement with partner institutions by March 31, 2009. |

|2. An average of three students from each of the four Canadian and EU partner institutions per year will participate in the exchange program |

|(Total: Canadian 18, EU 18). |

|3. Existing and newly developed courses that form part of the training in QIP at partner institutions will be advertised and made available on|

|the project website through lecture notes, study materials, and other resources. |

|4. Consolidate and expand existing collaborations in research and training in QIP to a larger group of researchers. |

| |

|ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES |

| |

|ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES |

|September 2008 - March 31st, 2009 Year 1 |

|ACTIVITY YEAR 1 |DELIVERABLE |TIMELINE |LINK TO OBJECTIVE (S) |

|Partners attend Program directors’ |Consensus on mechanism for |Fall 2008 |1,2,3,4 |

|meeting |implementing exchange program | | |

|Prepare and sign agreement between |Memorandum of understanding |March 2009 |1 |

|partners | | | |

|Dissemination of information about |Creation of project website |Fall 2008 |2 |

|the exchange | | | |

|Solicit, evaluate and accept |Shortlisting of 6 outgoing students|January—March, 2009 |2 |

|applications for exchange program |and Recruitment of 6 incoming | | |

| |students | | |

|ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES |

|April 1, 2009 - March 31st, 2010 Year 2 |

|ACTIVITY YEAR 2 |DELIVERABLE |TIMELINE |LINK TO OBJECTIVE (S) |

|First set of students participate |12 students (6 Canadian, 6 EU) |Spring/Fall 2009, Winter 2010 |2 |

|in exchange program |complete international internship | | |

| |and follow courses; this will | | |

| |include cultural and language | | |

| |orientation as required; and | | |

| |participation in an `exit survey’ | | |

|Partners attend program directors’ |Exchange of initial experiences |Fall 2009 |2,3,4 |

|meeting |with the setting-up of the project | | |

|Assess course and curriculum |Establish equivalences between |Fall 2009 |2,3 |

|development at the meeting |existing courses in quantum | | |

| |information and identify allied | | |

| |courses that qualify for credit | | |

| |transfer | | |

|Solicit, evaluate and accept |Short-listing of 8 and Recruitment |January—March, 2010; and later, |2 |

|applications for second round of |of 8 outstanding students by |depending upon availability of | |

|exchange |Canadian institutions (8 outgoing, |funds | |

| |8 incoming) | | |

|Participating faculty visit project|Lectures on recent progress in |Spring/Fall 2009, Winter 2010 |4 |

|partners |quantum information delivered | | |

|Prepare and submit report to HRSDC |Report to HRSDC |March 2010 | |

|ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES |

|April 1, 2010 - March 31st, 2011 Year 3 |

|ACTIVITY YEAR 3 |DELIVERABLE |TIMELINE |LINK TO OBJECTIVE (S) |

|Second set of students participate |16 students (8 Canadian, 8 EU) |Spring/Fall 2010, Winter 2011 |2 |

|in exchange program |complete international internship | | |

| |and follow courses; this will | | |

| |include cultural and language | | |

| |orientation as required; and | | |

| |participation in an `exit survey’ | | |

|Partners attend program directors’ |Report on any adjustments made to |Fall 2010 |2,3,4 |

|meeting |project implementation and further | | |

| |experiences | | |

|Assess integration of internship |Revision or updates to courses |Fall 2010 |2,3 |

|and courses completed at host |offered | | |

|institutions in programs of study | | | |

|Solicit, evaluate and accept |Short-listing of 4 and Recruitment |January—March, 2011; and later if |2 |

|applications for third round of |of 4 outstanding students by |required | |

|exchange |Canadian institutions (4 outgoing, | | |

| |4 incoming) | | |

|Participating faculty visit project|Lectures on recent progress in |Spring/Fall 2010, Winter 2011 |4 |

|partners |quantum information delivered | | |

|Prepare and submit report to HRSDC |Report to HRSDC |March 2011 | |

|Research funding opportunities for |Grant applications to appropriate |Fall 2010 onwards |2,4 |

|exchange student scholarships |funding programs | | |

|ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES |

|April 1, 2011 – September 30, 2011 Year 4 |

|ACTIVITY YEAR 4 |DELIVERABLE |TIMELINE |LINK TO OBJECTIVE (S) |

|Final set of students participate |8 students (4 Canadian, 4 EU) |Spring 2011 |2 |

