ESF Forward Look A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) European Science Foundation (ESF) Forward Looks The European Science Foundation (ESF) was Forward Looks enable Europe’s scientific community, established in 1974 to provide a common platform in interaction with policy makers, to develop medium- for its Member Organisations – the main research to long-term views and analyses of future research funding and research performing organisations developments with the aim of defining research in Europe – to advance European research agendas at national and European level. Forward collaboration and explore new directions for Looks are driven by ESF’s Member Organisations research. ESF provides valuable services to the and, by extension, the European research scientific and academic communities – such as peer community. Quality assurance mechanisms, based review, evaluation, career tracking, conferences, on peer review where appropriate, are applied at implementation of new research support every stage of the development and delivery of a mechanisms and the hosting of high-level expert Forward Look to ensure its quality and impact. boards and committees – with the aim of supporting www.esf.org/flooks and driving the future of a globally competitive European Research Area. ESF currently has 66 member organisations in 29 countries. Authors www.esf.org Lead Authors: • Dr Luca Turin, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany • Professor Martin Plenio, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany

Contributing Authors: • Dr Gerardo Adesso, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom • Professor Susana F. Huelga, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany • Professor Rienk van Grondelle, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands • Dr Fedor Jelezko, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany • Professor Yossi Paltiel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel

European Science Foundation • Dr Ana Helman, Science Officer • Dr Aigars Ekers, Science Officer (to March 2014) • Ms Chantal Durant, Administrative Coordinator

ISBN: 978-2-36873-196-3 Contents

Foreword 3

Executive Summary 5

1. Introduction 8

2. The Science of Quantum Biology 9 Three Billion Years of R&D 9 Is Life Quantum or Classical? 10 The Return of Quantum Biology 11 Knowns and Unknowns: the Challenges 15 Quantum Biology Needs Quantum Physics and Vice Versa 18 The FarQBio Vision 18 Enabling Key Technologies for Europe 19 Towards Quantum Machines 20

3. Policy Framework and Future Needs 21

4. Going Forward – Recommendations and Proposed Measures 24

5. Conclusions 31

Annex 1: Scientific Committee and Experts 32

This Forward Look report is the Look of a consul is result report Forward This Austrian Academy of Sciences, originally encom Academy of originally Sciences, Austrian l l l Foreword future outlooks in what is a novel, highly cross- what anovel, is in outlooks highly future it could become.ittherefore could The report on focuses in these directions and is therefore is and to addressed directions these in developments of scenarios future inspired identify nomena observed in nature and to bring to life new tonomena life to bring and nature observed in butnot what is, so much what research currently during the past decades for nano- and biotechnol and for decades nano- past the during the case often been has as technologies, and devices converge of explanation phean disciplines to find together biologists, brings which field disciplinary provides recommendations and of aset measures as computer well as physicists, chemists, scientists, promise for long-termdevelopments scientific and information of severalpassed areas quantum Science the Fundproposed and Austrian by the ogy. of anew way science of where doing traditional hold great biology. all These quantum and ogy informa quantum in on research technology and who gathered information together to quantum tion science and European strategy (FARQUEST), strategy sciencetion European and field the of in of experts a community tation with boundaries. We are currently witnessing the birth birth the We witnessing currently are boundaries. The activity foresight fields. by cross-disciplinary researchers from other disciplines, but which intrin but which researchers from disciplines, other technol complexity,research: quantum quantum applications. applications. and interactions between science and society are science society between and interactions and the wayin education, research shift a paradigm science to succeed, quantum biology will require will biology science quantum to succeed, sically requires them to transcend their disciplinary disciplinary their to requires transcend them sically carried out and delivered. The report that follows The out delivered. report and carried interest it since embodies of particular study case In order for this more orderIn for integrated this approach to emerged biology a as quantum context, this In ------Actions programmes as new collaborative funding new collaborative as funding programmes Actions We hope in particular that it may that have on impact an We particular hope in Chair, ESF Scientific Review Group Physical Review Chair, Scientific ESF Chair, FarQBio Scientific Committee Chair, Scientific FarQBio ESF Chief Executive Mr Martin Hynes Martin Mr Future and Emerging Technologies Emerging Curie and Future Marie and and Engineering Sciences and Engineering Professor Mats Gyllenberg Mats Professor Plenio Martin Professor initiatives are developed are Horizon2020.initiatives under in this report will stimulate further reflection on further stimulate report will this in policy makers, research funders, programme man programme research makers, funders, policy quantum machines –closer to reality. machines quantum agers and educatorsagers and levels. national EU at and the how to bring long-term visions – such as building how long-term to bring building as –such visions Beyond that, we elements hope the providedBeyond that that,

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A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 3

• • • • • Quantum biology has developed has biology over dec past the Quantum l l l Executive Summary in most cases, been performed in highly controlled highly been performed in most cases, in have that provided Experiments chemistry. ics and of science, a result convergenceinformation as mechanics does play does arolesystems: biological mechanics in as such objects of nanoscale ment manipulation and have mechanics to principles been used of quantum of thousands of atoms have, and therefore,of thousands been con ring in living organisms ular scale in living organisms. Traditionally, the organisms. living in scale ular tems. Biological phenomena Biological tems. involve (such molecules basic principles govern that interactions atmolec the between quantum mechanics and biology. and This mechanics quantum between recent recent as proteins) that are composed of typically hundreds hundreds proteins)as composed are that of typically or ordered molecules, - solid-stateatoms, single sys more the framework general of quantum within ade, environments using tools that allow the measure the allow that tools environments using behaviour have, mechanical evidence of quantum of observed range phenomena awide phys in - explain interrogationfromthethe stems field of emerging similar quantum mechanical approaches. However, mechanical quantum similar sidered too complex by to physicists be tackled using The induction of a state of general anaesthesia in induction of astateanaesthesia The of general All biological electron transfer is based on based electron is electron transfer biological All Magnetic sensing in birds allowing them to them ori allowing birds in sensing Magnetic Photosynthesis uses quantum transport between between transport quantum Photosynthesis uses Olfaction and smell recognition is based on based molec is recognition smell and Olfaction the fruit fly is accompanied by changes in electronin is accompanied changes fly by fruit the of mechanism quantum the vibrations using ular birds’ retinas birds’ rons may play function arole nervous system in and/or nucleartunnelling electron tunnelling entate on based properties is in of spin electronic spin, suggesting that electron current inside neu inside electron current that suggesting spin, chlorophyll molecules chlorophyll evidence of quantum phenomena occur phenomena quantum of evidence suggests that quantum quantum that suggests ------(nano)measurement to vivo in methods with various degrees of approximation. While degrees of various approximation.with While future thanks to algorithmic improvements and improvements and algorithmic to thanks future from the biological environment, biological (theoretifrom to the the ferent noise emanating phenomena thermal the and is facing span from fundamental issues related issues to from fundamental span facing is ics and technology with the aim of producing, say of producing, aim the with technology ics and magnetic chemical, and photovoltaicinspired cells, environment information and health, sensing, ing uponof number includ impact technologies alarge ments of concept to test the understanding of the physics of the of concept understanding to testthe technological bottlenecks related bottlenecks to measurementtechnological dif of the scales energy the interplay between the twenty years from now,twenty engineered is that adevice aproof as serve will systems Model technologies. performance. computing in increase continuing the and cover regimes currently scales tools different currentlyto apply available It difficult is techniques. behaviour in systems such as proteins. This, how This, proteins. as such systems in behaviour relies necessarily on the integration of on biology, the necessarily physrelies - in vivo situation the vivo in reflecting and biological sensors. biological and bio- leadway as such and devices the to working phenomena biological of quantum chemistry and phenomena exciteand biomatter quantum in ever, to be solved reasonably the likely is near in entities composed of small atomsentities composed or molecules of small longer term are potentially enormous and could enormous could and longer term potentially are simulation tools that would account for quantum account for would quantum that tools simulation sent a breakthrough. Simulation and modelling modelling and Simulation sent abreakthrough. cal) understanding of observed the phenomena and cal) understanding can be described accurately, bedescribed wecan not do yet possess The proposed approach to tackle these challenges The proposed thesechallenges approach tackle to The research challenges The applications The . The developmentThe of of quantum biology in the the in biology quantum of

new techniques tonew probe techniques that quantum biology biology quantum that

would truly repre truly would measure ------

A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 5 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 6 • • • Therefore in order to fully exploitthe ofpotential Therefore in orderfully to Technologies research ofcurrent the part are which Human Resources and Education (Horizon2020) are based on quantum mechanical mechanical (Horizon2020) on based are quantum wide knowledge gaps and barriers between disci between gaps barriers knowledge and wide which display quantum effects. However, effects. these quantum display which funding programme of the European Union European of programme the funding interesting insights into biological phenomena into biological insights interesting nologies will not grow in the traditional academic academic not traditional grow the in nologies will for potential needed for significant tapping into the plines, there need is to appropriate developplines, an skills prospects for development the biology of quantum phenomena. of macromol at scale the phenomena occurring quantum biology the following recommendations following the biology quantum tion of a quantum machine. Even today we machine. must oftion aquantum that expertise in quantum biology and related and biology tech quantum in expertise that field. the applications inherentwithin technological biological quantum underlying of understanding base early on. This can beachieved by: can This on. early base realisa to the leading blocks ultimately building the pointis starting The itself. life than better recognise that most if not all of the Key Enabling Enabling of Key the mostnot that if recognise all are providedare key headings. four under biology the fieldquantum of leveland of efforts, environment due to the continuing existence of existence environment continuing due to the (experimental) to identify us allow will that ecules leads to the conclusion that with the current type type current the conclusion to the with leads that science, while continuing to occasionally deliver to occasionally continuing science, while conditions are unlikely to yield the breakthroughs breakthroughs the to yield unlikely conditions are could continue tocould evolve slowlyabasic area of as Raising awareness and building competences in awareness building and Raising (Dr. Universalis) Bridging the ‘gap in understanding’ by supporting by supporting understanding’ ‘gap the in Bridging Creating a new doctoral degree of anewmuch doctoral longer,Creating possibly duration even normal double, the quantum science and technology starting with with starting science technology and quantum and senior faculty members. faculty senior and extended cross-disciplinary sabbaticals for junior for junior sabbaticals cross-disciplinary extended school-age children Within the European context, the analysis of analysis the context, European the Within – recognising recognising – - - - -

• • • • • • • • The general requirements for Funding and Cooperation Research Infrastructures (quantum) physics equipment way the these and working mechanisms (such Laserlab-Europe mechanisms the as working In addition, a consultation process beestab aconsultation should addition, In facilities (forfacilities example sophisticated spectroscopy order in to ena developfunders new mechanisms in collaborations and networks whenever and collaborations in appro initiative) would leverage existing resources initiative) and leverage would existing divide between biology, chemistry, medicine and biology, and between medicine chemistry, divide priate funding schemes are available, a clear need schemes aclear available, are priate funding provide broader- Ameas community. access to the disciplinary to the bridge field progress of this funding scheme are that: are scheme funding cooperate routinely self-organise efficiently tists and ure that would make a majormake would that contributionure towards research experimental biology needs both tum tinents. bling large-scale international networks where international large-scale bling addressing quantum biology challenges would be: would challenges biology quantum addressing have traditionally been set up and used. In most In used. been up set and have traditionally emerges for: emerges equipment coupled with biology laboratories) and laboratories) and biology coupledwith equipment lished between European and non-European and European science between lished supported level atnational efficient the and net scientists can collaborate across can bordersscientists con and cases, the required research facilities are already already are required research the facilities cases, computational resources, it will be crucial for the becrucial computational resources, it will The timeframe is sufficiently long to ensure longensure accom to sufficiently is timeframe The source of Thereprojectis a and centralised review The establishment and supportinterdiscipli of Theestablishment A dedicated long-term and large scale collabo long-termA dedicated scale large and 3–12-month visits to perform collaborative inter collaborative perform to visits 3–12-month Marie Curie Innovative Networks Curie should Training Marie It should be flexible with with groups respect to new It beflexible should broad level atEuropean It participation the allows Funding for early stage faculty members for faculty for stage early Funding nary research centres in which complete research which centres in researchnary distribution of funds of distribution work disciplinary plishment of majorendeavours plishment scientific of number research support forproviding asmall physics building. same the hosted are in teams working in interdisciplinary emerging fields fields emerging interdisciplinary in working teams joining a running programme. arunning joining rative funding scheme at the European level scheme European at the rative funding enable larger-scale participation and improved and participation larger-scale enable success rates with a better focus on innovation. focus abetter success rates with groups and from biology, medicine chemistry, – recognising that quan that – recognising recognising that scien that –recognising any new collaborative new collaborative any ------• • • • • Communication In conclusion, it is expected that the field field conclusion,of the quan that itIn expected is discoveries that will expose the existence of quan existence the expose will discoveries that to needs technologies profile of quantum distinct munication strategy. to Somemunication reach measures and beprerequisites com for asuccessful will machines of either existing natural quantum systems (from systems quantum natural of either existing aretheysupported if flourish of only research can their exploitation in new exploitation every-day technologies in their to leading phenomena ultimately nature tum in to produce unforeseeable still is biology tum sphere, and aclear political the in and media the biology) or potential future man-made quantum man-made quantum biology) future or potential of dissemination the addition, In be established. promoters find broaderin they by the if and public available to benefit society. engage abroadengage are: public convincing “stories” around fascinating instances instances “stories” fascinating convincing around The use of social media use of social The The construction and exhibition of a quantum of anda exhibition quantum The construction Enhancement of communication between scien between communication of Enhancement Proactive interaction with media and journalists and media Proactive interaction with Participation in science outreach in events prizes Participation and machine tificdisciplines.

