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ERCIM News No. 146

The October 2026 issue will contain the following sections:

• Joint ERCIM Actions
• Special Theme: Quantum Technology
• Research and Innovation
• Events
• In Brief

The Special Theme and Research and Innovation sections present a panorama of European research activities.

The Special Theme focuses on a topic selected by the editors from a shortlist of areas of particular current interest. The Research and Innovation section contains articles describing scientific activities, research results and technology-transfer initiatives in information and communication science and technology, telecommunications or applied mathematics.

Submissions to the Special Theme are subject to an external review process coordinated by invited guest editors. Submissions to the Research and Innovation section are reviewed and approved by the ERCIM News Editorial Board.

Special Theme: Quantum Technology

Quantum technologies are experiencing rapid growth and expanding across a wide range of application domains. Advances in quantum hardware, algorithms and software are opening new opportunities for scientific discovery and industrial innovation. As quantum computing, communication, sensing and simulation continue to mature, they are enabling new approaches to solving complex problems and inspiring innovative solutions across science and industry.

This issue aims to bring together contributions from the quantum community, showcasing innovative ideas and recent developments that advance the field. Researchers and practitioners are invited to submit research articles, case studies and reports on recent developments in quantum technologies from both theoretical and applied perspectives.

Suggested topics

1. Foundations, Algorithms and Simulation

   Quantum algorithms for optimisation, simulation, information retrieval and machine learning, including the provability and verification of quantum advantage.

2. Quantum Networks, Communication and Security

   Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), quantum communication systems, and the architectures and protocols required for future quantum-sensing networks and the quantum internet.

3. Hybrid Quantum-Classical Systems

   The interaction between quantum hardware and classical high-performance computing, including hybrid quantum-classical workflows and the integration of quantum computing with artificial intelligence and machine learning.

4. Quantum Software Engineering

   New and adapted methodologies for designing, testing and debugging quantum and hybrid systems, including benchmarking, interoperability and standards.

5. Quantum Sensors

   The design, challenges and applications of quantum sensors, including magnetometers, gravimeters, biomedical diagnostics and other emerging sensing technologies.

6. Quantum Ecosystems, Roadmaps and Standardisation

   National and international initiatives, benchmarking frameworks, interoperability efforts, standards development and the evolution of the broader quantum-technology ecosystem.

Guidelines for ERCIM News articles

Style

ERCIM News is read by a broad and varied audience. Articles should therefore be descriptive and accessible, placing greater emphasis on what the work is about than on detailed explanations of how it is carried out. Whenever possible, articles should be accompanied by an illustration.

Articles are normally presented without formulas. Clear phrasing can usually replace mathematical notation. Where a formula is essential to understanding the subject, it should be placed in a separate box and treated as an illustration. Formulas and symbols should not be scattered throughout the main text.

Length

Articles should be approximately 800 words long, with a tolerance of around 100 words.

File format and illustrations

Submissions should preferably be supplied in Microsoft Word or plain-text format. Pictures and illustrations must be submitted as separate files rather than embedded in the Word document, and must be of sufficient quality for print publication.

Article structure

The emphasis in ERCIM News is on news. This should be reflected in both the title and the introductory teaser. Review articles are not accepted.

• Title
• Authors: full names, normally no more than two or three authors
• Teaser: a short introduction to the project or topic, written to attract the reader's interest
• Main text, explaining as appropriate:
  • what the project or product is
  • which institutions are involved
  • where the work takes place
  • why the research is being carried out
  • when the work started or was completed
  • the aims of the project
  • the techniques employed
  • the orientation of the project
  • planned future activities
  • other institutes involved
  • cooperation with other ERCIM members
• References
  • Between one and three references are required for Special Theme articles.
  • Up to three references may be included in Research and Innovation articles, although they are not mandatory.
  • Refer only to significant sources, such as journal papers and books. Avoid references to work in preparation, unpublished presentations, personal communications, research reports, patents or local conference publications not indexed by major scientific digital libraries.
  • Use the shortened IEEE citation style.
  • Keep references concise and include only the information needed to identify the source.
  • Use standard acronyms and abbreviations where appropriate, and use et al. when three or more authors are listed.
• Useful links: list relevant URLs separately from the references
• Contact details: include the author's full name, email address and telephone number
• Photos and illustrations: each article should be accompanied by an illustration where possible, such as a photograph, graphic, product image or image of the people involved in the work. Avoid flow charts and screenshots unless they are essential.

Photographs should be supplied in JPEG or TIFF format at a resolution suitable for print. Images taken from websites are often too small or too compressed for print use. Graphics should preferably be supplied in a vector format such as SVG, EPS or PDF.

Why contribute to ERCIM News?

• Present your research to a broad readership, including people outside your immediate research community.
• Reach readers through both the print and online editions of ERCIM News.
• Benefit from distribution within the European Commission and the wider European research community.
• Receive free professional proofreading.
• Retain copyright and reuse your article elsewhere, subject to proper attribution.
• Articles in the Special Theme and Research and Innovation sections are indexed by DBLP and by Web of Science from issue 104 onwards.