The Path to Quantum Breakthroughs: Insights from Amgen’s Zoran Krunic

Zoran Krunic, Senior Manager of Data Science at Amgen, will bring a wealth of expertise to the discussions at Quantum Tech Europe on Tuesday, 19th September, where he will share insights as part of the panel, 'How is the pharma industry seeing pragmatic returns on its quantum investments?' On the agenda will be crucial topics such as the the potential for significant quantum breakthroughs in the pharmaceutical industry in 2023, the successful utilisation of quantum computing in advancing drug discovery, the adjustment of expectations amid the cooling of quantum hype, and whether the scale of the quantum opportunity is being adequately discussed in boardrooms. In advance of what promises to be a fascinating discussion, we caught up with Zoran to learn more about his work, his view on some of the big issues affecting the ecosystem, and his take on the outlook for quantum in years ahead.

Digging deep for rewarding work

Zoran has been with Amgen for five years now, leveraging his background in classical Data Science, Machine Learning (ML), and Natural Language Processing (NLP). However, his focus has recently shifted, he explains, "towards the emerging domain of applied quantum computing (QC) and quantum machine learning (QML)." Interestingly, Zoran has expanded on his classical background and most recent focus by incorporating generative AI into his workflow, leading to notable efficiency gains. This integration has resulted, he says, in a "triad of technology expertise" that has enabled him to "dig deeper into QC/QML" in the search for new and innovative solutions to some of the thorniest problems being grappled with in Amgen's patient-focused areas.

This is work with real-world impact. As Zoran puts it, "I strive to unravel complex medical patterns, contributing to our understanding of patient health, advancing personalized treatments, and ultimately improving patient outcomes." It is little surprise, then, that he finds the "application of new technologies and sciences in a clinical setting to be very rewarding." Asked about his biggest professional achievement to date, Zoran is not easily drawn. "It's hard to pinpoint one specific project," he explains, "as I consider my overall contribution to be a continuous journey of innovation and learning." Pushed to isolate an instance that stands out, he mentions the use of the 'triad of technologies' with big data sets that included electronic health records to drive positive treatment results for patients. Worthy work indeed.

Bridging disciplines, delivering value

The quantum ecosystem is undergoing rapid evolution, fuelled by groundbreaking advancements in technology and increasing interest from industries worldwide. As quantum computing and quantum technologies continue to mature, new opportunities and challenges emerge, reshaping the landscape of scientific research, industry applications, and computational capabilities. In this exciting yet undoubtedly tumultuous context, how can one cut through the noise and deliver value?

For Zoran, it starts with bridging the gaps between disciplines such as mathematics, machine learning and generative AI and the on-the-ground issues faced by those in the Health Sciences. "I bring a holistic, 360-degree experience and perspective to each project," he explains, which confers the advantage of being able to "see the entire path from the initial business problem, through the data and number interpretations, to the complete solution." This of course requires deep expertise, comfort adopting a multidisciplinary approach and the ability to 'speak the language' of diverse teams, all of which Zoran exemplifies. "My strength," he continues, "lies in my practical, solution-focused approach, broad perspective, and ability to foster successful collaborations." In an ecosystem at times home to hype bubbles and frothy speculation, Zoran’s clarity is likely to be much appreciated.

So, where is it being directed now? When asked about the most exciting proofs of concept he has been engaged in over the past year, Zoran highlights a project that applies quantum Monte Carlo methods to address clinical problems. "This is exciting as it leverages quantum computing to tackle complex healthcare challenges," he enthuses. In addition to this intriguing strand of work, he is "intensifying research into quantum kernels for small datasets, a promising area in healthcare, especially when data is limited."