– recognising that new directions new directions that recognising - - - -

A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 7 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 8 1. – so far big. Th– intractably nanoscience, of scale e Th not be achieved by reducing will is new paradigm A perfect storm of science and technology has been has stormA perfect of science technology and A sphere 1nm in radius is huge. It can contain a contain It huge. is can A sphere radius in 1nm l l l Nanoscience: not commonly science, is the as It will operate at the boundary between quantum quantum between operate boundary at the It will fi as nanotechnology. of today ned think whatto we is more challenging is that we cannot even fully even we fully cannot that is moreis challenging nanometre, perhaps is the mosti.e. the uncomfort- do. organisms from atoms devices up, living as ing new devices, new therapies, newnew para- computing devices, digms and, above all, new insights. It is the result result It the is new insights. above and, all, digms Introduction protein that has evolvedprotein has that of years to over billions mysteriously catalyse a reaction rep- mysteriouslywe that cannot catalyse of approaches converging from several directions thermodynamics that we that have developedthermodynamics to study of tools condensed physics matter and powerful the not does and use let solid us to behave a bulk like It assemble. refuses and resists averaging, to handle quantum using time same at the structure tronic biology. newto science bethe of quantum have that with long waitedforces. to join It deals bulk entities into ever smaller pieces, but by into ever entities build- smaller bulk for some about is brewing years and to It break. is believed, of the very small, but science the of the small, very of the believed, and classical physics. Near to its core is very likely physics. to Near its core likely classical very and is and classical eff classical and where neither calcu- ects, we can of physics chemistry. and all in toable study scale large systems. More challenging still, a nanometre- still, More systems. challenging large afl in licate laboratory. What thechemistry in ask deliver for will to severaland decades last likely scale system sits at the boundary between quantum quantum between boundary sits at the system scale but not is con- nanoscale, at the operating systems simulate the dynamics of the protein of itselec- the and dynamics the simulate chemistry. Th New Lookthis is is about report Forward But a 1nm sphere is also tiny. It is too small for us forBut us asphere1nm tiny. It too is small also is Quite the contrary: life has always been there, oper- been there, always has life contrary: the Quite varying and selecting the devices and programs that that programs and devices the selecting and varying in the way? the in Th somethelist goals, of will is report nanoscale territory is not barren and uninhabited. not is uninhabited. territory and barren nanoscale ogy we control. What is its promise? What stands we its is promise? control. stands What ogy What to overcometo them. just as a technology we embody, atechnology as butjust atechnol- as reverse evolution, biological it to engineer not use ating at the nanoscale for billions of years, endlessly ofendlessly years, for billions nanoscale at the ating as well as address the obstacles and propose obstacles and the waysaddress as well as late exactly nor approximatelate exactly confidently. the Yet lead to survival. When we fi When under-lead to survival. in succeed nally standing these systems we will be in a position be in to we will systems these standing The Science of Quantum Biology of Quantum Science The Three BillionThree Years of R&D Technologies (KETs) to master EU seeking is the that l l l In 1792, when immunisation against smallpox was was smallpox against 1792,In when immunisation Collaboratory for Structural Bioinformatics (RSCB) (RSCB) Bioinformatics Structural for Collaboratory formation of hydrogen from H gas phrase, famous in the next decade. Success in any KET would confer would KET any Success in decade. next the in years have hundred two refiintervening and ned 2. not, together with the relevant the KET: not, with together single-photon C Clarke’s Arthur nologies soin advanced to be, as distances with low dissipation [nanoelectronics], low dissipation with distances alow-voltage in detection system electrochemical tech- harbours life that discovered, it clear became [photonics], nitrogen fi [photonics], nitrogen temperature at room xation metals at zero [advanced voltsmetals SHE materials], pho- learn. much we still must quantum effi ciency bears and to understand, abilities current our oftcontraptions, like adaptations seem en organisms tlety and elegance of nature’s devices can only inspire of inspire nature’s elegance only and can devices tlety tobiological charge separation with close to 100% tobiological separation with charge of across electrons ions and nanometre transport and pressureand [nanotechnology], powered chemically we that can- do can afeware examples of what life resemblance Enabling Key to the uncanny an Research the in awe. Every month” “molecule of the inventiveness, level colossal the sub- molecular at the enormous fi rst-mover competitive advantage. Here structural database is a humbling reminder of reminder how a humbling is database structural level at the of perception. While this sharpened Much of what life does with proteins beyond is with does Much of what life indistinguishable frindistinguishable magic om . + without noble noble without T e Th . 3. 3. 2. 2. Learning fr om life will not just lead to biotechnology, frbiotechnology, Learning to lead notjust will life om 1. 1. but to new (quantum) physics and chemistry. (quantum) and to new but physics in life’s machinery is built under three daunting con- daunting three under built is life’s machinery in straints peculiar to a self-replicating machine: to aself-replicating machine: peculiar straints made available for future use at a desired moment in in time. moment desired a at be use can future it for available which made from capacitor, a of charging the to analogous energy, of form electric stable more into tum quan- this of energy volatile the turns which event tion separa- charge a be could output This the output. into desired transformed is photon, quantum, individual single an a as such that probability the of measure A effiQuantum ciency: Th erehowever,is, onepositive caveat. Everything tides as if the parts of a machine were strung on were of a machine strung parts the if as tides polypep- in together of everything stringing the side-chains; metals) amino-acid 20 transition and them, as a ribosome does; understanding how a ribosome as understanding does; them, extrude assemble objects rather we than us; can the use of only fi of only use the elementsve a few (not counting rather than randomly hunt for improvement. randomly rather than a clothesline encoded in DNA; DNA; encoded in a clothesline evolution at We random. arefree from con- these life makes its machinery will help us gain insight insight gain help us will its machinery makes life so that we can deliberately design mechanisms mechanisms design deliberately weso that can table to available is periodic entire the straints:

A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 9 10 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) We convergence the that believe molecular between now are accepted physics to chemistry and While 1. How large is the quantum domain? domain? quantum the is 1. large How we suspect that life must, like everything else, be else, everything like must, life that we suspect Proteins function at what has been called the mes- the at whatbeen called has Proteins function Supramolecular chemistry, the science the of large chemistry, Supramolecular in mechanics, of afounder quantum Schrödinger, founding father of quantum mechanics, was instead instead was mechanics, of father quantum founding in quantum mechanics, which was long thought to long thought was which mechanics, quantum in decidedly minority interest. Perhaps a parallel may interest. Perhaps minority a parallel decidedly molecule. Apply this to more complex proteins, how proteins, more to complex this Apply molecule. matter?debate The goes back a long way.Erwin quantum mechanics, surrounded by a much larger by amuch larger surrounded mechanics, quantum from 0.5nm so going of (a its radius, molecule) small 1–10 roughly oscale, and The of atomsnumber nm. became technologies and predictions quantitative atomic scale this Does atomic at the scale. quantum Yet domain. classical the in appears to remain ogy two questions must be answered before this can can questions be answered must beforetwo this understanding of active site chemistry is sufficient. sufficient. is of active site chemistry understanding to protein) 5nm (a into play athou brings typical them. around machinery classical the trolled relevant plays no biologically indeterminacy tum between these two scales. Typically, scales. two these therefore,between a But mainstream. intothe biology quantum bring future near the in will nanotechnology and biology made theory the until field be anon-experimental questions of foundational history the in be found centres” con that “organising quantum in be found be governed physics, biol laws by of the quantum role”. Pascual Jordan, another albeit less recognised less recognised role”. albeit another Jordan, Pascual ades, with quantum aspects of biology remaining a a ofremaining biology aspects quantum with ades, amino acids at active free acids site the from con the can, amino reactive of the arrangement spatial the and anism the the of case in but yes, only aqualified is answer his influential book “What is Life?” said that Life?” said is “quan “What book influential his has shown that this insight can be applied with great be applied with can insight this shown that has happen: Is Life Quantum or Classical? LifeIs Quantum electrons in a given volume increases with the cube cube the agiven volumeelectrons in with increases ever, notably those that sense signals or convertever, one signals sense notably that those small quantum region is calculated exactly by exactly region calculated is quantum small straints of biology,straints bereplicated by amuch simpler of reaction the mech understanding Aclear success. where reactions, simplest quantum-level enzyme simulations such Do classically. calculated system more quantum times atoms. Interestingly, sand make theadvanced measurements. to sufficiently convinced that the “Secret of Organic Life” was to was Life” of “Secret Organic convinced the that chemical assemblages involving non-covalent bonds, bonds, non-covalent involving assemblages chemical behaviour predict ofcorrectly the enzymes? The out powerof runs somewhere software chemistry This debate has simmered in the intervening dec intervening the in debate simmered has This ------Extended quantum systems, in particular those those particular in systems, quantum Extended Is the unaccounted-for “enzyme magic” quantum or unaccounted-for the Is quantum magic” “enzyme form of energy into another, and the method fails. form fails. into another, method of the energy and quantum domain is large when it needs to be needs it when large is domain quantum information scientists are developing methods developing are methods scientists information 2. How stable is the quantum domain domain quantum the is stable How 2. in photosynthesis’ below) suggests that mesoscale photosynthesis’ below) mesoscale that in suggests ing to achieve. The tosecond achieve. that ing proteinsis reason it intended is to for be used execution require the quantum properties of protein crucial are matter quantum quantum phenomena occur is only significant in the in significant phenomena only is quantum occur only is however. thatstability optimism, first is The operations intrinsically are that of quantum many to its function and are optimised by evolution. The optimised are and to its function temperate climes. There are two are There temperatereasons for cautious climes. needsto preserve information coherence tum of collisions effects to reduce perturbing the tures, noise to even noise and tion) to use create against to stabilise entanglement (i.e. quantum correla (i.e. entanglement quantum to stabilise to thermal were fragile to be very ties, thought between atoms. This is all necessary because quan necessary all is atoms. This between ronment of biology, have often retreated to more and other sources other ofand noise. However, quantum average, we would think sturdy a house that lasted lasted ahouse that sturdy average, we think would on amillisecond lasted lives our a relative If term. half a second. Similarly, the time-scale over time-scale which the Similarly, asecond. half entanglement experiments most Nevertheless, entanglement. against thermal noise? slow. Physicists, faced with the “hot and wet” envislow. and “hot the Physicists, faced with low at very tempera and phases dilute very shielded, quantum correlation “exotic”showing quantum showing such effects are conducted in carefully are in carefully conducted effects such showing conjecture we would like to put upconjecture wetherefore: like is would the classical? Recent evidence (seeclassical? transport ‘quantum context of the timescale of protein what try the is timescale context of the for long periods because the tasks tasks for because the long periods proper . and and ------

Aft Jordan’s thus Pascual view er a has long eclipse, The Return of Quantum Biology Biology ofThe Return Quantum 1. Quantum transport in photosynthesis photosynthesis in transport 1. Quantum Remarkably, phenomena these were considered Programs Agency (DARPA) initiated the QuBE pro- (DARPA) QuBE the Agency initiated Programs festly Sunlight provides input available energy entire the Sunlight from the sun lies in the green region the spec- of in the lies sun from the blue of clas- sky otherwise the in clouds small four phenomenon four These fourth anaesthesia. is the quantum domain is stable enough enough stable is domain the quantum therefore: is navigational sensing of the magnetic fi magnetic of the sensing navigational eld by birds. manifestly quantum processes for are, now, quantum just manifestly of quantum mechanics: photoelectric eff mechanics: of quantum black- ect, presaged and storm the century of nineteenth the the highly efficient energy transfer and charge and transfer energy efficient highly the see below,to playwe as shall at Proteins, random. not does start and phase’ orchestra ‘in the remains coherence electronic the to it make longer lived too, to 2.5eV per photon. of energy Ththe stand- by is, Peak radiation surface. Earth’s on or the near to life quarter last appeared the that clouds in small three helpedthat put fi the thescientifield on c map. e Th together for fi the a symposium or in a time not rst trum at a wavelength of 500nm, corresponding corresponding at of awavelength 500nm, trum body radiation and heat capacity of solids. heat and of radiation capacity body solids. review, but in a February 2009 Discovery Magazine Discovery Magazine review, 2009 aFebruary but in a chemical bond – hence sunburn – and, just as as just bond – and, – hencea chemical sunburn of biology,ards energy, a tolarge is break enough 2010, In US Advanced Defense the Research article. assisted even of Th it. and use make e long coher-sometimes ence times of beborrowed proteinence vibrations can times by under theunder right conditions sical biology.sical have But they to the been likened Th photosynthesis. phonon- is in second e separation to a music conductor whothat sure makes similar come roaring back with the discovery of mani- four discovery the backcome with roaring help to prolong thus can coherence. Th e conjecture eff the to mitigate agreat do deal can of ects noise gram (Quantum effgram Environments) in Biological ects quantum phenomena biology. quantum in Th efi is rst electron tunnelling . in olfaction. Th olfaction. in is third e technologies to create such systems under highly con- highly under systems quantum such create to of technologies aim key a is It importance. practical day every- of fi example an magnetic is their elds via other that spins Electron other. make up a magnet and which are interacting with each each with interacting are and objects quantum are that components individual identifi able in-principle of composed is that system A system: many-body Quantum teleportation. quantum and cryptography quantum as such applications in of use made be can that fact a physics, classical in allowed those than stronger are that correlations exhibit tems sys- Quantum probability. high with component other an- on outcome measurement the of prediction the for allows component one on measurement the whereby correlated that become will other each system with interacting are many-body quantum a of Components Quantum correlation: 1986). scanning tunneling microscope (Nobel Prize the for as Physics such devices ap- technical in found example has for and plication physics and chemistry in importance fundamental of is tunnelling Electron barrier. the above lifted be to have always will particle a as impossible is this physics is classical In energy barrier. the of their that if than lower even barrier potential a traverse to electrons as such objects quantum for all allows of matter character wavelike the mechanics, quantum In tunnelling:Electron correlations. quantum exhibit states Entangled system. the of quantum nature the protect to well sufficiently environment the from isolated be can system many-body quantum the applicationsquantumassuchcomputation longas as 2 of a superposition in be can spins N electron i.e. 4 states. combinations, possible all of spins superposition a in electron be can two then states, two of coherent in superposition be can spin electron single a If systems. many-body quantum of and superposition coherent of existence the of combination the of consequence A Entanglement: time. same the at polarised vertically and tally horizon- both be can photon a time, same the at state spin-down and spin-up in be can spin a – two possibilities of superposition coherent a in exist may quantum A particle tails. or heads either value shows coin a one – on another takes system a physics classical In superposition: Coherent superconductors. or gases atomic ultra-cold traps, ion in example for insulation high and temperature low of conditions and conditions trolled N states at the same time. This forms the basis for © Yoschi/ Wikimedia Commons Wikimedia © Yoschi/ barrier. apotential through tunnelling electron of representation Symbolic Figure 2. Commons Wikimedia © Neolexx/ photons). entangled of (a pair abiphoton of representation A symbolic 1. (left) Figure (right) or