|in exchange program |complete international internship | | |

| |and follow courses; this will | | |

| |include cultural and language | | |

| |orientation as required; and | | |

| |participation in an `exit survey’ | | |

|Assess integration of internship |Revision or updates to courses |Spring 2011 |2,3 |

|and courses completed at host |offered | | |

|institutions in programs of study | | | |

|Participating faculty visit project|Lectures on recent progress in |Spring 2011 |4 |

|partners |quantum information delivered | | |

|Prepare and submit final report to |Report to HRSDC |Fall 2011 | |

|HRSDC | | | |

|Explore extending the exchange |MoU for student and faculty |Spring 2011 onwards |2,3,4 |

|partnership to other international |mobility | | |

|institutions | | | |

F. STUDENT MOBILITY TABLE

The following table gives the planned student exchange; we will attempt to attract more students to the program if the budget allows.

|Canadian Students |LRI and EP (France) |Erlangen (Germany) |Total |

|to Europe | | |Canada-EU Student Flow |

| | | |by Institution |

|U. Waterloo (Ontario) |5 |4 |9 |

|U. Calgary (Alberta) |4 |5 |9 |

|Total |9 |9 |Total Canadian Students to |

|Canada-EU | | |Europe: |

|Student Flow by Institution| | |18 |

|European |U. Waterloo (Ontario) |U. Calgary (Alberta)|Total |

|Students | | |EU-Canada Student Flow |

|To Canada | | |by Institution |

|LRI and EP (France) |5 |4 |9 |

|Erlangen (Germany) |4 |5 |9 |

|Total |9 |9 |Total European Students to |

|EU-Canada | | |Canada: |

|Student Flow | | |18 |

|by Institution | | | |

G. BUDGET

The completed ‘IAM EU Budget Excel Workbook 2008’ is included as a separate excel attachment. The workbook includes worksheets for Years 1 through 4 of the project and the total Project summary work sheet.

BUDGET NARRATIVE

The project expenses are spelled out below. Yearly expenses are described in the following pages.

Wages for project staff

Administrative staff members are paid at $16 per hour plus benefits. Benefits at U. Calgary are 21% of the salary and at U. Waterloo 15%.

Student scholarships (per Canadian student visiting EU institution)

Housing cost: $800 per month

Living expenses: $1,400 per month

Round trip airfare: $1,400 (e.g., Frankfurt to Calgary)

Health Insurance: $50 per month (typical amount)

Visa related: $150

Local transportation: $200

Faculty exchange

Travel support for Canadian faculty at EU institution (for a six night stay)

Round trip airfare: $1,400

Local transportation: $200

Accommodation: $1,000

Meals: $500

Travel to annual meeting

| Cost per person |1st year |2nd year |3rd year |

| |(meeting in Europe) |(meeting in Canada) |(meeting in USA) |

|Airfare |$1,400.00 |$600.00 |$800.00 |

|Accommodation |$450.00 |$300.00 |$300.00 |

|(3 nights) | | | |

|Local transportation |$200.00 |$200.00 |$200.00 |

|Meals |$252.00 |$180.00 |$252.00 |

|(typical per diem) | | | |

|Total |$2,302.00 |$1,280.00 |$1,552.00 |

Curriculum development

The amount of $1000 per year includes development and maintenance of a website for hosting information about programs of study, courses offered, lecture notes, and other resources.

Communication costs

This amount of $100 includes cost of telephone, long-distance calling, fax, etc. per institution per year

General operational costs

Office supplies, posters, advertising, etc.: $500 per year per institution

Institution in-kind contribution

These are supplied by the Institute for Quantum computing (U. Waterloo) and Institute for Quantum Information Science (U. Calgary), largely in the form of administrative support for the exchange program.

Other Costs

These include student orientation, office space, desk, keys, phone, computer, and computer account: $300 per student. These are borne by the partner institutions.

Other sources

These amounts would be provided by other grants held by faculty participating in the exchange program.

Year 1: October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009

Wages for project staff: this is the equivalent of the salary and benefits for 3 hours/week of work for 26 weeks ((3 × 16 + 8.64) × 26)

Activity cost:

1. Faculty exchange: $3,100 is the cost of a 6 night visit by a Canadian faculty member at an EU partner institution (as per break-up above)

2. Annual meeting: This is the cost of travel by two Canadian project members to an annual meeting in Canada, as per break-up above ($2,302 × 2)

The curriculum cost is $500 for six months, as explained above.

The communication cost is $50 × 2 for six months, as explained above.

The general operational cost is $500 × 2, as explained above.