It's quality over quantity in achieving advantage

In the quest for quantum advantage, the focus should shift from the sheer number of qubits to the quality of qubits, according to Zoran. "I believe it's the quality of the qubits that will primarily drive the advantage. Depending on the architecture and the challenges with qubit noise, the actual number may vary between vendors." Zoran goes on to draw a parallel with classical computing, where many machine learning models achieve high accuracy with a limited number of features. "Many ML models in classical computing today capture 90%+ accuracy with the top 20 features and 99%+ with 30-50 features," he explains. A recent paper saw Zoran and colleagues use a support vector machine model to map one feature to one cubit. "Theoretically," he proposes, "we could achieve practically all the accuracy we need in many of the use cases with 50 high-quality cubits."

Despite this theoretical optimism, noise reduction remains a critical challenge, one that Zoran is keen to stress: "It's important to note that currently available QPUs, while being within the useful range of the number of qubits for several applications, still need significant noise reduction. This usually implies a much larger number of physical qubits required for each logical qubit, indicating a direction where progress has to occur." So, while quality is the big determiner for Zoran, quantity will still have a major role to play in achieving quantum advantage.

Zoran also highlights the potential expansion of quantum computing into areas such as genetics, where machine learning applications often require a higher number of features. "As the quality of qubits improves and systems with a higher number of qubits become more commonplace, we can expect an expansion of QC into these areas," offering new possibilities for solving complex problems in the biological sciences.

On the Agenda at Quantum.Tech Europe 18-20 Sep.

• Is it the pharmaceuticals industry where we will see the big quantum breakthroughs in 2023?
• Has the hype bubble burst, and if so are pharmaceutical companies having to adjust their expectations?
• Is the quantum opportunity being discussed in the boardroom or is it on the periphery?

Download the full agenda here.

A transformative pairing - quantum meets Gen-AI

Like many others in across the ecosystem, Zoran is brimming with excitement about the future relationship between generative AI and quantum computing. "It's absolutely captivating," he enthuses, "as each represents a distinct and fascinating branch of science­" in its own right. Many speculate about possible synergies, but for Zoran the main areas of intersection in the here and now are to be found in programming, tackling complex mathematical problems, and enhancing understanding of quantum concepts. While Gen-AI is "already a reality" in coding processes, its application in mathematics is less advanced, yet Zoran sees this taking off in the near term. The role it could play in educating corporate teams about quantum cannot be understated, given its ability to create accessible guides aimed at different levels of knowledge. Zoran sounds a cautionary note, though, stating that "we must address the challenges posed by misinformation from generative AI and work towards safer, more reliable management of these systems" before its true potential can be unleashed.

That has not stopped Krunic from experimenting himself, of course, and it is his firsthand experience with the likes of ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude that has opened his eyes to the transformative potential of Gen-AI, specifically in making connections across scientific disciplines. Indeed, it is this very strength that underpins the possibility that Gen-AI could be employed in order to apply quantum computing to new areas. "As we seek to find more use cases for quantum computing, it's essential to explore multidisciplinary approaches and integrate diverse knowledge into a single solution," he argues. "Generative AI can significantly accelerate this process, enabling us to develop functioning prototypes much faster than otherwise possible."

While we are only in the early stages of understanding how this process might work, the outlook for the relationship is overwhelmingly positive, for Zoran. "Far from overshadowing or diminishing the importance of quantum computing, generative AI serves as a powerful tool to augment its potential," he says. Gen-AI will be an enabler for quantum, making researchers more efficient and freeing up time and resources to concentrate on "resolving the critical challenges that lie ahead." And if there is one thing the quantum community can all agree on, there are plenty of those on the horizon.

Breakthroughs require collaborative efforts

Who should be in the driver's seat on the journey to quantum breakthroughs - government or enterprise? It's a question that inspires much debate, particularly in corners of the ecosystem where potential is not being realised. Rather than laying sole responsibility on one set of shoulders, Zoran takes a considered approach: "I believe the question of who will drive the breakthroughs in quantum computing isn't a matter of 'either/or' but 'both', and that wider technology community will also play a critical role. History has shown us that significant advancements often come from a convergence of government-driven research and private enterprise innovation, combined with a wider community involvement. We must not overlook the indispensable role of venture capital and private investors, who fuel the startup ecosystem, turning promising ideas into reality."