11 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 12 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 1. Adenosine triphosphate, a molecule used as carrier of energy in in energy of carrier as used amolecule triphosphate, 1. Adenosine By good fortune, a protein discovered was By good fortune, which (C chlorophyll of amolecule of artwork Computer 3. Figure © Phantatomix/Science Photo Library Photo © Phantatomix/Science energy. solar absorb to chlorophyll allows that ring this in electrons of arrangement the is It atom. magnesium the surrounding ring porphyrin the is molecule the of part central The colour. green their plants gives also Chlorophyll photosynthesis. called water, aprocess and dioxide carbon from carbohydrates synthesise to energy its uses and sunlight absorbs It plants. in molecule apigment is Chlorophyll (white). magnesium and (blue) nitrogen (red), oxygen (green), hydrogen (orange), carbon colour-coded; are spheres, and rods as importantly, to one.importantly, make For comparison,the in which a metal atom sits at the centre of a highly atom sits centre ametal at the which of ahighly in delocalised cloud of electrons. The exciton cloud The of electrons. move can delocalised the first is step an creationexcited The of damage. machinery in plants is designed to designed pho capture is plants in machinery of chlorophylls to another with a smaller exciton asmaller with toof another chlorophylls only on the associated chlorophylls which have which associated chlorophylls on the a only tons efficiently and with little collateral chemical chemical collateral little with and tons efficiently try is ATP is try ated form environment by the of the vibrations. in ofexciton the dissipated is as part energy a small system the of in connected efficiently very around heat. The exact energy of an excitonan of notdepends energy exact heat. The energy, the difference must be absorbedenergy,must difference or the gener the cells of all known organisms. known all of cells the ecule. Chlorophyll is an eminently quantum object quantum eminently an is Chlorophyll ecule. exciton termedelectron, an energy currency of “dark”, i.e. animal, biochemis animal, i.e. of “dark”, currency energy lar environment. If an exciton environment. an If jumpslar from one set smaller at 0.6eV.smaller of photosynthetic edifice The constant structure, but on their immediate molecu immediate but on their structure, constant only and close sufficiently are they if chlorophylls 55 An electronic excitation delocalised over several sites. several over delocalised excitation electronic An Exciton: H 72 MgN 4 O 1 5 ) superimposed on a leaf. The atoms, represented represented atoms, The aleaf. on ) superimposed hydrolysis, which is roughly four times times four roughly is hydrolysis, which , in a chlorophyll mol achlorophyll , in - - - - - 3. Whether it is the protein it become the vibrations is that Whether 2. 1. Matthews–Olson (FMO) complex, which has has which (FMO) complex, Matthews–Olson yielded a rich harvest of insights. Since this original original this Since of insights. harvest arich yielded which corresponds to the energy of corresponds avibrational energy which to the chromophores be possible both to design and will the frequencylow noon effect almost having while found tofound apply to protein other complexes, as such in the protein, like currants in a bun. How this is is How abun. this in currants protein, like the in in this temperature regime is an interplay between interplay between temperature an is regime this in case, this chromophores of In the ing to function. spectrum vibrational the than protein structure in bemore sensitive changes to local will interactions interaction between the for protein the to tune ing, not known, but itnot easier, seems known, speak evolutionarily done efficiently is rather counterintuitive. done is efficiently rather counterintuitive. different chromophores different areenergy an separated by proteins is to transport excitonsproteins to from is transport one end to pendula of similar frequency. along-lived If of similar vibra pendula of effect proteinmutations the effi on to study makes good crystals which enable positions which the goodmakes crystals mode, wemode, have to a resonance mutual leads that of of chlorophyll acid closeto the for another one amino of pigments or proteins. For of substitution example, of all its atoms to be known. This is the is Fenna– This its atoms to be known. of all that has emerged has that remarkable. is these The job of teria, marine algae and plants. plants. and algae marine teria, tion is excited then it can drive oscillations between between oscillations excited is drive tion it can then extensive of genetics to knowledge the our thanks the energies of electronic levels and the energies energies of the of levelsthe electronic and breakthrough, the same basic principles same the have been breakthrough, another via seven chlorophyll molecules embedded seven molecules via chlorophyll another adapted to the electronic structure or versa vice is adapted structure electronic to the embodies all these features, is water is soluble features, and these all embodies energy exchange, much like that between coupled between that much like exchange, energy light-harvesting complexeslight-harvesting of bac photosynthetic long-lived vibrational modes. If electronic levels in long-lived levels electronic in If modes. vibrational ciency. A key to the survival of quantum coherence ofciency. quantum A key survival to the requires tun LHC2, complex plants, of higher light-harvesting modes of protein. Thecollective the levels by energy 1eV electronic change could or so, chromophores excitation their as energies, their and Arabidopsis The exciton does not usually reside on a single reside on a single exciton The usually does not Leaving all technical detail aside, the picture picture the aside, detail technical all Leaving differences in energy between excitons, between so can energy in differences paths which interfere in a wavelike fashion with with awavelike interfere fashion in which paths one end other. to the the vibrational modes of the protein in which the the modes of protein vibrational which the the in different follows exciton simultaneously the and therefore facilitate exciton transport from therefore exciton and transport facilitate absorb or generate correct of the energy amount each other; other; each chlorophylls are embedded are matchedchlorophylls to the but spread is chlorophyll, over several; (the fruit fly of the (the fly ofplant world) fruit it - - - - - vibrations themselves are quantised. Thvibrations themselves quantised. are is is remi- vibration Note odorant. of these the of that course In the vibrational view, olfaction is reminiscent of reminiscent is view, vibrational the olfaction In FMO and once again illustrates the role the of vibra- illustrates FMO once and again completely changes its odor character, suggesting that humans, like fl ies, can smell molecular vibrations. © Luca Turin (left) – iStock (right) –iStock Turin (left) ©Luca vibrations. fl like molecular humans, smell that can ies, suggesting character, odor its civetone like musk changes amacrocyclic of completely Deuteration odors. near-identical and structures diverse with musks synthetic of 120 4. years Figure Olfaction (the molecu-Olfaction ofsense ultimate smell) the is 2. Phonon-assisted2. tunnelling in olfaction niscent ofniscent phonon-assisted of excitons transport in receptors by the nised into a pattern translated and mechanism, aquantum vibrations using molecular probe their principles of ‘lock matter. familiar the One that is or across odorant from the adonor acceptor to an receptors that is other fithen theodorants, rst bind character. Th a smell of yields activation which e Weof molecules. now there several are that know that no device created by man so far has made use of use made nocreated has device that so far by man coher- pigmentssame to share the enabling thus tional excitations in the quantum biology context. context. biology quantum the excitations in tional process –near quantum –apurely tunnel tron could rather unspecifi albeit bind odorantthat molecules, - between donor acceptorbetween besoaked and up by can a on the of thought schools two speaking broadly and that structural features of features are recog- odorants structural that and (same key’ odour,and same diff in shape results erent thousands identify and detect unerringly animals, time. same at the scales time and properties lengths at these these all hundred receptors in man (several tens in fruit fl receptors (severalhundred man fruit in in tens ies) ent Th modes. to say fair is it is is novelengineering: antenna, electronic excitations a light-harvesting in lar recognition system. Our noses, and those of other of other those and noses, Our system. recognition lar site within the protein the site within diff in shape results erentodour) apply to olfaction, amystery. remained has sensation Thsmell are ere colour vision where three broadly tuned receptors colour vision where tuned broadly three into a translated is binding this Howcally. exactly inelastic electron tunnelling only if the energy diff energy the if erence . An elec- . An It has been clear for pos- birds It over been clear years that has forty fl to trained avoid ies deuteratedalso avoid odorants ferromagnetic solid like magnetite or aparamag- magnetite like ferromagnetic solid incorporating what has been whatfrom learned has biology.incorporating acetophenonein heavier replaced are the iso- with dence has comedence has shown that from has theory, which mechanism underlying this compass been con- has this underlying mechanism phenone odour). hydrogens the (hawthorn When troversial for a long time. One thing has however has troversial One for thing a long time. sensor aroom-temperaturetories to build tunnelling vibrate which at nitriles unrelated chemically the flthe Further, instead of areattracted. ies repelled leavestope which deuterium, its shape unchanged, flvibrations. fruit that For molecular ‘smell’ can ies Th directions. two e that hasbeen it fi is rst shown received has tion recent support fresh in years from always been clear: the sensor must include either a sensor include must the been clear: always plausible is and mechanism a hopping tunnelling frequency. same the around Thlineevi- e of second extraordinary feats of migration. Th migration. of feats emolecular extraordinary effi cient. labora- in several areorts underway now Eff fl the example, are ies fondtheodorant aceto- of of of tens of thousands enable discrimination the sess a magnetic compass helps perform that them amagnetic sess 3. Magnetic sensing in birds in sensing Magnetic 3. colours. ergy difference between source and drain. and source between difference ergy en- the of that to matched is quantum excitation per energy whose mode is this a Here vibrational freedom. of degree another by provided or up taken is ference dif- the that requires conservation energy then gies, ener- different have drain and source electron drain. When and source between tunnel Electrons mol- in ecules. vibrations studying for tool experimental An Inelastic electrontunnelling: Though still controversial, olfac- vibrational still Though 13 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 14 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio)

