Román Orús

Román Orús
Born (1979-01-04) January 4, 1979
Barcelona
CitizenshipSpanish
EducationPhD in Physics
Alma materUniversity of Barcelona
Known forTensor Network States, Infinite PEPS, many-body entanglement, quantum computing, quantum artificial intelligence, physics of language
AwardsPhysics, Innovation, and Technology Award from the Royal Spanish Society of Physics and the BBVA Foundation (2024); Early Career Award from the European Physical Society (2014); Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (2009); Honorable Mention in the Václav Votruba Award (2008).
Scientific career
Workplaces
Thesis Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms
José Ignacio Latorre Sentís

Román Orús Lacort (Barcelona, 1979) is a Spanish theoretical physicist who specializes in quantum information science and quantum tensor networks. He is Ikerbasque Research Professor at the Donostia International Physics Center (DIPC), as well as co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Multiverse Computing.[1][2][3][4][5]

Education and career

Román Orús studied physics at the University of Barcelona and was awarded his PhD from the same university in 2006 under the supervision of José Ignacio Latorre, receiving special honours for both his undergraduate and doctoral degrees. He subsequently worked as a researcher at the University of Queensland (Brisbane, Australia) with Guifré Vidal, and at the Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics (Garching, Germany) with Ignacio Cirac. He was appointed Junior Professor of Condensed Matter Physics at Johannes Gutenberg University (Mainz, Germany)[6] in 2013, and Ikerbasque Research Professor at the DIPC (San Sebastián, Spain) in 2017, at the age of 38. He was also a visiting professor at the CNRS (Toulouse, France) and the DIPC.

Scientific work

Orús is the author of numerous scientific papers on quantum technologies, including seminal contributions to complex quantum systems, applied quantum computing and quantum artificial intelligence.[7] Orús's doctoral thesis[8] was the first in Spain to focus on quantum algorithms, linking them to quantum phase transitions. During his time in Australia, he pioneered, alongside G. Vidal, I. Cirac, F. Verstraete and J. Jordan, the use of tensor networks to study two-dimensional quantum systems at the thermodynamic limit,[9] and, together with G. Vidal, proposed a directional algorithm using corner transfer matrices.[10]

In 2013, he single-handedly wrote an introductory and review article on tensor networks[11] which became one of the most cited and well-known references in the field, subsequently writing other articles along the same lines.[12][13] Orús also achieved significant results on many-body quantum entanglement, including the discovery, with T.-Chieh Wei, O. Buerschaper and M. van den Nest, of the topological correction in the geometric entanglement of systems with topological order.[14][15]

In 2018, he co-authored a paper with S. Mugel and E. Lizaso on the practical applications of quantum computing in finance,[16] which had a profound impact on the financial industry,[17] and led to the creation of Multiverse Computing. Orús has also made significant contributions at the intersection of physics and linguistics, such as the connection between language and renormalisation,[18] and the introduction of matrix models and vector spaces to describe syntax.[19] He has also proposed the use of tensor networks for the efficient implementation of artificial intelligence models, including the compression of large language models (LLMs)[20] such as ChatGPT, as well as variational quantum algorithms to break symmetric-key ciphers such as Blowfish and AES.[21]

Awards

Orús has received various awards for his scientific work, including an Honourable Mention in the Václav Votruba Prize (2008), a Marie Curie International Return Fellowship (2009), the European Physical Society's Early Career Award (2014), which he shared with Ian Chapman, and the Physics, Innovation and Technology Prize from the Royal Spanish Society of Physics and the BBVA Foundation (2024).[22]

He has also been appointed a member of the United Nations Independent International Scientific Panel on Artificial Intelligence (2026).[23] Established by the United Nations General Assembly, this global panel brings together leading experts to promote an evidence-based dialogue on the opportunities, risks and social impact of AI.

Entrepreneurial career

Together with Enrique Lizaso, Samuel Mugel, and Alfonso Rubio, Orús co-founded Multiverse Computing in 2019,[24][25][26] a company focused on the industrial applications of early prototypes of quantum computers. The project originated from a working group within the Quantum World Association.[27] Multiverse Computing was incorporated as a company in March 2019 in San Sebastián (Spain), from the outset receiving support from local authorities as well as from DIPC and BIC-Gipuzkoa.[28][29]

In 2020, the company graduated from the quantum program of the Creative Destruction Lab (CDL) in Toronto, and quickly became one of the world's largest quantum computing and artificial intelligence software companies, having closed several funding rounds,[30] including a $215M Series B closed in June 2025.[31] Multiverse has received several awards, including the "Manuel Laborde Werlinden Award" (2019), "Toribio Echevarria Award" (2019), "ADEGI New Company of Gipuzkoa Award" (2022), and was also a finalist for the "Emprendedor XXI Award" (2020).[32][33][34][35] The company also received the "Future Unicorn Award" (2024) from Digital Europe,[36] was selected by Indra to contribute to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project,[37] received the "National SME of the Year Award for Innovation and Digitalization – Honorable Mention" (2024),[38] and was recognized by CB Insights as one of the most promising companies in the world in artificial intelligence.[39] It was also named one of the 100 fastest-growing startups in Southern Europe in 2025 by Sifted[40] Multiverse is also among the Spanish entities filing the most European patents, ranking fifth in 2022[41] and third in 2023[42] only behind the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) and Amadeus. The scientific developments of Orús[43] are the foundation of the AI compression technology developed by Multiverse and validated by tech giants such as AWS[44]

