Chung Yuan Christian University (CYCU) today announced that Professor Ying-Yi Hong, Vice President of CYCU and Chair Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, led a research team formed in collaboration with NVIDIA, leveraging the capabilities of quantum computing to achieve significant breakthroughs in energy forecasting using the NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform.
The supply of sustainable energy is a pressing global issue tied to environmental and economic security. Professor Ying-Yi Hong focuses on hybrid quantum-classical approaches to address challenges in power systems and sustainable energy. .CYCU highlighted that Professor Hong’s research focuses on solar irradiance forecasting by integrating geographical and historical data to accurately predict photovoltaic (PV) farm power generation. This helps power utilities efficiently manage traditional fossil-fuel-based generation resources. The team recently introduced quantum algorithms for solar energy forecasting, accelerated by NVIDIA CUDA-Q and NVIDIA cuDNN technologies.
Dylan Lopez, a student under Professor Hong’s mentorship, utilized NVIDIA CUDA-Q to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of solar irradiance prediction with hybrid quantum neural networks. Compared to using other advanced quantum simulation platforms, this work demonstrated the acceleration attainable with the interoperable NVIDIA CUDA-Q platform and cuDNN library, achieving a 2.7x improvement in training speed and a 3.4x reduction in testing error rates. This research, published in IEEE Access in October 2024, has paved a new path for applying quantum computing in renewable energy.
CYCU has made significant strides in quantum computing research. CYCU has operated its Quantum Information Center for nearly four years, building extensive expertise in quantum computing and offering specialized courses to cultivate talent. The center’s AI+Quantum application research has consistently produced results published in prestigious international journals, showcasing its excellence in cutting-edge technological applications.
Under the leadership of Chair Professor Ching-Ray Chang, CYCU’s Quantum Information Center continues to thrive, focusing on academic research and talent cultivation in quantum technology. The center has recruited three quantum computing PhDs from National Taiwan University, who now teach in CYCU’s College of Smart Computing and Quantum Information, further strengthening its teaching and research capabilities.
The center also partners with the Hon Hai Education Foundation to promote quantum technology education. Through publishing quantum science comics and hosting diverse educational activities, it aims to popularize quantum knowledge and foster technological innovation in Taiwan. Collaborations with education bureaus in Taipei, Taoyuan, and Taichung have led to ongoing teacher training camps, with CYCU faculty members Tsung-Wei Huang, Chih-Yu Chen, and Yen-Jui Chang leading the courses.
Professor Yu-Ping Liao, director of the Master’s Program in Smart Computing and Big Data and a professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering, led his team to develop a quantum sphere teaching tool that earned a gold medal at the Nuremberg International Invention Exhibition. The tool features an interactive interface that allows users to operate Bloch spheres via quantum gates, making quantum computing more accessible.
Supported by Taiwan’s National Science and Technology Council, CYCU has collaborated with National Taiwan University, Formosa Plastics, the Institute for Information Industry, and Fujitsu Japan to successfully apply digital annealing technology in chemical material screening. This approach is ten times faster than traditional methods, with research published on the cover of the prestigious Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research (I&EC) journal, highlighting CYCU’s research prowess.
CYCU continues to integrate AI and quantum computing technologies, demonstrating leadership and innovation in the global tech race. For two consecutive years, its Quantum Information Center has partnered with the Taoyuan City Education Bureau to host “High School Student Science Practice Camps,” offering hands-on quantum computer operation and quantum computing courses to inspire students’ interest and potential in future technologies.
Through its dedication to quantum computing research and educational outreach, CYCU has become a key player in Taiwan’s quantum technology sector. Looking ahead, CYCU will continue leveraging NVIDIA’s cutting-edge technologies and resources to drive breakthroughs in sustainable energy, helping benefit society.