© iStock work is this: the radical pair state is unstable, and and state unstable, is pair radical the work this: is It is based on a chemical reaction whose rateIt on based achemical is is field as if as it light. werefield known to bepresentknown birds. in favourite, at least in birds, is a mechanism involving involving a mechanism is favourite, birds, at in least it is likely that this mechanism inhabits the retina of retina the inhabits mechanism this that it likely is outside the world givesinteraction to with that rise the in asymmetry and symmetry interplay between bond achemical excites electrons in the ible light nal magnetic fields and local interaction with their their with interaction and local fields magnetic nal current The electronic spin. an like netic entity magnetic field sensitivity. The trick that makes thattrick field sensitivity. it The magnetic the field that carry relativemagnetic to molecules magnetic field, but the butcombined exter field, action of magnetic of nuclear spins in the molecules. Hence it molecules. an is the in of spins nuclear the bird’s eye enabling it to see bird’s eye enabling the work a bird remarkable: might is in Howtion. this theslow that oscilla causes field magnetic to the different between to a period slow of the oscillation comparable atime It soin state. does spin singlet the up made environment principally local oftion the field therelative orienta magnetic to external the no they which level, in energy to jump to a higher are mechanism this be required would tothat realise controlled is orientation by external the of an turn behaves like a quantum magnet. Initially the spins spins the Initially magnet. behaves aquantum like radical, hence the name. Each electron has spin, and and spin, electron has hence Each name. the radical, affected by the spin state of electrons which in the state electronsspin which of by affected and insensitive to the orientation of an external orientation external insensitive to the and of an state) singlet the terms opposedare (in technical into each what termed is a turning at either end, componentsThe system. bio-molecular artificial an and opposed (in technical terms, the triplet states) the terms, opposed and (in technical environment can let them oscillate between aligned aligned between environment letoscillate them can beenin vitro demonstrated has and in electron spin, mechanism. pair radical the called electron spins, longer form abond reside but instead atoms on the spin states. The decay thereforedecay The states. spin becomes sensitive can decay to amorecan stable from state preferentially configurations. The operating principle a subtle: The is photon operating - vis of This processis sensitive theThis orientationto of the Earth’s magnetic magnetic Earth’s the - - - The The most biolrecentareathe enterto quantum 4. General anaesthesia General 4. surface is Van der Waals electron density. © Luca Turin ©Luca density. electron Waals Vander is surface Transparent increases. spread orbital the gap, the in is sphere] [gold atom aXenon when Bottom: other. the to helix one from extends HOMO the of fraction Asmall other. each to close positioned helices 9-residue two ]for surface purple [HOMO, orbital molecular occupied Top: highest the peptides. short two of structure electronic the on Xenon gas noble anesthetic the of Figure 5. Effect function. in Drosophila is accompanied by large changes in in changes accompanied is by large Drosophila in published study showing that general anaesthesia generalanaesthesia that showing study published ogy arena is neuroscience, following arecently neuroscience, arena is following ogy to which the measured spins are bound is unknown, unknown, is bound are spins measured the to which of theeffects proposesalso that study The thetics. the well-understood iondiscovered currents well-understood the nearly to addition in neurons, inside electron currents that - to resistance generalanaes been selected for their romelanin. This raises the interesting possibility possibility interesting the raises This romelanin. neu it consistent are being with but signals the absent in mutant strains of Drosophila that have that of Drosophila absent mutant strains in a century ago, could play could ago, a role nervous system in a century electron spin. These spin changes are sometimes changes These spin electron spin. conduction of electrons. The nature of theconduction substrate of The of nature electrons. general anaesthetics on spin may on spin berelated to the anaesthetics general - - Table what we about know four the 1summarises LSDFT: Linear scaling density functional theory; D-A: Donor-acceptor pair. Details can be found in the main text. main the in found be can Details pair. Donor-acceptor D-A: theory; theory; functional density functional scaling DFT: Density Linear LSDFT: simulation; dynamics Molecular MD: calculation; mechanical quantum resonance; principles First QM: paramagnetic Infrared; IR: Electron EPR: resonance; spin Electron ESR: diamond; in defects vacancy Nitrogen NVD: acronyms. of Glossary biology quantum in phenomena of 1: Summary Table (ps) which is at least 1 000 time slower than the times (ps) times the slower at 1 is least time which than 000 at 300K, energy thermal than (2–4eV) higher far are which the fl the which motion, arethermal due to uctuations which determine experimental approaches. All the the approaches. All experimental determine which the Challengesthe from hundreds of femtosecondsfrom hundreds (fs) to picoseconds energies of the visible photonsoctave that the fact in far. involve one form electron in or another: electrons, itself quantised into phonons. quantised itself netic navigation and in anaesthesia, and electronic electronic and anaesthesia, netic navigation in and noise will be generally smaller. Additionally, the the Additionally, smaller. be generally noise will separated ranges widely into two nomena falls medium, water, in which the biological machines are are machines biological water, the which medium, in phenomena benefi visible light involving fromthe t so most biology prominent phenomena quantum in quent dynamics can take place take on rather can diffquent dynamics erent discovered so far mechanisms biology quantum time scales. In photosynthesis the dynamics stretch stretch dynamics photosynthesis the In scales. time afltrons interactwith in environment, uctuating by a factor of at least 100. In a sense, light is both both is by afactor of light at 100. least asense, In energy source and also acts as a switch. Th a switch. as acts sourcealso and energy esubse- elec- the eachcase, excitons In photosynthesis. in Knowns and Unknowns: currents in olfaction, unpaired electrons in mag- electronsin unpaired olfaction, in currents given by an energy scale of 1eV. scale given energy by an Models Application Calculation Excitation measurement Nano measurement Macro Understanding Energy scale Mechanism Phenomenon Th e Th Ththe that relative eff is means thermal ect of It will not have escaped the reader that all four not four have escaped readerIt all the will that energy scale energy supramolecular energy conversion QM, MD light, IR,THz single molecule optical good 2 –3eV exciton-phonon Photosynthesis of quantum biological phe- biological of quantum tunnel sensors sensors, drugs DFT, LSDFT,MD chemical, IR,THz NVD behaviour limited 0.05 –0.5eV electron-phonon Olfaction D-A pair sensors semiclassical DFT, QM, light labels NVD andspin behaviour limited 20MHz 2 –3eVand interaction spin-spin navigation Magnetic 10 1THz (33 cm More recent resonant work eff this shown that has ect Earth’s magnetic fi magnetic Earth’s disrupt navigation. eld was is Th well understood thanks to the availability of incisive availability to the thanks understood well For ATP comparison, hydrolysis energy, ‘energy the for eff the ect. is, ere however,gun” no “smoking Th apho- only so far and mechanism, from avibrational non-assisted seemsto beable to mechanism account the i.e. not biology visible light, involving in nisms proof of electrons traversing receptors. Th efi eld of biophysics, and the biochemistry ofmajority animal may not be necessary, and that RF at most frequen-may not RF that benecessary, and of olfaction, clear evidence exists for acontribution evidence exists clear of olfaction, of this effof this outstanding. still is ect opaque and (EM) radiation to electromagnetic ton transfer in photosynthesis, which is reasonably is which photosynthesis, in ton transfer taken as direct evidence for a spin-based mechanism. evidencefor aspin-based mechanism. direct as taken (the diff splitting Zeeman to the erenceenergy in be deemed of exci- case satisfactory, except the in between up-spin and down-spin) up-spinand between the of electronsin requency (RF) waves at the energy corresponding requency waves (RF) corresponding energy at the remains so all the way down to thermal energies. energies. way the to down thermal so all remains avian magnetic sensing is still in fl in still is sensing Experiments magnetic avian ux. had encouragingly shown that low-power radiof- that shown encouragingly had experimental tools for its investigtion. In the case case the In for tools its investigtion. experimental For range. mecha- this in embedded transparent is length of(i.e. 1.4µm below 0.9eV)length water becomes situation is dauntingly diff dauntingly is situation erent.Beyond a wave- collectve protein motions are in the THz range. At At range. THz protein the motions in are collectve sits at approx of cells, 0.6eV.currency’ scale Large cies is just as disruptive. A theoretical understanding understanding Atheoretical disruptive. as cies just is -⁸ Our Our incident radiation. radiation. incident understanding -1 , 4meV) 1micron of water through lets none sofar drugs DFT thermal NVD ESR-EPR limited ≈1 eV semiconduction Anesthesia ofphenomena these cannot partially understood energy conversion DFT, QM light, IR,THz single molecule optical/ESR/EPR good 0.01 –eV electron-phonon transfer Biological electron 15 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 16 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) Already remarkable phenomena like “blinking”, i.e. i.e. remarkable phenomenaAlready “blinking”, like No progress will be made until a more direct grip grip amore direct until bemade No progress will with the promise of the much morewith to come.exist The Here the frontier is currently the single-molecule single-molecule Here the frontier the currently is Processes in photosynthesis, by appear photosynthesis, contrast, Processes in fied by nitrogen vacancy diamonds (NVDs). These These (NVDs). diamonds nitrogenfied by vacancy fact that the crystallographic structure was known known was structure crystallographic the that fact is to itis make work environment. abiological in physics the in laboratories, now and challenge the individually addressable spin sensors as exempli sensors spin as addressable individually non modulation of exciton transfer under control of excitonnon under of modulation transfer been achieved already has Muchnanometres. of this bond exhibit and a chemical in not participating mostly to be too fast for this approach, although approach, although for to this betoo fast mostly protein exists in two states, have states, two been in observed, protein exists measurement, where no ensemble averaging occurs. wheremeasurement, occurs. no ensemble averaging The field measurements. spin of magnetic purposes of the protein, either by on–off switching or by pho protein,switching of eitherby the on–off resolutionor afew pA aspatial order of and the of spin of asingle asensitivity of afew milliseconds, detec the is future not the too distant in of NVDs a sensing magnetic In achieved. is on mechanism or sensa flies of fruit case the in behaviour only other photosynthetic complexes in the first place. complexesplace. photosynthetic other first the in that motivatedthat choice the of FMO later several and the environment.the the that continuous observation,implying under off on and ofa protein photopigment switching the resolution atime with spins and oftion currents presence the in are of result electronsthat tutions urgent in an need field seems tobe year. of the This understanding. our guide reportedtion by humans tage that the migrating birds which navigate using navigate using which birds migrating the that tage by nitrogen atoms and a neighbouring carbon by atoms nitrogen aneighbouring and have lattice the bon atoms been replaced forming are diamonds in which a very small fraction of car fraction small avery which in diamonds are atom is missing from its lattice site. from Thesesubsti its lattice atom missing is a magnetic moment maya magnetic that beexploited for the it the was Indeed, be crystallised. can which arations contrast, By preparation. more amenable alternative, of times at compass certain so do only a magnetic where of olfaction, case the in primitive woefully are an external agency, particularly in vivo, be of would in agency, particularly external an hybrid IR–visible schemes could overcome this. overcome this. could schemes IR–visible hybrid ecule ecule prepexciton on purified on FMO transfer studied is ence of this phenomenon ence of of direct ameans this implies state can be measured optically. The clear promise clear The optically. bemeasured state can disadvan added the with prevails, situation similar considerable interest but at present elusive. remains change conformational by photosynthesis of control greatly benefit fromthe benefitdevelopmentgreatly mol of single Both olfaction and magnetic navigation would magnetic and olfaction Both Our Our of all these phenomena these by of all excitation Selective nanomeasurement measurement measurement macroscale at the methods methods, e.g. isolated, isolated, e.g. methods, ------We com moment. at of short the that Our well are vibrational sensing. The technology is there, is since The technology sensing. vibrational RF methods to disrupt the suspected radical pair pair radical suspected the to disrupt methods RF water as possible situated between the light source water possiblelight as the situated between In the case of photosynthesis, the overlap the of photosynthesis, case the between In IR absorption by water still hampers experimental hampers experimental absorption byIR water still a molecule. © Laguna Design/Science Photo Library Photo Design/Science ©Laguna a molecule. abacteriochlorophyll is proteins three the of each of centre the At aestuarii Prosthecochloris bacterium sulphur green the from complex (FMO) Fenna-Matthews-Olson the of model 7. Molecular Figure future. Whenever the structure of the protein(s) of the structure Whenever the future. for other factors such as migratory bird seasons. for migratory factors other as such in Drosophila and a combination and of Drosophila genetics and in been described has sensitivity Magnetic needed. is navigation would probably also benefit from pulse fromnavigation probably benefit would pulse also putational methods are specialised for different for different specialised are methods putational to besolved reasonably the most likely near in and problems most glaring time same at are the progressmake to wait having continuously without ments probably would have side unwanted thermal power the birds but require when using mechanism, little progress. as The field a awaits with preparation mid-IR the in tunable continuously lasers pulsed the with interfere might stimulation mid-IR this. In olfaction, there is a possibility that direct direct that there apossibility is olfaction, In this. be our ability to simulate the process its entirety. the in to simulate ability be our setof provideto tools behaviour would apowerful frequency control and phase achieve better could responsible for the biological effect is known, known, responsiblea is effect for biological the absorption spectra of different photopigmentsabsorption of spectra different pre and target, possibly an insect antenna. Magnetic Magnetic antenna. insect possibly an target, and problem but perennial of available, are the intense effects. Again a smaller, possibly insect, preparation insect, possibly a smaller, Again effects. level of the purified individual system, although although system, individual level of purified the sign that we have gained a full understanding will will understanding we have that afull sign gained cludes this, and information is best obtained at the at the obtained best is information and this, cludes Calculation Calculation . of these phenomenaof these where is the - - - Thdiffithe use: their ree problemslimit of culty An emerging area of tremendous emerging promise linear- is An within their reach in terms of terms numbersof reach atoms. in their within Density functional theory methods can calculate calculate can methods theory functional Density © Sam Ogden/Science Photo Library Photo Ogden/Science © Sam lasers. research physics Quantum 6. Figure is on the cusp of becoming a method for a method non-spe- of becoming cusp onis the component incorporate quantum any or indeed ily nesses which limit the insights gained. Molecular Molecular gained. insights the limit nesses which modelling solvents, problem the of fimodelling global a nding (MD) dynamics (MM) molecular and mechanics on small systems, but scale unfavourably with size. size. unfavourably with but scale systems, on small adequate the simu- and modes, its normal obtaining iterationof femtosecond time the is (10 (10 ond despite dras- the addition, In dynamics. quantum tic approximations they include, these approaches these approximationstic include, they force fi classical entirely use anddo not elds read- at hydrogen energies give accurate and bonds very applicable proteins and arewell systems to large Complex time. real to unable simulate are currently let alone excitation electronic any or bond breaking, electronic structure with useful precision, better are useful with structure electronic to forprotein apreliminary the as minimum energy increasingly are codes chemistry quantum empirical oft mechanisms enzyme en millisec- operatethe on lation of hydrogen bonds, all-important in biology. in lation of hydrogen all-important bonds, scaling density functional theory (LS-DFT) which recommend weak- which it with together strengths diff and scales erent and has each approximations, cialists. A not unrealistic goal would beto beable would to goal Anot unrealistic cialists. -³ s) time scale, an aeon for a code whose unit aeon for whose an acode unit s) scale, time -1⁵ s). Semi- Th diagnos- e device to a applications such of medical vibrational sensing will turn out to be essential to out to beessential turn will sensing vibrational (ORs). receptors olfactory Further, members are of will be at the supramolecular scale, which has in the the in has which scale, supramolecular beat the will receptors includes which neuro- for brain many fi drugs the physiology, action of in diving and eld of fl avour)and unsolvedno majorproblems medical Solar energy is the only direct, inexhasutible power inexhasutible direct, only the is energy Solar function in other GPCR systems, but a“probing” GPCR other systems, of in function design. A better understanding of the connection connection of the understanding Abetter design. electronic devices, out to be molecular turn drugs pollution and diseases could be built on the basis basis on the bebuilt could diseases and pollution applications understanding potential of abetter molecular tunnelling sensor that mimics olfaction. olfaction. mimics sensor that tunnelling molecular of self-replica- constraints the without mechanisms biological at mimicking successful been very past fi magnetic sensors, photovoltaic chemical cells, eld neurons. Th in mechanisms lead to could turn in is intracellular electronic previously unsuspected of the mechanisms at work in olfactory receptors at work olfactory mechanisms of in the decade. next the over ananosecond within water protein entire from in of fi an rst principles of quantum biological phenomena, biological way lead the and of quantum nervous system. central on the of plants could be engineered that make more make that beengineered could of plants of photosynthesis need hardly to beemphasised. of need photosynthesis hardly the crucial material properties for optimal biologi- properties for material optimal crucial the basic ofscience the progresses. Thunderstanding e tion. Indeed, eff Indeed, a tion. underway to build already are orts bio-inspired include could these devices: to working ofphysics the chemistry and understanding test our to drug rational becrucial will insight this then aftindeed ligand If the be general. could er binding were ORs proven If transmitters. to operate by an huge G-proteinthe coupled receptor (GPCR) family, to be crucial. For example, better design of solar of solar For design better example, to becrucial. biology are potentially enormous and will warrant warrant enormous will and potentially are biology between spin and general anaesthesia may reveal general anaesthesia and spin between advances in anaesthesia itself, in the closely related closely the in itself, anaesthesia advances in a fieldwhere the applications may perhaps be con- eff concerted technological a large-scale, as our ort exist. However,exist. gases, sensors hazardous to detect effi Olfaction cient use radiation. of solar evolution’s prove could years of R&D” billion “3 electronic mechanism this would likely have likely would con- this mechanism electronic sensors or man-made enzymes. It is likely that they they that It likely sensorsis or man-made enzymes. spoiled food, toxic substances, air contaminants, contaminants, air toxic substances, food, spoiled sidered and frivolous (relating mostly to fragrance lessons by learned the Harnessing source on Earth. sequences for other GPCRs. It seems unlikely that that It unlikely sequences seems for GPCRs. other cal charge separation. Alternatively, new strains Alternatively, separation. charge new strains cal of understanding from follow abetter could cells dynamics and structure electronic full the calculate Th e Th Model Systems Model applications applications will serve as aproof as serve of concept to will of these fiof these of elds quantum is is se per 17 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 18 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) vesting is part of the problem, and understanding of problem, the understanding part is and vesting ESR was developed (magnetic sensing), and the new developed was the and (magneticESR sensing), (olfaction); physics spin the of reac photochemical In photosynthesis a huge effort is already underway underway already is photosynthesisahuge effort In FarQBio to develop. Thereis a need for a collabo Discoveries seldom are air. plucked from thin field of materials and spintronics. It could also allow allow also and spintronics. It could field of materials Chance Chance Quantum Biology Needs Quantum ing of the chemical physics of chemical involved the ing lead to could detecting the magnetic fields caused by ion currents, caused by fields ioncurrents, magnetic the detecting driven charge separation has a long history dating dating along history has separation charge driven for a break elements the necessary and dispersed physics but something in between – supramolecu between physics in but something diamond. oncentres based colour in magnetometry spatial high a with nT fields magnetic measuring origami’. origami’. contrib unquestionably will phenomena quantum har Light nature. by mimicking cells solar organic to achieve more efficient cells charge of solar ogy through may be very far from one may far another. be very The through tions go back to the immediate post-war go backtions immediate to the yearswhen spectroscopy discovered was 1966 in tunnelling electron thesis); of inelastic basic mechanism the chromophore between light-transfer and molecules biophysics. and biology with science tion In creative to the leads up that insight. built is text again antennae, ofute light-gathering design to the of morphol design the and materials to optimise of cur sensing acell-level optical thereby achieving by of, detection the for activity neuronal example, understand abetter sensing, of case magnetic the tics and environmental monitoring are obvious. In In obvious. are monitoring environmental and tics back to the early days of days spectroscopyback early to the (photosyn under the with priorbeen without made familiarity physics norbiology nor quantum condensed matter rative effort bringing together mature fields like fields mature together rative bringing effort may that even scales rent on spin length or local the lead in to could applicationsresolution. This an interdisciplinary field the context is unusually unusually theis context field interdisciplinary an monolayers as such methods ‘DNA assembly and self- using still, or higher scale supramolecular at the highly sensitive capable sensors nanoscale of at the highly Physics and Vice VersaPhysics Vice and exceed those of the currently emerging nanoscale nanoscale emerging exceed currently of the those lying physics and physical chemistry: the excitonic the physics physical chemistry: and lying phenomenalogical above described not would have physics of it purpose the is – which quantum lar separation than that which is currently attainable in in attainable currently is which that separation than context of FarQBio is, properly speaking, neithercontext of FarQBio properly is, speaking, condensed matter physics and quantum informa condensed physics matter quantum and The four advances into possibly quantum biointo advancespossibly The four quantum only favours the prepared mind, as acon as favours prepared the mind, ------The effectiveness of FarQBio will therefore in lie will effectiveness The ofFarQBio Albert Szent-Györgyi forty years ago. Szent-Györgyi forty Albert The FarQBio Vision Vision The FarQBio Quantum effects in biology are surely not limited limited are notsurely in biology effects Quantum will make the biology worthwhile and vice versa. vice and worthwhile biology the make will work in physics and chemistry of Freemanwork physics Cope and in chemistry and For a start, a biologist is unlikely to recognise a to recognise abiologist unlikely is For astart, field. field. Conversely, physicists often are putthe off by com Coherent mat biological states of (including matter for by classical physics. Discoveries in this area are area are physics.for Discoveries by this classical in ing through respiring mitochondria to reduce mitochondria respiring through ing insights into anaesthesia go back pioneering to intothe anaesthesia insights is unknown but is very unlikely to beaccounted unlikely but very is unknown is on two pillars two on prepared in this way.prepared may this be impossible What in in need and of to biology uncertainties and plexity quantum phenomenon primed to and so, do quantum unless ods (X-ray,ods electron microscopy and transmission to water.oxygen The electronmode of conduction role numerous play in mechanics crucial quantum this Forward Look would like tocrea encourage the Forward like would Look this addition, In disciplines. two of integration these the come only from aphysicist can who priming the tion community, will becrucial. will community, tion destroyed are ter) and measuring by the are fragile probably Most phenomena. above-mentioned the to the on effect have would direction acatalytic this together point bringing afocal and oftion aforum be introduced to its methods and concepts. and Many be introduced to itsmethods by techniques developed in the quantum informa developed quantum by the techniques in Therefore,biomolecules. new approachesenabled by research effort in fundamental quantum physics quantum fundamental in research effort recent powered sensors, developments quantum in a virus, in a controlled sub-cellular preparation or acontrolled sub-cellular in a virus, or maya mouse alga afly, bedoablean in a worm, are unable to detect the non-classical behaviourof non-classical tothe unable are detect meth Traditionalapparatus. structure-resolving A long-term in computational and chemists. effort have depended crucially on the choice on the have to become depended crucially either seenhas it before or predicted its existence. hampered lack of by measurement the techniques. 100 has ampereshuman of flow electron current even an isolatedeven protein. an FarQBio experimental biophysicists, physicists theoretical experimental serve as the only source offor inspiration only FarQBio. the as serve sive. They allow single atomsbut to be observed, single allow sive. They microscopy) inva are strongly tunnelling scanning adult Forsteps aresting of example, metabolism. and physics and great advances in biology and biophysics and great past biology the advances in in It therefore would to biology beto wrong expect . In our vision only the most vigorous the vision only our . In biology biology strength: and size of equal rests rests therefore ------1991, connectionto biol- its 2003) direct with 2002, Th sustainable smart, Strategy towards 2020 e EU There is an urgent need urgent There for an is reinforcement and 2003); giant magnetoresistance, on which hard2003); on which magnetoresistance, giant 2005); (1913, superconductivity 1972,1973, 1987, Key Enabling Technologies Enabling Key (KETs) that to ensure Europe maintains its position among the leading leading the itsposition among maintains Europe without necessarily understanding it, biomimicry biomimicry it, understanding necessarily without system-level or copying features enzymes using with for Europe for Europe in enabling and industrial technologies which are are which technologies industrial and enabling in what features: FarQBio scale wants its large imitates 1956in (1964, 2000); lasers and 1971, 1981, 1999, (Nobel production: Prizes transistors industrial in ics have revolutionised and information already of 21 the technology ing now part of the Horizon2020 funding programme. programme. funding Horizon2020 ofnow the part drives are based, (2007); as well as nuclear magnetic nuclearmagnetic as well (2007); as based, are drives domestic product based on is related technologies phys- quantum from fundamental results decades, development of European industrial capabilities in in capabilities development industrial of European of biological organisms. Biotechnology uses nature nature uses Biotechnology of organisms. biological healthcare. and ogy fordefi basis the the physics forming is quantum n- tion those discoveries for which a Nobel Prize was was discoveriesaNobel for Prize those tion which men- letphysics. us Toto this quantum illustrate gross of the advanced economies in that two-thirds to is do improve on it by understanding nature borrows, steals”. genius or biotechnology. It not is concernedbiomimicry resonance tomography and (1943, 1952, 1944, 1981, and inclusive European growth relies on leadership relies growth inclusive European and put it: “talent Wilde Oscar level. As at quantum the haveawarded application which and direct found economies under the conditions ofeconomies the fi under erceglobal Enabling KeyEnabling Technologies communication technologies (ICT). technologies It estimated is communication Th isfromaim for years twenty people, now, e to to originate frto originate biology within om for those who embark on this adventure that is for who embark those on this is engineered engineered is ment and novelty of this new fiment novelty and of this eld fromcome they will be asked to go far beyond their mere beasked beyond to go far their will they it the that is fact the all the time. time. the all hold an indispensable device in their hand that that hand their in device indispensable hold an ing eff ort in the history of science and technology ing eff technology and of science the in history ort competences: they must learn from each other fromcompetences: other each learn must they Th lawsof exploitation ultimate the eof practical To FarQBio beclear: is better than life itself better first physics/engineer-basic st century. In the last fi last the In century. ve not not another iteration of of iteration another . Th challenge e . Th e excite- • • • • • European policy makers rebalancing of resources makers rebalancing policy European when economic turmoil rolls over rolls Europe. when economic turmoil which are prerequisites are developmentwhich to successful into technologies and ultimately into products into avail- ultimately and technologies into to some extent: extent: some to these phenomenathese able are them and to transform able market. on the implementationand knowl- of KETs –adetailed at task a time a non-trivial is objectives, which and exploitation of quantum mechanical phenomena phenomena mechanical quantum of exploitation phenomena mechanical at all aboutedge quantum sionals who possess aprofound who possess sionals about knowledge asuffi and scales, cientnumberqualifi of ed profes- competition. Eventually this will require from will this competition. Eventually Understanding and exploiting quantum mechani- East Asia’s ability and willingness to supply them. to supply them. willingness and Asia’sEast ability with admirable effi admirable with photo- Astonishingly, ciency. Harnessing this phenomenon use this for technological Harnessing For process the example, of photosynthesis involves Microelectronics, Microelectronics, Nanotechnology Dvlpet of Development Photonics Biotechnology for European industries out of the looming short- out looming of the industries for European lit- is planet our which source in cleanest from the increasing functionality per unit cost, is inevita- is cost, per unit functionality increasing microscope, also rely exploitation on of the pure microscope, also governed is ofmatter inter- mechanics by quantum mechanical in nature than this. Basic and ubiqui- and Basic this. than nature in mechanical more quantum anything –there hardly matter is able to produce currently consume. is and mankind quantum eff ects. tunnelling of scanning nanotechnology, the as such quantum mechanical devices. do. phenomena physics as chemistry quantum and increasingly are dots, quantum opments, as such tous devices such as lasers used in everyday life are are everyday life in used lasers as such tous devices ulate matter at the scale of 10 scale at matter the ulate beginning to realise that biology relies on the same same on relies the biology that to realise beginning even usual the towardsnano-scale; the bly heading route towards designing and assembling materials materials assembling and route towards designing acting atoms and molecules. Th atoms molecules. and acting instruments ekey age of rare earth elements dependence and on ofage rare earth holds the promise of bountiful energy harvesting harvesting energy promise of the bountiful holds erally soaked – sunlight. soaked –sunlight. erally ecules in an essentially coherent process quantum essentially an in ecules of mol- chlorophyll achain along transport energy standing outside the quantum realm. We realm. now are outside quantum the standing New devel- devices. semiconductors quantum are synthesis in nature captures more energy than more captures nature than energy in synthesis cal principles of how solid-state matter is built is the principles of the cal is how solid-state built is matter play. into coming Th importance of ingredients utmost two are ere All Key Enabling Technologies rely on the the on rely Technologies Enabling Key All exploits light and its interactions with its interactions with and exploits light advanced materials materials advanced is oftis misconceived wrongly as en relies on the ability to manip- ability on the relies in pursuit of Moore’s pursuit in law of -9 m. At this scale, scale, At this m. is the route the is 19 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 20 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) All technology is constrained by the laws by of the physics. constrained is technology All Towards Machines Quantum Quantum theory provides correct theory the description Quantum wavelike properties are used in some applications applications some in used are properties wavelike for understanding a basis the as serves also which In the 19 the In ics 20 of the not be solved efficiently on digital computers.notdigital be solvedThe on efficiently second, the nology, and forelectronics, example in new, stronger-than-classical correlations between mation processing relies onmation of relies arrays processing isolated pure, power. processing the governfirst is operation.mechanics The their of environmental noise, which destroys quantum destroys quantum of noise, which environmental largesetindividual of operation on asufficiently bits (qubits)quantum coherent their and interac of physicalquantisation properties energy as such e.g. fields, of several scientific foundations of the physical processes microscopic at the of scale, all quantum information processing and communi and processing information quantum tions to manipulate quantum superpositions and quantum totions manipulate units has been achieved. Currently, the biggest chal Currently, biggest been achieved. has the units once be expected fault-tolerant only can throughs coherent to their deliver quantum use dynamics have machines processing to information ultimate coherence world and real Quantum in devices. used physics. of formulation by quantum the triggered and scale ledthat to discoveries of unimaginable The phys- mechanics. classical and thermodynamics basic idea is being widely used in our everyday tech our in used widely basic idea being is at the atomic scale. In conjunction they lead to conjunction they In atomicat the scale. properties become which intertwined particle and of wave the Thesecond duality momentum. is and a condensed phase while retaining useful quan useful retaining a condensed phase while early days, progress days, beenearly steady has but major break approach this has Progress states. with entangled lenge in this direction remains the detrimental effect effect detrimental the remains direction this lenge in superposition and entangled states. states. superposition entangled and these In expected. provedso far initially slower than combination not is yet their widely lasers, as such correlations not are enable mere they curiosities: first the ofconstituents many-bodyWhile systems. biology. and Twochemistry major of ideas quantum cannot be solved at all in the classical world or classical can the in besolvedcannot at all solutions to providing cation, problems either that consequence. This paradigmatic shift has been has shift paradigmatic consequence. This with customised properties. The solution of this The solutionthis properties. of customised with different approach utilising quantum simulators. simulators. quantum approachdifferent utilising computational schemes byditional a conceptually complex may task replacement require the of tra The traditional paradigm for quantum infor for quantum paradigm traditional The For a long time it was believed that moving to For moving it that believed was along time th century technological limits were setby limits technological century th century witnessed dramatic changes changes dramatic witnessed century ------A first step is the identification of emergent quan emergent of identification is the step A first This has now been disprovedand nowhas been This synthetic both by This century may well be the century of ‘The of ‘The be the well century may century This We need better theory and experiment on quantumWe experiment and need theory better We know that the technology of the 18 of the We technology the that know Quantum machines will rely on non-trivial quan non-trivial rely on will machines Quantum Quantum Machine’. was the technology of the 20 of the technology the was far from equilibrium. This might also help in the help also might This equilibrium. far from tum effects on a hierarchy of length and time scales. scales. time and length of hierarchy on a effects tum tum phenomena in interacting quantum systems systems quantum interacting in phenomena tum ing, is nowreconsidered is being scenarios, various ing, in ductive device technology. Photosynthetic pigments technology.pigments Photosynthetic ductive device to clarify under what condi under tomany-body clarify systems mond aprominent‘atom are example of an such on a complexity level comparable to macromol to comparable level complexity a on the quantum machine. machine. quantum the dynamics quantum blocks exhibiting building tal) (experimen to identify us allow will understanding noise. This coherence with quantum coexists tions biology. field of quantum emerging to the theory if impossible.not be difficult behaviourwould tum than destroyer, of quantum information process destroyer, information - than of quantum biological systems. Nitrogen vacancy centres in dia centres Nitrogen in vacancy systems. biological ranging from quantum simulations and complexity complexity and simulations from quantum ranging hundreds of atoms in a system with low symmetry. low symmetry. with of asystem atoms in hundreds have shown how over coherence be maintained can ecules and lead to the realisation of what we call of what we lead call realisation to and the ecules understanding of biological systems. like’ system in a solid. Another example is supercon example is Another asolid. in system like’ centuries was built on the steam engine. Electronics Electronics engine. steam on the built was centuries The The roleenhancer, rather potential of as noise th century. century. th and 19 and th ------