Zoran cites the development of Natural Language Processing as an example, arguing that while Google's open-sourcing of the BERT model in 2018 laid important foundations, "it took the combined efforts of the wider community, large training data sets, and Reinforcement Learning to bring us ChatGPT." Progress in quantum computing, he says, would be aided by a similar approach of deep research meets a community-wide feedback loop.

Addressing the lack of take-up among multinationals would also go some way to spurring progress, he says. If corporations could "collaborate effectively with quantum computing vendors and research groups to explore a wide range of use cases, I believe we could accelerate our path to major breakthroughs." But what of government? For Zoran it could play a major role in strategically important areas such as cybersecuirty, where the "urgency of security concerns and the scale of necessary investments" are creating a need for intervention.

All things said, then, it will be by embracing a collaborative approach involving government, enterprise, and the wider technology community that we can pave the way for transformative quantum breakthroughs.

Pioneering figures inspiring the quantum leap forward

From the major players driving innovation in the quantum space, to the tech leaders who inspire on a daily basis... When it comes to naming idols in the tech world, Zoran points to notable figures such as Steve Jobs, Larry Page, Sergey Brin, and Elon Musk. "Each of them has spearheaded breakthroughs that have fundamentally transformed their respective fields. Their ground-breaking work at Apple, Google, and Tesla has resulted in leaps that are akin to quantum jumps in technology, altering the way we understand and interact with the world." At the coal face of quantum application, it is easy to understand why such luminaries would inspire - and give the encouragement to persistent with seemingly intractable problems. On the inspirational leaders of tomorrow, Zoran believes that the field of AI will yield the next big names and is "eager to see who will stand the test of time."

Finding the next generation of quantum trailblazers

This leads us neatly to the talent conundrum: how to source the next generation of quantum trailblazers? For Zoran, adopting a holistic approach is essential, and this ties back to the very nature of the field. "The rapid pace of advancements in this field necessitates an all-encompassing view of the application area and a keen understanding of the underlying problems we are trying to solve. For instance, in the realm of patient predictions within a clinical setting, knowledge of Machine Learning and the increasing use of generative AI, as well as data processing techniques and programming, is crucial." There is no one box that has to be ticked - rather there is a diverse set of skills that are looked for amongst would-be team members.

Yet there is something that trumps even hard skills, and that is attitude and motivation. As Zoran puts it, a candidate should "should harbour an unyielding desire to keep up with, learn from, and apply new scientific and technological developments." And this is all down to the nature of the beast - change is constant in quantum. Zoran elaborates: "This pursuit requires full commitment—it's not something one can engage in part-time. It is the combination of this unwavering passion for learning and a multi-disciplinary aptitude that sets apart the true quantum trailblazers." It is a passion and aptitude Zoran so readily exemplifies himself, and it is surely the price of admission to the community of changemakers pushing the boundaries of the possible today.

Looking ahead to QuantumTech Europe

Zoran is eagerly anticipating the gathering of the quantum ecosystem taking place this September in Twickenham Stadium, looking forward to meeting everyone from "pioneering researchers" to the "insightful investment community." He is particularly excited about hearing first-hand accounts of deployment of quantum technologies, as he feels sharing use cases is essential for advancing the field in the years ahead. Having attended Quantum.Tech in Boston earlier this year, Zoran plans to engage in more productive discussions thanks to the roundtable formats on the agenda, with a particular emphasis on forging fruitful links with ecosystem participants large and small. He notes that his own collaboration with IBM's Quantum team over the past few years, which led to the publication of a paper, "reaffirmed" his belief in the "power of partnerships." There is no better place to forge the partnerships of tomorrow than Quantum.Tech Europe, and we are sure Zoran will play no small part in creating the lively and dynamic atmosphere so many others thrive on this September.

Join Zoran at Quantum.Tech Europe this September and hear his thoughts on the big quantum breakthroughs in 2023.