(Top right photo) QSUN member Abbas (Omid) Hassasfar (second from right) with the members of Team 1 – قوى / Qua at the NYUAD Hackathon in Abu Dhabi.
Abbas (Omid) Hassasfar of the Quantum Research Group at Stellenbosch University (QSUN) participated in the 13th annual NYU Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) Hackathon for Social Good from 25 to 27 April 2025.
This prestigious global event brought together students, researchers, and industry experts to develop quantum solutions for social good, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Taking place during the 2025 International Year of Quantum Science and Technology (IYQ), the hackathon showcased an opportunity to highlight the transformative potential of quantum technology.
This was Omid’s second time at the NYUAD Hackathon. In 2023, he participated as a student/mentor; in 2025, he returned solely as a mentor. Together with Dr Amaria Javed from NYUAD’s Quantum Group, he led Team 1 – قوى / Qua, a multidisciplinary team that developed Quantum-Optimized Job Scheduling for Sustainable University Data Centres. The project applied quantum algorithms to enhance energy efficiency in academic data centres, aligning with SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). Their project is available on GitHub, with their presentation here.
Omid also participated in workshops and keynotes led by experts from Google, Microsoft, IBM, Amazon, and Infleqtion. These sessions provided valuable insights into the current and future landscape of quantum technologies and their impact on real-world challenges.
A key highlight was his visit to NYUAD’s Center for Quantum and Topological Systems (CQTS), where he met with researchers and Prof Hisham Sati, Director of CQTS and Principal Investigator. Discussions explored collaborative opportunities between CQTS and QSUN.
As head of QSouthAfrica, Omid reconnected with members of the broader quantum community, including QWorld Chair Pawel Gora, to discuss prospects for regional collaboration through Q Africa. These conversations opened meaningful pathways for expanding quantum education and research initiatives across the African continent and strengthening ties within the global QWorld ecosystem.
Beyond academic activities, participants also took time to experience the cultural beauty of the UAE, including a group excursion to the desert — a moment of relaxation and community amidst the intense innovation and ideation of the Hackathon.
While Team قوى did not place among the top winners, the Hackathon proved invaluable for mentorship, research networking, and academic exchange. Events such as the NYUAD Hackathon highlight the growing global role of quantum technologies in shaping sustainable futures and underscore the importance of building international collaborations within the quantum community.
QSUN congratulated Omid on his contributions and global representation of the community on the global stage and looks forward to the outcomes of the new collaborations.