Other activities

Orús is a member of the board of directors of Innobasque, a member of the editorial board of Quantum magazine, editor of Symmetry magazine, a member of the Quantum for Quants committee of the Quantum World Association, a partner at Entanglement Partners, a member of the Scientific Committee of the Pedro Pasqual Benasque Science Centre (CCBPP) and former chair of the Specialised Group on Quantum Information of the Royal Spanish Society of Physics. He has also co-organised numerous international conferences on quantum technologies and related topics, serves as a reviewer and advisor for various scientific journals and institutions, and regularly participates in science outreach activities.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Edwards, John (14 Jun 2024). "Quantum Computing and AI: A Perfect Match?". InformationWeek. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  2. ↑ O'Shea, Dan (7 March 2024). "Multiverse's Román Orús on international growth and using quantum to tame AI". Inside Quantum Technology. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  3. ↑ Vaughan, Jack (1 November 2021). "Multiverse Computing utilizes quantum tools for finance apps". VentureBeat. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  4. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid (4 March 2024). "Multiverse raises $27M for quantum software targeting LLM leviathans". TechCrunch. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
  5. ↑ "EE Times Europe Author Román Orús". EE Times. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 18 April 2024.
  6. ↑ Ouellette, Jennifer (2015-04-28). "How Quantum Pairs Stitch Space-Time". Quanta Magazine. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  7. ↑ "Google Académico". scholar.google.com. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  8. ↑ Orus, Roman (2006-08-01). "Entanglement, quantum phase transitions and quantum algorithms". arXiv:quant-ph/0608013.
  9. ↑ Jordan, J.; Orús, R.; Vidal, G.; Verstraete, F.; Cirac, J. I. (2008-12-18). "Classical Simulation of Infinite-Size Quantum Lattice Systems in Two Spatial Dimensions". Physical Review Letters. 101 (25) 250602. arXiv:cond-mat/0703788. Bibcode:2008PhRvL.101y0602J. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.101.250602. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 19113687. Archived from the original on 2025-05-06.
  10. ↑ Orus, Roman; Vidal, Guifre (2009-08-14). "Simulation of two-dimensional quantum systems on an infinite lattice revisited: Corner transfer matrix for tensor contraction". Physical Review B. 80 (9) 094403. arXiv:0905.3225. Bibcode:2009PhRvB..80i4403O. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.80.094403.
  11. ↑ Orús, Román (2014-10-01). "A practical introduction to tensor networks: Matrix product states and projected entangled pair states". Annals of Physics. 349: 117–158. arXiv:1306.2164. Bibcode:2014AnPhy.349..117O. doi:10.1016/j.aop.2014.06.013. ISSN 0003-4916.
  12. ↑ Orús, Román (2014-11-26). "Advances on tensor network theory: symmetries, fermions, entanglement, and holography". The European Physical Journal B. 87 (11) 280. arXiv:1407.6552. Bibcode:2014EPJB...87..280O. doi:10.1140/epjb/e2014-50502-9. ISSN 1434-6036.
  13. ↑ Orús, Román (September 2019). "Tensor networks for complex quantum systems". Nature Reviews Physics. 1 (9): 538–550. arXiv:1812.04011. Bibcode:2019NatRP...1..538O. doi:10.1038/s42254-019-0086-7. ISSN 2522-5820.
  14. ↑ Orús, Román; Wei, Tzu-Chieh; Buerschaper, Oliver; Nest, Maarten Van den (2014-01-13). "Geometric entanglement in topologically ordered states". New Journal of Physics. 16 (1) 013015. arXiv:1304.1339. Bibcode:2014NJPh...16a3015O. doi:10.1088/1367-2630/16/1/013015. ISSN 1367-2630.
  15. ↑ Orús, Román; Wei, Tzu-Chieh; Buerschaper, Oliver; García-Saez, Artur (2014-12-19). "Topological Transitions from Multipartite Entanglement with Tensor Networks: A Procedure for Sharper and Faster Characterization". Physical Review Letters. 113 (25) 257202. arXiv:1406.0585. Bibcode:2014PhRvL.113y7202O. doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.113.257202. ISSN 0031-9007. PMID 25554905.
  16. ↑ Orús, Román; Mugel, Samuel; Lizaso, Enrique (2019-11-01). "Quantum computing for finance: Overview and prospects". Reviews in Physics. 4 100028. arXiv:1807.03890. Bibcode:2019RvPhy...400028O. doi:10.1016/j.revip.2019.100028. ISSN 2405-4283.
  17. ↑ "It's Time for Financial Institutions to Place Their Quantum Bets". BCG Global. 2020-10-14. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  18. ↑ Gallego, Ángel J.; Orús, Román (2022-01-21). "Language Design as Information Renormalization". SN Computer Science. 3 (2): 140. arXiv:1708.01525. doi:10.1007/s42979-021-01002-y. ISSN 2661-8907.
