How Zurich is shaping the future of algorithms, 70 years in

Forty years ago, when Alessandro Curioni was a high school student, he was watching the news on Italian television as they announced the Physics Nobel Prize of 1986. It went to researchers Gerd Binnig and Heinrich Rohrer at the IBM Research Lab in Zurich for their invention of the scanning tunneling microscope, a device that has since revolutionized the field of nanotechnology. The way the researchers talked about their invention stuck with Curioni, but he was even more struck by how they spoke about the lab where they worked: a powerful innovation hub, buzzing with people and ideas.

This image stayed with him, and many years later, while working on his Ph.D. in computational chemistry in Pisa, he became aware of the research being conducted at the Zurich lab on advanced computational molecular simulation methods. This was one of the only two places worldwide where unique, groundbreaking work was being done on Car-Parrinello molecular dynamics. If he did not learn these new, more advanced techniques, Curioni reasoned, his Ph.D. work would be incomplete. After talking to his Ph.D. advisor, Curioni came to Zurich.

When he first arrived, his goal was to learn these methods for his thesis and leave for California, where the technological explosion of the ‘80s and ‘90s was taking place. But somewhere along the way, this buzzing lab in the middle of Europe, filled with experts in a wide range of disciplines from so many corners of the world, changed his mind. These researchers were attempting to solve some of the biggest problems in science and business, with an eye toward tackling important challenges and delivering meaningful impact. There was no better place to do just that.

Upon the 70th anniversary of the Zurich lab, we sat down with Curioni to talk about how he landed there, how the vibrant research ecosystem surrounding the lab made him decide to stay, and his vision for the future of computing.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

How did you celebrate the recent 70th anniversary of the IBM Research Lab in Zurich?

We had the great pleasure of hosting two distinct events: an evening anniversary celebration on October 12, and a client-devoted symposium on October 13.

For the anniversary celebration, our audience consisted of key figures from the scientific, industrial and political realms in Europe, as well as key media representatives. We had the honor of hosting a number of IBM’s clients and partners, several of them also former IBMers, and even Physics Nobel Laureate Georg Bednorz, who was a member of the Zurich lab in 1987 when he was recognized for his discovery of high-temperature superconductivity.

At the anniversary celebration, we watched wonderful video messages by IBM’s CEO and Chairman Arvind Krisha, as well as by the president of Switzerland. Jay Gambetta, director of IBM Research, gave an inspiring keynote, followed by comments from the president of ETH, one of Europe’s top universities. We also held a panel discussion with the president of EPFL (another key Swiss university), the Director-General of CERN, and the head of Deep Tech at Nestlé R&D. Lastly, the president of the ETH Board shared some closing remarks before we all gathered at the Think Lab for dinner.

The symposium was designed as a smaller, technology-focused event. We invited many of IBM’s clients and partners, and our goal was to spark powerful dialogue and share our vision for the future of computing. After a keynote by Gambetta, some of our lead researchers had the pleasure of sharing the stage with several of our partners: Bosch, Cleveland Clinic, Dallara, E.ON, JPMorgan Chase, and Threema.

It was wonderful to host these celebration events — especially with our collaborators and clients in attendance. Through the many inspiring speeches and presentations we witnessed, I think we all realized how exceptional the IBM Research Lab in Zurich is, how much groundbreaking innovation is being done in the Zurich area, and how we are keen on continuing to shape the world of technology for much, much longer.

It was more than 10 years ago that I took over the leadership of this lab. Overall, I have a feeling that I have made this place even more connected to the future of computing, to the needs of the company, and to the overall tech ecosystem — and that makes me tremendously proud.

What do you see as the key aspects driving success at IBM Research?

The first factor I would highlight is our ability to attract top talent, both in Zurich and beyond. If you take a look at similar organizations — even though a concept truly similar to IBM Research cannot quite be found elsewhere — there is a lot of staff turnover. Employees come and go. At IBM Research, once someone arrives, it’s unlikely that they will leave (unless, of course, they choose to for personal reasons). I would call that a culture of innovation done right: ethical, transformative technological development that follows market demand while keeping skilled people engaged.

The second key aspect is the global character of this organization. IBM Research has talent from almost every place on Earth, and our impact knows no borders. Many of our remarkable collaborators are giants in their country or even in their continent — but their reach ends there. IBM Research is a global enterprise. Our ability to marry research with the corporate world is unprecedented, and that makes us unique — and hence able to bring remarkable value to all corners of this Earth.

You’re leading IBM Research’s efforts on Algorithms and Applications. Can you tell us more about the work being done in this area?

Algorithms play a key role in computing. One can have extremely powerful, advanced hardware, but without the key layer of algorithms, it is simply not possible to extract trusted value from it.

At IBM Research, we are creating foundational algorithms that combine classical computing, quantum computing, and AI. We are focusing on five broad problem classes: differential equations and dynamical systems; linear algebra and Hamiltonian problems; optimization and combinatorial problems; probability, statistics, and stochastic processes; and cryptography. We believe that, by tackling these five areas, our results will cover a large percentage of today’s most urgent challenges.

AI and quantum play key roles here — the former provides us new abstractions, and the latter brings us new representations. I firmly believe that the future of computing will be defined by the joint use of CPUs, GPUs, QPUs, and an agentic AI layer for orchestration. The synergistic use of these technologies will lead us to fundamentally new ways of approaching complex problems, and hence allow us to reach unprecedented solutions.

What is your vision for the future of computing?

Being a computational scientist by training, my dream was always to use a computer to simulate the world and all of its phenomena, from the scientific to the industrial realms. I would say there is no better moment in history to do this.

The algorithms we are creating can translate technology into tangible value. We are creating a future where, on the one hand, we can do what we have done before in better, faster, and more efficient ways, and, on the other hand, we can do things that have simply been out of reach until now. For the very first time, we have the ability to create extremely accurate digital twins of our world, both in science and business — and that capability is invaluable.

Researching algorithms has always been central to my life, but today I find it is more meaningful than ever. Being part of an organization that is leading the connection between technology and societal value is tremendously exciting.

The future of computing looks promising, and I am very proud to keep shaping it at IBM Research.