Year 2: April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010

Wages for project staff: this is the equivalent of the salary and benefits for 3 hours/week of work for 52 weeks ((3 × 16 + 8.64) × 52)

Personal support for students:

This is the cost for six Canadian students to go to an EU partner institution for four months. The living plus travel cost for a four month stay is $10,400 per student, as explained above. The total is 10,400 ( 6 = 62,400. Visa and health costs are (150 + 200) ( 6 = 2,100.

These are costs for typical periods of stay; actual stay may vary from one term (four months) to one year. The allocated budget remains the same.

Activity cost:

1. Faculty exchange: $6,200 is the cost of hosting a six night visit each by two Canadian faculty members at an EU partner institution (as per break-up above)

2. Annual meeting: This is the cost of travel by two Canadian project members to an annual meeting in Canada, as per break-up above ($1,280 × 2)

The curriculum cost is $1000 for one year, as explained above.

The communication cost is $100 × 2 for one year, as explained above.

The other costs are $300 per student for six students, as explained above.

The general operational cost is $500 × 2, as explained above.

Year 3: April 1, 2010 to March 31, 2011

Wages for project staff: this is the equivalent of the salary and benefits for 3 hours/week of work for 52 weeks ((3 × 16 + 8.64) × 52)

Personal support for students:

This is the travel and living cost of six Canadian students for four months, and two Canadian students for six months at an EU institution. The cost for a four month stay is $10,400 per student, as explained above. For a six month stay, it is $14,800. The total is ($10,400 × 6 + $14,800 × 2) = $92,000. The cost of health insurance and visas is (150 + 200) ( 6 + (150 + 300) ( 2 = $3000.

These are costs for typical periods of stay; actual stay may vary from one term (four months) to one year. The allocated budget remains the same.

Activity cost:

1. Faculty exchange: $6,200 is the cost of a six night visit each by two Canadian faculty members at an EU partner institution (as per break-up above)

2. Annual meeting: This is the cost of travel by two Canadian project members to an annual meeting in the US, as per break-up above ($1,552 × 2)

The curriculum cost is $1000 for one year, as explained above.

The communication cost is $100 × 2 for one year, as explained above.

The other costs are $300 per student for eight students, as explained above.

The general operational cost is $500 × 2, as explained above.

Year 4: April 1, 2011 to September 30, 2011

Wages for project staff: this is the equivalent of the salary and benefits for 3 hours/week of work for 26 weeks ((3 × 16 + 8.64) × 52)

Personal support for students:

This is the travel and living cost of four Canadian students for four months at an EU institution. The cost for a four month stay is $10,400 per student, as explained above. The total is ($10,400 × 4) = $41,600. The cost of health insurance and visas is (150 + 200) ( 4 = $1,400.

These are costs for typical periods of stay; actual stay may vary from one term (four months) to one year. The allocated budget remains the same.

Activity cost:

1. Faculty exchange: $3,100 is the cost of a six night visit by one Canadian faculty member at an EU partner institution (as per break-up above)

The curriculum cost is $500 for six months, as explained above.

The communication cost is $50 × 2 for one year, as explained above.

The other costs are $300 per student for four students, as explained above.

H. PERSONNEL INFORMATION

The qualifications of all key personnel related to the project are summarized in the enclosed two-page resumes. The emphasis in the resumes is on relevant experience in terms of teaching and curriculum development, supervision of graduate student thesis work, and supervision of international student interns.

I. LETTERS OF ENDORSEMENT

Letters of endorsement from senior academic or executive officers (e.g., rector, vice-chancellor, provost, dean, director, or president) of each of the European and Canadian institutions are included as an appendix. These letters indicate how the project fits within the international strategy of the partner institutions and how this project enhances that strategy. They also indicate a willingness and intent to sign agreements on credit transfer or recognition and tuition fee waivers with international partners.

J. RECIPIENT LEGAL INFORMATION SHEET

All recipients must complete the following:

Section 1: Recipient Information

|Name of Institution: | | Official Use Only |

| | |File number: |

|Name of the Project: |

|Business No. (Canada Revenue Agency): | |

|Incorporation No.: | |

|GST/HST Number- Rebate: | |

|Rebate: | % |

Legal Signing Officers for Agreement Purposes

(According to letters patent or other incorporating documents)

|Title |Name |Specimen Signature |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

How many of the above signatures (according to your letters patent or other incorporating documents) are required to bind your organization into a legal agreement? ____

What combinations of signatures (according to your letters patent or other incorporating documents) are required to bind your organization into a legal agreement? ____