Quantum biology is an emerging and still unex- still and emerging an is biology Quantum l l l DARPA QuBE DARPA Our_Work/DSO/Programs/Quantum_Eff ects_in_Biological_ 2. See for example example for See 2. Public funding Public STREP project under FET Open with a total fund- atotal with Open project FET under STREP $75M over 4 years. With the current types and level and $75M types current over the With 4years. for signifi the tapping application technology cant level national there no are the At dedicated funding. signififunded theCurrently,Europe. in cantly eld fi ing of 2M€ and as a part of an ERC Synergy grant grant ERC of Synergy an apart as of and 2M€ ing Union supportedis level European at the by one deliver regularly interesting insights into quantum into quantum insights interesting regularly deliver Environments_%28QUBE%29.aspx made in order to create the interdisciplinary link- order in made to create interdisciplinary the inherent to Very it. potential eff serious be must orts phenomena. However, it conditions is these under signifithe orderof with programme of funding cant buta few isolated orprogrammes initiatives only plored fi to be nowis only beginning eldwhich of effthe orts, con- could biology eldquantum of fi of a concerted umbrella the under biology quantum together research on quantum efftogether research on quantum in photosyn- ects tained endeavour,tained but there areseveral additional and sustained require strong, but alone, will tutions not achievements Such will machine. quantum the of vision the to realise and technology to quantum needed of breakthroughs kinds the to yield unlikely to evolvetinue slowlya basic area of as science and of areas main as bird navigationolfaction and thesis, Future Needs Policy Framework and be made by individual scientifi bybe made individual insti- or disciplines c approach. approach. momentum to move the and ages from basic science perhaps foraccounting about 0.5M€ total of the harmonised impulses, guided by a convincing policy policy by a convincing guided impulses, harmonised small scale research projects. Th scale small the with is contrasts 3. http://www.darpa.mil/ ² eff brought thehas which US in ort will be essential for a sus- such beessential will Key Enabling Technologies). Enabling Key ThFET-Open e scheme fl for renewal, theandpossibility exible project length 3 Grant, there may be a Synergy Grant call for 2015. Link: http://erc. 2015. for Link: call Grant aSynergy be may there Grant, frontier research, but contrary to the funding model model funding to the frontier research, but contrary following stringent review, stringent most is appropriatefollowing for ing requirements. Without doubt, it is an area of requirements. it doubt, an Without is ing importantly, it be basedon importantly, anetwork should of tight europa.eu/synergy-grants ERCSynergy the of phase pilot the of analysis ScientifiCouncil’s c need to bridge disciplinary gaps, and the technologi- the and gaps, need disciplinary to bridge of the ERC, which – aside from the Synergy Grant Synergy from –aside the which ERC, of the quantum effquantum knowledgedifffrom with ects erent research needof to quantum be conducted a in researchers, parts large individual on supporting tum technology happen. First, quantum technology technology quantum First, happen. technology tum this purpose, particularly as long as commercial long as as particularly purpose, this of long-term research funding the unnecessarily there no is concept of project complicates renewals, needsto some these serve Horizon 2020under can research, and thus specifi thus research, and fund- and institutional c research requires a specifi undertaking c mode of requirements need that to be met to quan- make renewal. Th e intellectual challenges, especially the Threnewal. especially challenges, intellectual e application domains (such as, in particular, the the (such particular, application in domains as, and intensiveand across collaboration even Europeand even for if merely projects years and, as three run and challenging fi challenging and elds. to is leads short-termism Th highly successful, have only a small probability for probability have a small only successful, highly ef f orts that are required in highly interdisciplinary effinterdisciplinary highly arethatin required orts as system, the but lackextent of in the ‘memory’ longer time horizon. An open research model with open research with model An horizon. longer time system cal complexity of the experiments would require a would experiments of the complexity cal considerations donot yet play a major role. Most collaborative way, about knowledge connecting globally fostered by a programme similar in spirit to in fostered by similar a programme globally . No ERC Synergy Call is foreseen for 2014. Depending on the the on 2014. Depending for foreseen is Call Synergy ERC No ³ , which should be expanded – is focused focused –is beexpanded should , which 21 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 22 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio)

