Collocated with the 9th Colombian HPC Summer School
Objective
Quantum Day 2026 brings together Team Xanadu and Amazon Braket for an introductory, real-platform training on quantum computing. Participants will explore the visions of leading quantum hardware providers, learn how to access live cloud devices, and build practical workflows using modern quantum software.
Date/Time
June 19, 2025.
8:30 AM (COT) - 5:00 PM (COT)
Program Structure
The program consists of two technical sessions that blend platform vision, hardware insight, and hands-on experimentation:
Session 1: Quantum Computing with Amazon Braket
An overview of the current quantum ecosystem with a focus on Amazon Braket and the provider landscape. Participants will learn how leading hardware suppliers deliver superconducting, trapped-ion, and photonic access through cloud platforms, and how real quantum experiments are executed today.
Topics Covered
- Introduction to Amazon Braket using simulators
- Introduction to Amazon Braket using QPUs
- Machine Learning applications using quantum computing
| Time | Topic | Details |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Overview of simulator-based quantum computing and Braket services | |
| 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Introduction to Amazon Braket using QPUs | |
| 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Machine Learning applications using quantum computing | |
| 11:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Review and open discussion | Consolidation of key concepts and participant questions |
| 12:00 PM | Session 1 wrap-up | Closing remarks for the first session |
Instructor
Mateo Laguna G. is a Solutions Architect at Amazon Web Services for the Public Sector in Latin America. He is part of AWS’s quantum computing enthusiast team. As both a physicist and an engineer, his primary interest lies in quantum computing, where his two professions converge. LinkedIn
Session 2: Quantum Software with Xanadu and PennyLane
A practical introduction to quantum programming using Team Xanadu’s PennyLane library and hybrid quantum-classical workflows. Attendees will learn how to write, optimize, and execute quantum circuits with real platform integration.
| Time | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM | Introduction to Xanadu | Overview of Xanadu’s technology and work |
| 2:00 PM - 2:30 PM | Introduction to PennyLane | Foundations of the PennyLane ecosystem |
| 2:30 PM - 3:00 PM | PennyLane “Hello World” (practical session) | PennyLane circuits, templates, and built-in resource tracking tools |
| 3:00 PM - 3:30 PM | Break | Informal networking and rest |
| 3:30 PM - 4:10 PM | High-Performance Quantum Programming | Theory and practice |
| 4:10 PM - 4:40 PM | Frontiers of Research | Emerging trends in quantum computing |
| 4:40 PM - 5:00 PM | Conclusion and Next Steps | Key takeaways and further learning pathways |
Instructors
Catalina Albornoz is Senior Research Engagement Manager at Xanadu. She works closely with researchers from around the world, helping them leverage PennyLane to achieve breakthroughs and ensuring it remains the premier software tool for quantum computing. She often gives talks and workshops, and she has led the efforts for using PennyLane in education, as well as organizing events such as QHack and the Quantum Software 2.x workshops. Before joining Xanadu, Catalina worked at IBM, where she was an IBM Quantum Ambassador. She earned her MSc in Electronics from Los Andes University and an Engineering Diploma from IMT Atlantique in France, specializing in autonomous systems and control systems. LinkedIn
Daniel Felipe Nino is a Research Engagement Lead at Xanadu, where he leads academic engagements, hardware commercialization initiatives, and manages academic and hardware partnerships and collaborations. He holds a MSc. in Physics from the University of Toronto, with a research focus on ultracold atomic physics. He also holds a PhD from the University of Toronto specializing in single-molecule biophysics. After a brief postdoc, Daniel taught physics and engineering in various departments at the University of Toronto before joining Xanadu in 2023. LinkedIn
Official Language
Spanish and English: All sessions, tutorials, and instructions will be conducted in Spanish and English.
Participant Requirements
- Create a free account at pennylane.ai. This account is required to download the session notebooks.
- Possess basic knowledge of Python.
- CyberColombia will be responsible for distributing the link to the participating host universities.