Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School: Two weeks of international entanglement
The Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026 brought together 70 participants for two weeks of lectures, challenges and scientific exchange across disciplines and borders.
Out of 185 applications, 70 young students from the fields of mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry and related fields were selected to participate in the intensive two-week programme. Through lectures, hands-on challenges, excursions and social activities, the participants had the opportunity not only to explore new areas of quantum science, but also to learn from each other and build connections across academic disciplines and national borders.
“It has been so great being part of the summer school, getting to know so many fantastic people and listening to so many brilliant lectures. The atmosphere and dedication have been amazing, and I am so proud to have won the poster challenge. I’ve just had such a wonderful time here.”, Yassir El Moutaoukal, Ph.D, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
A great mix of lectures and excursions
The Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School is organised by DeiC and hosted by Danish universities on a rotating basis. This year, the summer school took place at the Centre for Quantum Mathematics at the University of Southern Denmark in Odense, with a particular focus on quantum algorithms and quantum software. The academic programme covered the quantum computational model, quantum algorithm design, and quantum software compilation and optimisation, as well as the principles of quantum mathematics and computer science underpinning these topics.
For professor and Center Director Jørgen Ellegaard Andersen, one of the programme chairs, bringing leading international researchers to Odense was a priority from the outset:
“It has been super important for us when we planned this initiative, to make sure that we had exactly the right people we wanted. So we really early on went out and actually engaged with the lecturers from all over the world that we wanted. The lead people in the field, well known top names.”
The programme combined in-depth lectures from Monday to Thursday with student challenges in the afternoons. But the two weeks were not spent in lecture rooms alone. Excursions and social activities gave the participants a chance to experience both the Danish quantum ecosystem and some of the history behind it.
A trip to Copenhagen included a visit to the Niels Bohr Institute at the University of Copenhagen, where the students were introduced to the history of the Institute and the legacy of Niels Bohr, as well as the work of the NNF Quantum Computing Programme (NQCP).
For participant Yassir El Moutaoukal, the varied programme was an important part of what made the two weeks special. It ranged from traditional “pen and whiteboard” lectures to excursions and social activities – including watching the solar eclipse together.
It was an exchange of lived experiences. It was an exchange of academic experiences and an exchange of knowledge. And it was just very constructive at this phase in my career”. Diana Munoz-Valencia, Graduate Student University of Maryland, US, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
Graduate StudentUniversity of Maryland, US, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
Scientific exchange in the spirit of Niels Bohr
While the lectures brought leading experts to the summer school, much of the exchange also took place between the participants themselves. Coming from different countries and academic disciplines, they brought different perspectives and areas of expertise to the discussions and challenges.
For Diana Munoz-Valencia, that exchange was one of the most valuable aspects of the summer school:
- “It was an exchange of lived experiences. It was an exchange of academic experiences
and an exchange of knowledge. And it was just very constructive at this phase in my career. I think that it’s very important to get to know what people are doing around the world and be able to get some stuff from everywhere”. Diana Munoz-Valencia, Graduate Student, University of Maryland, US, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
That became particularly evident in this year’s student challenge. Divided into 15 groups, working on 9 different challenges, the participants worked together on an open question in quantum science, combining knowledge and approaches from their different fields.
Diana’s group worked on calculating expectation values using Gaussian boson sampling and identifying a potential application. Their work led them to explore a connection with path signatures, a mathematical tool used in areas including finance and the modelling of Brownian motion.
- “I think we found a very interesting application in which we can connect something called path signatures, which is used a lot in finance and to define Brownian motion and that sort of thing. And so we were able to connect that to the calculation of expectation values. True Gaussian boson sampling So I thought that was pretty interesting and was also great to get there by working with people from different fields who brought different types of knowledge, and then just getting everything together was a pretty interesting”, Diana Munoz-Valencia, Graduate Student, University of Maryland, US, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
From quantum science to industry
The final day shifted the perspective from quantum research to what happens when research moves beyond academia. With a particular emphasis on entrepreneurship and the path from research to innovation, the programme brought the students together with representatives from the growing Danish quantum industry.
The students presented the results of their challenges, and a winning team was announced. During the event, they also had the opportunity to meet representatives from several Danish quantum companies, hear a speech by Denmark’s Minister for Industry, Business and Financial Affairs, and attend a series of engaging debates.
After two intensive weeks, both Diana and Yassir were clear in their advice to anyone considering applying for a future Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School.
- "It's a great experience. You'll get to see Denmark; you'll get to see some great lectures. You'll get to know people who are working on similar stuff from all around the world, and you'll do it for two weeks. So, I think it's a bit of a different experience from a conference, which is usually shorter. So yeah, just do it", Diana Munoz-Valencia, Graduate Student, University of Maryland, US, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026
Yassir who is moving to Denmark in the fall 2026 to become a postdoc at DTU agrees:
“100% you should do that, because it has been amazing to be part of this experience and meeting all these beautiful people here, the students, the professors, and they treated us very, very well. And we had a lot of fun and we learned a lot of things. And I'm very looking forward to move to Denmark and start my new adventure here”, Yassir El Moutaoukal, Ph.D, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, participant in the Niels Bohr Quantum Summer School 2026