© iStock Asian countries). bridges and Asian interfaces Developing year time-horizon that is too common in European European too common is in time-horizon that year flexibility in forming consortia should be allowed be should consortia in forming flexibility for this kind of funding already exists: the German German the exists: already of funding kind for this in order know-how best in to access the exper and collaborative funding schemes funding collaborative panies. The requirement a cross-border panies. of having ture in this field where field so is to be much bylearnt this in ture fea important to beavery likely is sheer size, than needed not it versa. and vice to address expertise the wherevertise it located therefore is the and to fund respect or regions to countries other with wheretage to new topics not and competitive lose the advan react to quickly research community European the cross-border bottom-up of flexible availability the whose Programmes Networking Research ESF the best and most promising research in Europe. Finally, Finally, Europe. mostresearchbest and promising in be possibleto provide a means as avenues for the bottom-up these more and between programmes research funding. Continuity of funding, rather of funding, Continuity research funding. all parties involved. level national at Amodel the parties all a project be decided topic on should based the and then applied would or innovation-driven activities exploitation of com research outputs by European longer-term stability beyond the usual four-longer-term beyond usual to five- the stability for calling be needed, will effort asustained lenges, since the optimum configuration of partners within within of partners configuration optimum the since scheme level necessity atEuropean a clear is the available are (namely US and mechanisms the such allow research and base European the strengthen from benefit greatly would biology quantum as such to createwas aim pan-European research specific communities. communities. Highly interdisciplinary emerging research fields research fields emerging interdisciplinary Highly Given the magnitude of most researchGiven chal magnitude the . This would further further would . This - - - - - (e.g. of conventional areas), any the in KET they will need to be fully knowledgeable about quantum knowledgeable about quantum need to befully will Hybrid scientists. biologists or quali material with DFG awards Sonderforschungsbereich (collabora fications are needed, but will only be fostered only if arewill fications butneeded, knowledge in understanding quantum effects effects (e.g. quantum understanding in knowledge institutionally supported interfaces between disci supported between interfaces institutionally areextreme, of terms skills in scientists individual where environment, working interdisciplinary many of quantum relation understanding to the in research,of there quan areas are interdisciplinary deliver remarkable results. results. remarkable deliver plines, new hybrid curricula and mechanisms to mechanisms and new hybrid curricula plines, Without effects. biological quantum and mechanical development manner, structural acontinuous and means. quantum physicists meet work, and quantum for instance, of 12 years. A transnational version of this, linking linking versionof 12 Atransnational of years. this, is needed. Quantum technology technology Quantum needed. is base skills of the two or three leading laboratories with complemen laboratories with leading or three two tive research centres) competitively are which grants tinuously sustained by both national and European European and national by both sustained tinuously frontiers the of at extending researchaim that tum to over belikely would along period, expertise tary because in addition to established S&T knowledge knowledge S&T to established addition in because systems),body require deep disciplinary thus and renewed in periods of four years for a maximum renewed of years for four periods amaximum in recognition and reward is ensured in the academic academic the rewardrecognition and in ensured is be con should which research work funding, and and scientific career models. The demands on the on demands The career models. scientific and ensure an appropriate an ensure thesustained level of staff, environment, but will need to be grown in a highly need ahighly to begrown in environment, but will academic not grow atraditional in will experts Secondly, for field to evolve the sustained in a of collaborative, spite in importance of the Still, ------for the growth of quantum research and quantum research quantum and of quantum for growth the incorporate more physics elements and of quantum atis risk. necessary necessary nomena. More school emphasisbegiven should in potential achievements to society and stakeholders. stakeholders. and achievementspotential to society physical componentsperformance that devices and physics, deep between connections the particular quantum objects requires the development objects requires the ofquantum high- of research manipulation the community, quantum to amajor Next leap research in activities. quantum phe- for quantum teachersquestions and biology in world possible. as Th early as quantum is may require biology, gen- order next in the toquantum sensitise to improve in sciences, and the between unity to the teaching applications need at schooling to belaid technology are well beyond state art. of current the the well are for physics biological teachers in training additional of classical importance the denying Without age. ested in biology,ested in physical sciences. into the more currently inter-enrol more students, female of the fascination and eration possibilities to the scientifi c matters, teaching programmes should should scientifi programmes teaching matters, c computational performance, accessible to a growing computational accessible performance, to agrowing biology. and Thchemistry serve to also is would growth of application-orientedresearch growth quantum A third important ingredient consists of the ingredient important A third In a longer term perspective, the foundations alonger foundations term perspective, the In Finally, the quantum research community needs needs research community quantum the Finally, infrastructures communication around which to build to build which around about its actual and and about itsactual Quantum research may be fascinating, but society but society research may be fascinating, Quantum which are an essential complement essential arean which to sustained world in order to realise the potential of quantum of quantum potential the world order in to realise funding. Thfunding. ey a concertedeffrequire theort of EU, ible, and apro-active complexible, and approach to making promises made must be both appealing and cred- and appealing promises beboth must made afi in pertinent benefieldwhere the actual tssoci- to of Member States and of other countries around the the of around Member of countries States other and applies to argument this research. While quantum research. elements to place, beput in main four require all research accessible befollowed. should public to the all fi all is funded it particularly research, of elds publicly ety are likely to accrue in the longer the term only. in to Th accrue are likely ety e legitimately asks for agood asks justifilegitimately if cationsignifi - sustained development of quantum technology will will development technology sustained of quantum cant amounts of money taxpayers’ to are bespent amounts on cant A comprehensive approach policy to foster the 23 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 24 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) “The expert knows moreand moreexpert and about “The less 1 Coimbra) 1288 1088 Bologna, whereas knowledge A strange and curious fact about university stud about fact university curious and A strange What is one is to concludeWhat from this? l l l work after a short learning curve. In other fields, fields, In other curve. work short a learning after Going Forward – Forward Going 4. knowledge required toknowledge headway make bevery can ing demands and filling in the becomegaps in can filling and demands ing ies is that their duration has not changed much not has duration changed their ies that is not much smarter than 18not than much smarter degree, and a further three or four for or four aDoctorate. three afurther and degree, particularly interdisciplinary ones, the amount of amount ones, the interdisciplinary particularly Proposed Measures and Recommendations tists. In fact, from anetwork fact, perspective we In know tists. at i.e. least publications, scientific in increase the body of knowledge does not of does body knowledge yet require years of rate of learning necessarily dropsdue to compet necessarily rate of learning rapid knowledge growth in the next few decades next the rapid in growth knowledge and makes existing knowledge more readily acces- more knowledge readily existing makes and a – very pleasant – lifetime occupation. Following Following occupation. –lifetime pleasant a –very a great deal has increased byhas afactor probably comparable to The volume increased. of relevantfacts vastly has less until he knows everything about nothing.” In In about nothing.” he everything knows less until large. Upon becoming aprofessional, Upon ascientist’slarge. becoming Human Resources and Education since the Medieval Warming Period Warming when the Medieval the since study to be mastered, it possible to is bemastered, study to excellent do the which in fields younger especially some fields, put it succinctly: Gandhi Mahatma As specialised. smarter than our medieval ancestors, and definitely definitely and ancestors, medieval our than smarter to years get aBachelor’ssible. three Yet take we still globalisation of science is likely to of even cause science more likely is globalisation universities weregreat European founded(roughly 000-fold since 1900. The effect of 1900.the since effect of The 000-fold the and Web Despite a better diet, we probably are Despite diet, abetter not much less than they did since wesince are more did they than th and 19 and th century scien century - - - A concerted initiative should be started to educate be started A concerted should initiative to quantum talent human engaging and Attracting whether, as in Switzerland and China, they are they China, and Switzerland whether, in as Hadamard: “It is important for him who wants to who wants for him important “It is Hadamard: Helvetes” for one whom there Aset country. only is fields such as biology and physics, it is essentially and physics, essentially is it as biology such fields factor. An intrinsic motivation aneces is - to learn intrinsic factor. An inspired quantum S&T specifically is a key success is a success key specifically S&T quantum inspired impossible to Very up make for ignorance. early few discover not to confine himself to onechapter himself ofdiscover not to confine direction. It is even doubtful whether an interface interface an whether It even is doubtful direction. proposed. proposed. next the in skills ment cross-disciplinary of these permanent remedy: ageneration to raise of “Sino- project, it seemsappropriate abold but to suggest even biology to physicists under learn practising of measures addressing the different stages of the of stages different the of addressing measures the dictum of the great mathematician Jacques great of the mathematician dictum the between physics and biology actually exists, or exists, physicsbetween actually biology and brave. Part of the challenge of FarQBio to is createbrave. challenge of the Part motivation and building scholastic competence scholastic building and motivation School Education – raising awareness awareness –raising Education School Two main main Two achievement academic lifelong. high educational system to contribute system educational develop to the and building competences science others”. various but to touch keep with in sary condition for promoting learning attitudes and and attitudes condition for promoting learning sary bio- (S&T) general and science in technology and of the scale Given interface. decennial the an such by the travelled Road only separated by along Silk goals need to be achieved: raising interest and and interest raising achieved: need be to goals generations therefore is public and of scientists evengraduate level, and fewer opposite travel the in In some cases, as with the interface of two large large of two interface the with as some cases, In - - . © iStock A Doctor Universalis Olympiad level Universalis A Doctor at European 4. See for example Quantum Frontiers http://quantumfrontiers. Frontiers Quantum example for See 4. key to attract attention – such as recently attention as – keysuch developed to attract for emerging intrinsic motivation. ‘Infotainment’ is is ‘Infotainment’ motivation. intrinsic emerging for interactive games to attract children to quantum to quantum children interactive to attract games enthusiasm. of seeds first to the plant instruments in this context means to stimulate young people young to to stimulate context means this in Science at home http://www.scienceathome.org/ home at Science nology. When they encounter quantum physics encounter in nology. quantum they When people’s young in a key is factor nology time leisure physics scienceand tech quantum Anchoring most gifted. encouragethe and to identify and knowledge plinary to people bechallenged; most since young like plish com/2013/10/17/can-a-game-teach-kids-quantum-mechanics/ their students. students. their idea of the scientific research to to help “sell” them technological and scientific literacy. Improving scientific and technological of scientific–techni to generate basic understanding as discipline decide this to take –they case best the approach. this exemplar education for success of and an tion is the to take a critical first step towards establishing the step towardsestablishing first acritical to take room. Here the main goal is knowledge development knowledge is goal room. Here main the a major later on. aspired towards open-mindedness science tech and interest Raising emerge. effect learning a cognitive everyday life, they engage more personally and – in – in and more engage they personally everyday life, search forsearch more topic, thus on the and information exemplar, bean and sciences FarQBio of which will interdisciplinary schoolteachers progress the in in cal relationships knowledge) (i.e.cal systems to enhance - class the in developedcontinuously extended and science will schools education with in linked cally besetup tocould promote notion the of interdisci competitions events or well-known exciting are Quantum science or technology topics science need or technology to be Quantum However, systemati are activities these if only Creating awarenessCreating to relatively accom is easy 4 . The success. The of nano-science communica or or ------“Dr. Universalis: the Albertus Magnus Magnus Albertus the “Dr. Universalis: Thomas Young and Hermann von Helmholtz in the in Thomas andvon Hermann Helmholtz Young Teachers Physical Society) but German of would the Magnus and Roger Bacon in the thirteenth century, century, thirteenth the Bacon Roger in and Magnus (e.g. the very successful Summer Schools for Physics Schools Summer (e.g. successful very the we wish, most of the scientific elite of the twenty-the elite of most ofscientific the we wish, It will involve formal teaching in physics, quan in involve teaching formal It will essence In first. first. ing environments such as internships or face-to-face internships environments as such ing science.interest Moreover, in movement the towards ics education have benefitedfrom new conceptual istry and physics. and istry science teachersingredient highly who both are double, the normal duration normal the double, of longer, much even degree possibly doctoral nineteenth, practically nobody in the twentieth and, and, twentieth the nobody in practically nineteenth, toneed encompass to biology, beexpanded chem dialogue with researchers and other experts signifi researchers experts other with and dialogue peers (same orvalues) age same authorities in and with opportunities communication need people been environments has more interactive learning of techni handling direct the through motor skills prove an effective approach. Localised initiatives initiatives of prove effective approach.Localised an quantum science and engineering. engineering. science and quantum motivated and given the opportunity to stay in motivated given opportunity and the to the authenticity of the encounter. of the authenticity to the of ICT.use computer the Acloser connectionwith apply and physicsunderstand concepts, interactive required to skills cognitive and understanding by acquiring strengthened also is literacy technical tum physics, biology and biochemistry (to physics, biochemistry and biology mentiontum as physics such exist subjects for specific type this to recent exposed are they developments by active tively. for schools science teachers Summer where touch with recentin touchorder advances with scientific to be able to translate them to the classroom effec to the them be able to translate reasoning. researchers and can discuss with them how them to best with discuss researchers can and a given field (‘role models‘). Extra-curricular learn a given field (‘roleExtra-curricular models‘). engagement methods, teaching in context as well as as well context as in teaching engagement methods, ences larly when itlarly comes to complex problem and solving Higher Education – Post-graduate excellence: excellence: –Post-graduate Education Higher successful in raising student achievement student –particu raising in successful simplify and translate these to the classroom could classroom could to the these translate and simplify cantly strengthen motivation career choice and strengthen due cantly about laws of the by theorising also and gadgets cal games industry is a promising avenue apromising is to trigger industry games graduates in the natural sciences and mathematics. sciences mathematics. and natural the graduates in programme” Achieving success here requires as an essential successhereessential an requires as Achieving Recent changes in teaching and learning in phys in learning and teaching in Recent changes In orderIn to move towards career choice, young To achieve this we propose to create a new anew we propose create To to this achieve which would have been congenial to Albertus have would to Albertus which been congenial FarQBio embodies the unity of the sci of the unity the embodies FarQBio . This will be open to will . This ------25 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 26 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) vides support and encouragement to gifted students. students. encouragement support and vides to gifted Universalis are worth the wait. the worth are Universalis Magnus (1206–1280),Magnus Roger student his other the Russia and India have long had similar schemes in in schemes have similar had long India and Russia Engineers for 21 the Engineers will be because those who style themselves Doctor bewho because those style will PhD. We normal the devalue see and agree, will Bacon (1219–1295) we and propose programme the which pro which Deutschen Volkes des Studienstiftung Curie Actions framework. It could be modelled framework.It be modelled Actions could Curie know its own. If the letters DU acquire value, it value, DU letters acquire the If its own. know from three-year literature reviews all the way the to from three-year reviews all literature in Paris, of being international. international. of being Paris, in nature of such a degree would present of adegree would such nature ideal an will anew elite Creating that. with wrong nothing degree awarded to these exceptional students will degree awarded will exceptional students to these programmes for the “Quantum (Bio, Info,…) for“Quantum programmes the programme. Universalis Doctor subsequent the for preparation pose to call this new doctorate this pose to call higher The be learned. muchplace could from which on one or more national institutions such as the the as such institutions more or national one on only to two individuals. One of those was Albertus One Albertus was of those individuals. to two only of the best schools in the US. The market will will market The US. the in schools best of the today already span a large range of achievement range alarge span today already be2 will knowledge their much to as produce conventionally is the as twice title ancientawarded honorific an to connectwith tum machines. The intrinsically interdisciplinary interdisciplinary intrinsically The machines. tum be achieved by establishing new science degree be achieved by establishing be named after Albertus Magnus, who had thewho had Magnus, Albertus be named after be expected to span at least two disciplines. We pro disciplines. at two to least span be expected Sklodowska Marie well-established the within bly added merit, as a German-born scholar teaching teaching a German-born scholar added merit,as attack the research challenges in relation to in quan research the challenges attack ate degrees and a research thesis. The selection The selection ateof aresearch degrees and thesis. effectively cheap. It will also be objected that this this that be objected also cheap. effectively will It ers from an early stage in the skills required to skills the in stage early ers from an Doctorates game. encourage everyone their to raise should probablyshould bedone level, possi at European some key of areas), the advanced under to each an six- seven-year and doctorates multi-lab typical case. To network case. the of effect that we answer this candidates for this unquestionably challenging task task unquestionably challenging for this candidates combination of undergradu several scaled-down graduate level. The programme then effectively is a is theneffectively graduate level. The programme It may be objected that these graduates will cost It may be objected graduates will these that Steps towards the Doctor Universalis could Steps Universalis Doctor towards the st century” that train research train that century” 2 , and therefore, and are they Doctor Universalis Doctor ------, This type schemeof type benefit a fromwould having This the area of science addressed addressed of science above, area the outlined As way of transferring amongst the major the partici amongst way of transferring top-up to academic for the require asalary would Fellowship in the US. The ERC with its attendant attendant its with ERC The US. the in Fellowship European scale. scale. European Cross-disciplinary skills for senior scientists senior for skills Cross-disciplinary for such a fellowship scheme. for afellowship such Scientists routinely cooperate and are efficiently efficiently are and cooperate routinely Scientists institution and funds to allow the senior academic’s the to allow funds and institution important key success factors lies in enabling effi enabling in key success factors lies important to achieve maximum benefit from investments investments from benefit maximum achieve to in successful very is technology and science tum quan thefield of in community scientific the therefore very challenging, especially for senior for senior especially challenging, therefore very nent and sought after non-European nent after collaboration sought and competing for grants. However, an overarching However, overarching an for grants. competing pants the required interdisciplinary skills needed skills required interdisciplinary the pants body awarding ideal seemprestige to would bean partner. networks whenever appropriate funding schemes schemes funding appropriate whenever networks of science vary strongly across European countries. countries. across European strongly of science vary university academics university tive form of science. competition One of in the the teaching and administration duties that would would that duties administration and teaching the the borders of the EU, the US being the most borders promi the the EU, of US the being the proposed the FarQBioto underpin concept. made in individual projects at the national and and national at the projects individual in made a chemist, and so forth. To efficiently so forth. and this a chemist, fund and technology, albeit to a varying extent. At the the At extent. to avarying technology, albeit and bridge the ‘gap in understanding’ is to support support to is understanding’ ‘gap in the bridge by FarQBio is highly interdisciplinary and interdisciplinary highly is by FarQBio high profile and a prestigious designation, along the along designation, and a prestigious profile high have out person by been carried the on sabbatical. tohome pay for university areplacement to cover Funding and Cooperation Funding Cooperation and lines of a “genius” award such as the MacArthur MacArthur of award the a“genius” as such lines level. This includes collaborations that includesgo beyond collaborations level. This same time, approaches and policies towards funding approaches time, same towards policies funding and are in place. At the individual and national level level national and individual the At place. in are and senior faculty senior and short, targeted sabbaticals aimed at both junior junior at both aimed sabbaticals targeted short, scale collaboration is urgently needed in order in needed urgently is collaboration scale large- along-term, enabling scheme support and consortia collaborative in self-organising cover the extra costs of spending time in a different adifferent in time cover of costs spending extra the cient cross-border research between collaboration gist to aphysicist visit gist or aphysicist to with visit groups and projects that are funded at the national national at the groups projects funded are and that All European countries fund quantum science quantum fund countries European All Cooperation appears most construc to bethe Such sabbaticals would be the best and quickest and best be the would sabbaticals Such to allow, for a biolo example, . The . The efficientmost wayto ------© iStock • What is indisputable is the correlation the is between indisputable is What value of the various types of individual projects in of individual types of various value the Even within the EU,on percentage the the ofEven spending within will not signifi to change will time-the during cantly Programme and given that it will take at sev- least take given it and that will Programme Some countries invest in science a lot, others little. science investSome countries others little. in alot, funding agencies in individual European countries, countries, European individual agencies in funding implementation of the frame Horizon2020 of the to value Some country. countries fold from country include not only the projects funded by national projects the not funded include only benefi the to maximise important and addedts priorities and diff driven, ity diffin er erent countries. peting on cutting-edge features rather than price. rather than features on cutting-edge peting the area of quantum science technology. Th and area ofthe quantum ese but also a substantial number or number ERC grants. asubstantial but also others prior- are while practices, bottom-up funding applied research. Some countries rely on “blue-sky” “blue-sky” on rely countries Some research. applied high-tech industry and of products high-value and com- industry high-tech others prefer basic science, to while invest in highly eral years to overcomeeral recession, current the it is level the of development of particular economies, in spending on science with the strength of national strength the on science with spending ten- much by as as varies budgets national science in Albertus Magnus grants: Magnus Albertus B to stay at A’s of length forsame the institution institution for a period of 3–12institution then months and two scientists, A and B, to allow Ato stay at B’s to allow B, A and scientists, two Assuming that national policies and practices practices and policies national that Assuming Two be: possible schemes grant might providing funds for funds providing • 4. 4. 2. 2. 1. 1. Such benefiSuch be achieved a could by t maximisation ing funding scheme that would enable scheme would that cross-border funding ing projects)individual investment to create overarch- an ing schemes are: schemes ing breaking ideas. ideas. breaking research projects or wishing to proposeresearch new projects ground- or wishing (comparedrelatively small volume of total to the cooperation between scientists carrying out existing out existing carrying cooperation scientists between 3. 3. New Frontiers grants: Frontiers New for an extension by 4–8 years following acompeti- yearsfollowing by 4–8 extension for an ing (similar to the ERC Synergy grants) ERC to Synergy the but with (similar ing diffin erent and given is priority to elds; young fi provided initially for 4 years with the possibility possibility the for 4years with provided initially criteria to beenforced); of number main asmall boundaries. plinary interestproven and to look beyond disci- ability research top only quality mid-career scientists; tive review. review. tive researchers be that: would Conditions worktime. emphasis on: interdisciplinary work (asemphasis one on: interdisciplinary of the sites (perhaps even two) but where be site each can should be supported; candidates should have should be supported; candidates should composed be could of several researchers. Funding Thscheme e befl should to respect with exible Th of pro- source ere beoneshould centralised The The participation. broad ensure should They EUROCORES and RNPs of the European of the RNPs and EUROCORES exist- previous or currently with Experience Important requirements towards such afund- such towards requirements Important Science Foundation, show it important that is ing networking schemes, such as ERA-NETs, ERA-NETs, as such schemes, networking ing is particularly important for such emerging fi for emerging such important particularly is elds ity, based on a competition, of continuation the ject review and distribution of funds distribution and review ject depend on acompetitive peer-review solid and new groups joining groups new of the scheme; scheme; the of the quality of the projects that are funded and the the and projects of funded are the that quality the agencies national not do desire totheir support from left some are ties countries ashore because to avoid whereby situations scientifi c communi- to accomplishment ensure of major scientifi c recognition scientifi by the critically c community attract the scientifi the attract groups.of cnew focus to likely biology, are highly which quantum as topic; scheme overarching onan acertain extension for another 4–8 years with the possibil- the years with 4–8 forextension another endeavours. A be gooda 12-yearexample would Actions, Curie Marie ERC ofexperience and the scheme with a review schemeaft with and apossible er 4 years by aspe- berun should processselection which cialised agency or a well-recognised organisation; organisation; or awell-recognised agency cialised timeframe should be sufficiently long sufficiently be should timeframe a running programme. Th programme. arunning is providing major providing fund- . From the

