Quantum Computing in Baden-Württemberg

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Mara Schneider

Mara Schneider

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The Ministry of Economic Affairs is funding the further development of a competence center for quantum computing to the tune of around four million euros.

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labor and Tourism has granted the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft (FhG) and its consortium partners funding of around four million euros for a transfer project. The joint project will initiate the further development of the Baden-Württemberg Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg (KQCBW) and consolidate research and development work that will enable the use of the latest generation of IBM quantum computers with at least 127 qubits at the Ehningen site. “We are strategically expanding the expertise in research and industry in this key technology in Baden-Württemberg and want to keep the state at the forefront of development,” said Minister of Economic Affairs Hoffmeister-Kraut.

 

In addition to five FhG institutes, the consortium of the transfer project comprises eight partners from universities and research institutes in the state. A further five associated company partners are involved in the project, who are working with the scientific institutions to investigate various industrial applications and their implementation in order to develop potential quantum advantages.

 

Dr. Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut, Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism, emphasized the importance of the project: “The Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg, coordinated by the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, plays a central role in the implementation of our state strategy for the further development of this groundbreaking technology. With the transfer project, we are building on the successful collaborative projects of recent years and paving the way for future KQCBW research and innovation projects. We are sticking to our goal of enabling companies and researchers in the state to develop key skills at an early stage, which will enable them to use the advantages of quantum computing for practical applications and benefit from this key technology in the long term.”

 

Under the umbrella of the state's QuantumBW innovation initiative on quantum technologies, the project is intended to make key contributions to progress in quantum computing and to the continuation of the state's strategy in this field. The state has provided funding for the implementation of measures for the further development of the KQCBW with a total volume of up to 20 million euros in the budget years 2024 to 2028. The project marks the start of the first stage and lays the foundations for the call for tenders for the next planned funding phase from 2025.

 

With its cabinet decision of 7 May 2024, the state government confirmed that the research, development, application and commercialization of quantum computing is of outstanding importance for securing the competitiveness of Baden-Württemberg as a business location.

 

 

Further information

Under the coordination of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Solid State Physics IAF in Freiburg and the Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering IAO in Stuttgart, science and industry are working together in the Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg (KQCBW) to develop the application potential of quantum computers for industry. In terms of content, the transfer project aims to build on the numerous and very good research results of the completed joint projects of the 2021 to 2024 funding period and to carry out important scientific work with an application focus for the subsequent funding phase from 2025.

 

Between 2020 and March 2024, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and its project partners received approvals from the Ministry of Economic Affairs totaling around 40 million euros for the development of the KQCBW and the implementation of a total of eleven joint projects in two funding phases. The project enabled the exclusive use of the first European quantum computer from IBM in Ehningen. The results were disseminated widely and in many different ways to the relevant specialist circles and also formed the basis for extensive training courses offered by the KQCBW in this field. As part of the activities of QuantumBW, the results are presented and made accessible to a broad audience of experts and society.

 

Link to the Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg

Link to QuantumBW - THE LÄND of quantum technology

Link to Quantum Effects 2025 - Messe Stuttgart

 

Source:

Press release State Ministry Baden-Württemberg

 

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