Legal Signing Officers for Cheque Purposes

Please provide name, title and specimen signature of the person(s) authorized to sign

|Title |Name |Specimen Signature |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

How many signatures are required to sign a cheque on behalf of your organization?____

What combination of signatures is required to sign a cheque on behalf of your organization? __

Signing Officer(s) for Payment Claims or other Reports submitted to Human Resources and Social Development Canada

Please provide name, title and specimen signature of the person(s) authorized to sign

|Title |Name |Specimen Signature |

| | | |

| | | |

| | | |

How many signatures are required to sign a payment claim form or other report submitted to Human Resources and Social Development Canada? _____

What combination of signatures is required to sign a payment claim form or other report submitted to Human Resources and Social Development Canada? _____

| |

|Accounting Practices |

| |

|Internal |

|External |

| |

|Name of accounting firm: |

|Name of contact person: |

|Telephone number (including area code): |

|Manual : |

|Computerized (indicate name of software package): |

| |

|Name of Bookkeeper: __________________________ |

| |

|Telephone numbers (including area code) ________________ |

| |

|Separate Bank Account for this Agreement? Yes No |

| |

|Organizations Fiscal Year End (if applicable):___________ |

|Y/M/D |

| |

|Insurance Coverage |

| |

|What accident insurance do you have for employees? (check appropriate item) |

| |

|N/A None Private Coverage (specify) |

|Do you have liability insurance? |

|Yes No |

|If yes, please specify coverage__________ |

|Workers’ Compensation (If Registered) |

|Rate (Per $100) |

|Firm Number: |

|Account Number: |

|If applicable, has union concurrence for proposed activities been obtained? |

|N/A Yes No |

| |

|If yes please attach written evidence of union concurrence. |

| |

|If no, please explain: |

K. Declaration – Amounts Owing in Default to the Government of Canada

Completion of this declaration is required only if the amount of funding requested from Human Resources and Social Development Canada is $25,000 or more.

Instructions

The information you provide below is collected in accordance with the Treasury Board Policy on Transfer Payments (pursuant to section 7 of the Financial Administration Act).

While the completion of this section is optional, failure to do so may result in denial of funding

Do you, the applicant, owe any amounts that are in default to the Government of Canada under legislation or contribution agreements?

Yes No

If yes, please complete the following chart:

|Amount in default owing |Nature of the amount in default owed (taxes, |Name of government department or agency to |

| |penalties, overpayments) |which the amount in default is owed |

|$ | | |

|$ | | |

|$ | | |

|$ | | |

Section 4: Note to Applicants regarding lobbyists

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that any person lobbying on their behalf is registered with Industry Canada pursuant to the Lobbyist Registration Act. In addition, applicants who seek outside assistance to solicit, negotiate or obtain a contribution from the department may not use Human Resources and Social Development Canada contribution funds to pay a contingency fee for such assistance.

At the agreement stage, applicants requesting funding of $25,000 or more will be asked to declare that the above requirements concerning lobbyist registration and contingency fees have been met.

Lobbyists may register online with Industry Canada () free of charge. For further information, please contact (1-800-328-6189)

NOTE: The information provided in this application will be administered in accordance with the Privacy Act and/or the Access to Information Act. The information will be stored in Personal Information Bank Number: HRDC PPU 293 and/or Program Record Number: HRDC HRI 293. Instructions for making requests pursuant to the Privacy Act and the Access to Information Act are given in Info Source, publications which are found in federal government offices, including all Canada Human Resources Centres or on the Internet at:



Section 5: Signature(s) (Required)

|I/We certify that I/We have read and understood the information provided above. |

| |

|I/We declare that the information in this application is accurate. |

| |

|I/We declare that I/we have provided Canada with a true and accurate list of all amounts owing to the federal government which are past due |

|and in arrears as of the time of this application to Canada for funding. I/we recognize that amounts payable to me/us under this Agreement |

|may be deducted from, or set-off against, any such amounts owing to the Government of Canada. |

| |

|I/we authorize: |

| |

|the Minister to disclose all information contained in this application concerning an amount in default owing to a government institution |

|listed above to the institution concerned for the purpose of verifying the amount and status of debt, and |

| |

|the government institution concerned to disclose to the Minister all particulars and information relevant to the debt solely for the purposes|

|of the administration of my/our application for funding in connection with my/our declaration. |

| |

| |

|Applicant Name (please print) |Position |Signature |Date: Y/M/D |

| | | | |

|Applicant Name (please print) |Position |Signature |Date Y/M/D |

| | | | |

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download