27 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 28 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 1. A consultation process should be established established be should process consultation A Training Networks is a very important instrument instrument important Networks avery is Training elsewhere, initiatives similar Networks with Training US Air Force Research (AFOSR). Scientific US Air Office of Russian Academy of Sciences. Academy Russian Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC), of Canada Council Research Engineering (KRF) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences Chinese the and the and (KRF) Foundation of Research Korea National the (JSPS), (ARC), Council Research (CIFAR), Australian the Sciences and Natural the US, the (NSF) in who wish to stay abreastwho wish of competitors, especially It therefore is recommended to negotiate potential Horizon2020, we would highlight the following following the wehighlight would Horizon2020, fiercer competition science. isfiercer Collaboration in from year to year. In part this can be explained by be explained can this from to year year.part In for improving the collaborative spirit, culture, and and for culture, collaborative improving the spirit, Program Research for Multidisciplinary example the important aspects: aspects: important introduced scheme improvements under ITN the in technolo and information area of the quantum in develop new funding mechanisms enabling large- enabling mechanisms funding new develop no longer a curiosity or desirable attribute of the orof desirable the attribute no longer acuriosity collaborate across borders continents. across and collaborate of the University Research Initiative (MURI) of the of the of University(MURI) the Initiative Research the experiences of scientists during FP7 and the the and FP7 during of experiences scientists the Innovative Curie Marie The innovation. on focus Promotion for the Japanese ofthe Society Science for Advanced Research Institute Canadian the place to couple in there no are such mechanisms or trilateral bilateral go beyond small hardly they ever the is important but equally exchange, tion of speed ease informa and rapidly increasing the increases number orthis more and two countries, are co-authoredpublications from tific scientists by build on practices relevant to the 20th century, and and century, on practices relevant 20th tobuild the research process, rather it for anecessity is those between EU and non-EU science funders to non-EU EU and funders science between existing EU schemes ERA-NETs or as Innovative existing schemes between individual countries. Currently Currently countries. individual schemes between skills for the next generation on fornext Based the of scientists. skills Foundation Science National the as agencies such 35 show more that percentstatistics than of scien scale and improved success rates with a better abetter with rates improved success and scale scale international networks where scientists can can scientists where networks international scale calls in the Horizon2020 programme jointly with with jointly programme Horizon2020 the in calls gies. Yet existing funding schemes for cooperation funding Yetgies. existing

