The advent of quantum computing is poised to revolutionize the field of computer science. The "quantum era" is on the horizon, offering the potential to transform program computation to the extent that solving NP-complete problems might become achievable. Leading software companies, including IBM, Google, and others, are investing substantial sums—amounting to hundreds of billions of dollars—to pioneer innovative hardware and software tools, aiming to attain quantum supremacy and embrace this transformative shift.

Despite this, the widespread development of large-scale pure quantum software systems is still in its infancy. Consequently, there is a growing interest in the creation of hybrid Quantum-Based Software Systems (QBSs), where quantum components are seamlessly integrated into traditional software applications. However, the development of QBSs poses significant challenges. These challenges include a shortage of multidisciplinary skills, limited support from programming languages, the absence of integrated development environments, and the lack of a cohesive development community. As a result, there is a rising focus on the nascent research field of quantum software engineering. This field aims to define methods, practices, and tools that support the development of QBSs, addressing the complexities and hurdles associated with this innovative approach.

As the landscape of quantum computing continues to unfold, the need for empirical studies in quantum software engineering becomes increasingly crucial. While theoretical frameworks lay the groundwork, empirical studies provide the practical insights necessary to navigate the complex challenges inherent in developing Quantum-Based Software Systems (QBSs). These studies can shed light on the real-world effectiveness of various methodologies, tools, and practices, offering valuable data to inform the refinement of quantum software engineering approaches. Empirical research plays a pivotal role in addressing the existing challenges such as the shortage of multidisciplinary skills and the absence of cohesive development communities. By conducting rigorous empirical studies, the quantum software engineering community can build a solid foundation of knowledge, fostering innovation, and accelerating the realization of large-scale, reliable quantum software systems.

To this end, we propose a workshop that focuses on Empirical Studies for Software Engineering, with the aim of attracting researchers to this research field and creating a community in which share and discuss new ideas, as well as start new collaborations.