This two day workshop (with virtual attendance option) will touch on the real and potential applications of quantum algorithms/formalisms to finance. There has been quite some nascient work on this topic. In the real world, banks, investment houses and large consultancy firms have started espousing the use of quantum computing/quantum algorithms.

In the academic field quantum algorithms have triggered research in solving NP (hard) problems (such as the knapsack problem and scheduling problems). Financial applications, more specifically optimization problems in finance and other areas of mathematical finance, have also come to the foreground. 

It remains a very novel and rapidly developing area of research though. As an example, a new journal by SAGE publishers, Quantum Economics and Finance was launched about a year ago.

The Fields institute has already, on two occasions, been a very precious sponsor of workshops which relate the quantum formalism to areas outside of quantum mechanics. Our first workshop occurred in 2015 and considered the connection between quantum probability and the mathematical modelling of decision making. More recently, we had the pleasure to organize a second workshop, this time in 2023, on the applications of topology to quantum theory and behavioral economics.

In this proposed workshop, we aim to engage with both industry partners and academics to get a sense for the current state of affairs of how quantum algorithms/formalism can be applied to finance. How applicable are they? What can be the impact of such applications? Are there some definite no-go areas in those applications?

We seek to spur interest in quantitatively minded researchers who may not be working specifically within the areas of quantum computing (in its various forms) nor mathematical finance. In doing so, our approach will facilitate one of our overall broader impacts related aims which is to promote multi-disciplinary awareness and literacy in each of these continually developing areas.

The workshop will create networking opportunities as well as foster a strong scientific exchange of ideas.