The practice of fitting the consortium size in size the consortium The practice of fitting The limited size of these networks is insufficient theseinsufficient isof size networks limited The Training networks should enable a larger enablealarger should networks Training fitting teams with adequate geographical coveradequate with geographical teams fitting to achieve a full impact and provide and impact asufficiently to achieve afull the Procrustes’ bed of guidelines is a clearly infe aclearly is bed of guidelines Procrustes’ the broad scope of the training environment, espe broad scope training of the rior approach a network of best to assembling cially in the case of interdisciplinary projects. of interdisciplinary case the in cially The The ------3. versity-based are laboratories, of many which 2. Research on quantum biology and quantum quantum and biology on quantum Research European Union. The continuation of this initia this Union. The continuation of European funded by7 the funded networked via Laserlab-Europe which is currently currently is networked which Laserlab-Europe via machines is making use of some highly sophisti of some use highly making is machines of techniques. Ultra-fast laser spectroscopy, laser Ultra-fast of techniques. for tive is highly desirable. It is likely that in future a future in that It desirable. likely is tive highly is example in photosynthesis, is carried out in uni out in carried is photosynthesis, example in Research Infrastructures similar initiative that networks emerging quantum quantum networks emerging that initiative similar cated research infrastructures. cated research infrastructures. The requirement for industry participation in participation The requirementindustry for Experimental research uses a wide variety variety awide research uses Experimental with a long-term vision and independently independently and a long-term vision with Success rates have been discouragingly low so Success rates have been discouragingly for the high demand from the scientific commu scientific from the demand for high the far, with ranking and selection of the top of selection the pro and ranking far, with innovation to development. of facili Instead Innovative ideas and and ideas Innovative phase. implementation rather than programme, training ofimpact the tia training approaches should be encouraged encouraged be approaches should training nity and the excellence of the projects of the excellence applying the and nity partners in the consortia. consortia. the in partners participation in this programme. Additional aresult, to alottery. As akin becoming posals of the compulsory participation of industrial of industrial participation compulsory of the tating innovation, such a requirement actually arequirement innovation, such actually tating scheme. to this to account available made be should funding the institutional composition of consortia. jects that are not yet close to the technological not are that yetjects technological close to the a training network has shifted the focus from the focus network shifted has a training Flexibility should be be should ofage research Flexibility hotspots. an increasing fraction of top shun fraction scientists increasing an hinders it by discouraging truly innovative pro truly it by discouraging hinders allowed in the formation of training consor of training formation the in allowed with a clear focus on scientific excellence and excellence on scientific focus aclear with th

Framework of the Programme ------© iStock Th ese centres should providenot only dedicated versities or at the national level. Numerical methods versities methods level.Numerical or national at the where it concerns fi rst-principles elec-of calculation future research. future consuming time very these to run on which facilities electron microscopy. and fraction Some are of these interdisciplinary research centres in which complete research which centres in interdisciplinary divide fi the in disciplinary the of the eldisbridging mid-1990s, the in should support measures so that assist would them between results and information univer- others local are while access, international needed in the foreseeable future. Central to progress Central foreseeableneeded the in future. concerning example for questions, Structural nity. disparate methods to allow for a seamless fl for a seamless to allow methods disparate ow of from the ranging of scales variety awide with deal ment may have to be shouldered by national funding ment may have to beshouldered by funding national amajor this make contribution towards addressing provision of research infrastruc- networking and becomes that compounded intrinsic by the plexity X-ray applicationproteins, require the of NMR, dif- organisations or universities, the running costs of costs running the or universities, organisations to Laserlab-Europe that brings together these oft together these brings that to Laserlab-Europe en similar initiative behaviour. An oftions quantum whosetive input determined are models parameters to some depends dynamics, and tronic structure of by means sensing quantum as such technologies, tum) physics. An infrastructure measure that would would that measure infrastructure physics.tum) An Amajor efftures. is not Flagship FET an as such ort be designed to create and enhance interdisciplinary tobe designed createinterdisciplinary enhance and or support of establishment bethe would biology biology, (quan-between and medicine chemistry, research the the community, at building be aimed by fi for allow rst long-timeprinciples simula- to becomes involved. Th especially eoretical research, provide that or regional even facilities atbased user research and lab infrastructures but, crucially, also also crucially, but, infrastructures research lab and research groups from biology, medi- chemistry, atomic scale of fiatomic scale rst-principlesthat effof to scale ec- biophysics and available biology to the commu- education of young researchers in this fieducation researchers of young this in the and eld computing of large-scale availability on the extent such centres could be provided through rolling rolling centres beprovidedsuch could through information quantum to comparable perhaps stage, laboratories. sity communication. While the infrastructure invest- infrastructure the While communication. building. physics same and the cine housed are in development to the thus and of quantum challenge Thcalculations. providedareuni- ese generally by physics quantum when challenges computational more readily techniques challenging-to-master help sometimes to these make will imaging, cal or sub-wavelengthcolour centres diamond opti- in grants by European organisations. by European grants At present the community is still at an early at an still is At present community the Biological structures are highly complex, acom- highly are structures Biological words. Another challenge is to is present quantum challenge words. Another Financial support for new directions of research will of research will support for new directions Financial Communication Communication for the newfor fi the to attract technologies, eld of quantum for be example, done that fact by the emphasising fessional way. attention of order the In to attract in aspecifiin c way. theDoctor of Universalis Part informatics and quantum cryptography. Th quantum and informatics is could, but scientifi to understand, asensible, easy in cally technologies newsabout and quantum information necessity to explain quantum mechanics in simple in mechanics quantum tonecessity explain scien- decisionpublic, the makers and non-experts, political sphere. Attracting suffi sphere. Attracting political cientattention to presentation and outreach to ensure that this future future presentation this outreach that to and ensure programme would involve would programme in intensive teaching quantum technologies is therefore an important therefore is technologies important an quantum new research these domains if beforthcoming only quantum systems and by referring to quantum bio- to by quantum referring and systems quantum “simple” with deal mainly technologies quantum decision-makers, and policy- and disciplines, other that only realistic expectations are raised. are expectations realistic only that spread who can basic need to excitetists journalists technologies as an intriguing topic, yet to ensure intriguing an as technologies are supportedare broader by they the if and public an emerging fi emerging an that is eld andscienceof technology toattention spread and there is that message the rather from well- the distinct is that a profile groups have each target are that to beaddressed horizontal task that should be performed in apro- beperformed in should that task horizontal established and broadly covered broadly and established fi of quantum elds logical systems. Fascinating instances from nature from nature instances Fascinating systems. logical lic. lic. subsequently fithe andnd promoters the media in scientifithe pub- with well communicate can elite c could help tocould overcome diffi the posedthe culties by correct manner.Th in e scientists broaderpublic, Th is to create goal public awareness eprimary One challenge is to give quantum technologies technologies to is give quantum One challenge

© iStock 29 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 30 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) • • • we can design new, design we can better, more complex quan biology) in those work be controlled (like can and In general, one could use the following line of rea line following the one use general, could In Hence we believe that also moreHence complex also we that believe quan field in competition with other traditional fields of fields traditional other with in competition field with respect to well-established technologies, technologies, well-established to respect with from potential funding partners to decision makers partners funding from potential in the administration, and, last but from not last least, and, administration, the in important to science and society, such as energy to science energy society, as and such important quantum systems (from biology) or potential (from biology) or potential systems quantum a clear are: clear biology a quantum in nication strategy question: How the answer should strategy nication do we attract public attention to a new emerging attention to public a new emerging do we attract discussions with the public by giving a clear focus focus aclear by public giving the with discussions possible media partners to citizens. This commu This to citizens. possible partners media on opportunities, but without neglecting potential potential but neglecting without on opportunities, prises specific approaches for different kinds kinds of specific approachesprises different for com which strategy communication overarching tors, and so forth. so and tors, machines how “simple” these understand quantum we When be realised. will and can machines tum roles. important technologically real, serve that and systems Biological easier are tothat realise. machines. quantum man-made future natural existing of either instances fascinating tum machines which will have key applications will which machines tum risks, e.g. from “dual use” of quantum machines. machines. of quantum use” from “dual e.g. risks, already existing instances of quantum machines machines of quantum instances existing already high practical value. practical high apotential and hopes breakthroughs for important harvesting, sensing, metrology, quantum simula metrology, quantum sensing, harvesting, egy can be outlined as follows: as outlined be can egy small-scale quantum devices such as sensors are as such devices quantum small-scale soning: The Quantum Machine is a conceptthat Machine Quantum The soning: science? The commu prerequisites forsuccessful a to schools, scientists stakeholders –from colleague with reasonablecombined intriguing, scientifically and the existence of convincing “stories” around around “stories” of convincing existence the and technologies of quantum profile distinct and contains more general instances but also instances instances but more also contains general instances Approaching journalists is another obvious point: another is journalists Approaching media of social use the pointis obvious starting An Festival or the European Science Festival ESOF – – Science Festival ESOF European Festival or the could organisations science and Foundations festivals (such as the annual Cheltenham Science Cheltenham (such annual festivals the as a at creating aimed butfor also communication instances and explain possible consequences. explain and instances munication and outreach activities of outreach science and activities munication be approached com toexternal support the back up quantum technology claims with specific specific with claims technology back up quantum contact them, invite them, be opinionated invitecontact them, but them, technologies. biology quantum around community It is important to set up the right agenda for agenda to set upright It the important is It therefore is to develop a necessary coherent Some elements of the communication strat communication the of elements Some ------• • A specific point is communication between scien between is point communication A specific European Science Forum), Open European or competitions (or a new as such device, quantum-enabled any Constructing and exhibiting a quantum machine machine aquantum exhibiting and Constructing kind of solar cell, sensor or a quantum random sensor or aquantum cell, of solar kind quantum machine quantum number generator)number very and be a useful would powerful PR tool. powerful to the field. field. to the researchers young promising of attracting aim the with educationalso forbut disciplines mutual tific for the best new idea for a a for idea new the best for scientists young among . - As the research community in quantum biology is is biology quantum in research the community As ward to implement over should few years, next the FarQBio exercise and the experts involvedFarQBio exercise it experts have the in and funders and policy- and decision-makers and policy- and at the funders l l l instruments and mechanisms currently available to currently mechanisms and instruments cer and future, welcome the bevery in will issues sciencefaceof similar fields which interdisciplinary national and European level. European and national discoveries that will provide further evidence of the provide further discoveries will that other with Interactions science.of fields disciplinary mately leading to their exploitation in new exploitation everyday in to their mately leading quantum biology will produce yet as unforeseeable will biology quantum progressivesteps towards taking by field, of this tried to address, spanning from basic science discov spanning to address, tried technologies available to society.technologies FarQBio hopes to a positive report elicit reaction from research this improvement integration and better the of existing more be learned. lessons can tainly been proposed. While some recommendations may been proposed. While the that of there anumber is aspects built, being apply biology, exclusively others may to quantum have inter a and general interest to emerging other have provided a first look forward in this direction. have this providedin look forward afirst existence of quantum phenomena ulti nature, of quantum in existence Despite early the education research and funding. in to challenges bottlenecks technological eries and long-term strategy and vision fordevelopment vision long-term the and strategy set of measures that would berelatively would that set ofstraightfor measures in a proposed has resulted support research. This field of some research, haveneeds of this stage been clearly identified andpossible identified waysclearly have forward Conclusions 5. The outcome of this exercise The outcome been this to adopthas a of Over the long term, it is expected that the field field of the that it expected long term, is Over the - - - - - 31 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) 32 A Foresight Activity on Research in Quantum Biology (FarQBio) • • • • • Groups Discussion the of Members • • • Scientific Committee Annex 1:Experts and Committee Scientific • • • • of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany Vienna, Austria Vienna, Vienna, of University Vaziri, Alipasha Dr Saclay, France (CEA), Commission Energies Alternative Robert Dr Bruno of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom Professor Günther Mahler Günther Professor Kingdom United London, London, College Olaya-Castro Alexandra Dr Professor Richard Cogdell Professor Richard University, Germany Ulm, Dr Gerardo Adesso Gerardo Dr Turin Luca Dr Plenio Martin Professor of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel Jerusalem, of Jerusalem, Germany Ulm, Kingdom United Nottingham, Professor Yossi Paltiel Germany Dr Fedor Jelezko Netherlands Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Grondelle van Rienk Professor F. Huelga Susana Professor , Ulm University, Germany , Ulm Ulm, , Ulm University, , Ulm Ulm, , Atomic Energy and and Energy , Atomic , University of Nottingham, , University of Nottingham, , Hebrew University (Chair), Ulm Ulm (Chair), , University University , , University University , , Ulm University,, Ulm , University University , , VU University , VU

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