  19. ↑ Orus, Roman; Martin, Roger; Uriagereka, Juan (2019-03-11). "Mathematical foundations of matrix syntax". arXiv:1710.00372 [cs.CL].
  20. ↑ Tomut, Andrei; Jahromi, Saeed S.; Sarkar, Abhijoy; Kurt, Uygar; Singh, Sukhbinder; Ishtiaq, Faysal; Muñoz, Cesar; Bajaj, Prabdeep Singh; Elborady, Ali (2024-05-13). "CompactifAI: Extreme Compression of Large Language Models using Quantum-Inspired Tensor Networks". arXiv:2401.14109 [cs.CL].
  21. ↑ Aizpurua, Borja; Bermejo, Pablo; Martinez, Josu Etxezarreta; Orus, Roman (2025-03-14). "Hacking Cryptographic Protocols with Advanced Variational Quantum Attacks". ACM Transactions on Quantum Computing. 6 (2): 1–24. arXiv:2311.02986. doi:10.1145/3718349.
  22. ↑ "Fallados los Premios de Física Real Sociedad Española de Física (RSEF) – Fundación BBVA". Fundación BBVA (in Spanish). 2024-09-28. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  23. ↑ "Panel Members". Independent International Scientific Panel on AI. Retrieved 2026-04-08.
  24. ↑ staff (2022-03-29). "Quantum: Multiverse Computing Submits 22 Patent Applications for 2021 Research". insideHPC. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  25. ↑ "Multiverse Computing aspira a convertirse en líder mundial en el desarrollo de 'software' cuántico". SPRI (in European Spanish). 2021-04-26. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  26. ↑ "¿Se está beneficiando España de la evolución de las 'star..." Crónica Global (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  27. ↑ Prashant (2020-10-28). "Can Quantum Computing Transform Financial Services?". International Banker. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  28. ↑ "Enrique Lizaso y Román Orús: «En dos o tres años Multiverse Computing se convertirá en el primer 'unicornio' de Gipuzkoa»". El Diario Vasco (in Spanish). 2021-11-08. Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  29. ↑ Jiménez, Marimar (2021-10-21). "Multiverse Computing capta 10 millones para llevar la computación cuántica a distintas industrias". Cinco Días (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  30. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid (2024-03-05). "Multiverse raises $27M for quantum software targeting LLM leviathans". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  31. ↑ "Spain's Multiverse raises $217 million for compressing AI models". Reuters. 2025-06-12. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  32. ↑ "Quantum Computing Startup Multiverse Computing Closes €10 Million Investment Round". www.businesswire.com. 2021-10-20.
  33. ↑ "Multiverse Computing Awarded €12.5 Million ($14.2M USD) in New Funding from European Innovation Council". www.businesswire.com. 2021-12-17.
  34. ↑ Kurek, Michel (2020-09-20). "Patents, Publications and Investments in Quantum Technologies". SSRN 3734185.
  35. ↑ Cuevas, Javier Escudero (25 January 2022). "Ideas disruptivas que usan la tecnología para competir en fintech y seguridad". Emprendedores.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 2022-06-27.
  36. ↑ EPIC. "Multiverse Computing wins DIGITALEUROPE's Future Unicorn Award 2024". DIGITALEUROPE. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  37. ↑ Press, Europa (2024-01-24). "Indra galardona a ocho 'startups', pymes y centros tecnológicos en la iniciativa 'The FCAS Challenge'". www.europapress.es. Retrieved 2024-03-10.
  38. ↑ "La empresa jienense Meltio, ganadora del VII Premio Nacional Pyme del Año". www.santander.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  39. ↑ "Multiverse Computing in the TOP 100 most promising AI companies 2025 in the Quantum AI software category published by CB Insights". multiversecomputing.com. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  40. ↑ "Sifted 100: France & Southern Europe — Fastest-Growing Startups 2025". sifted.eu. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
  41. ↑ "Las patentes españolas, "estables" ante un contexto de crecimiento de la innovación en Europa durante 2022". 19 March 2024.
  42. ↑ Millán, Santiago (2024-03-19). "Amadeus, Telefónica, el CSIC y el desarrollador de IA Multiverse Computing lideran las patentes en España". Cinco Días (in Spanish). Retrieved 2024-05-05.
  43. ↑ "CompactifAI: Extreme Compression of Large Language Models using Quantum-Inspired Tensor Networks". multiversecomputing.com. Retrieved 2025-07-07.
  44. ↑ "Multiverse Computing Launches CompactifAI API on AWS". multiversecomputing.com. Retrieved 2025-07-04.
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