Baden-Württemberg invests 8.5 million in quantum computer research!

Baden-Württemberg invests 8.5 million in quantum computer research!

The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economics, Labor and Tourism has provided fresh impetus for the region: With a new call for proposals to promote collaborative research projects in the field of quantum computing, they want to significantly enrich the scientific landscape. The call for funding is part of the “Competence Center Quantum Computing Baden-Württemberg”, which has been doing pioneering work in close cooperation with the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft since it was founded in 2020.
The objective is clear: application-oriented and pre-competitive research should develop algorithms and system architectures for quantum computers. Particular emphasis is placed on the collaboration of outstanding scientists from various Baden-Württemberg research institutions. This cooperative research and development work aims to transfer findings from basic research into practical applications, which is of great interest to the region.

The new funding initiative will provide up to 8.5 million euros in funds, which will flow into the projects by the end of March 2027. These funds are intended to further expand Baden-Württemberg's strategic location advantage and strengthen a strong ecosystem of universities, research institutions, start-ups and industrial companies in the field of quantum technologies. The central role is played by the competence center, which offers access to the latest generation of IBM quantum computers in the IBM Data Center at the Ehningen site. This is also a decisive advantage for using powerful quantum computing infrastructures for application-oriented research, as the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft reports.

Cooperation and diversity of partners

The foundations for this initiative were laid through close collaboration between researchers from six Fraunhofer institutes, supplemented by 17 university and college institutions and 56 associated corporate partners. This means that various topics are being addressed, ranging from quantum simulation in materials and natural sciences to the requirements for powerful and reliable hardware environments. Furthermore, the focus is on programming quantum algorithms that are directly tailored to industrial needs.

Another important aspect is the development of a quantum computing training program, which is being set up by the Fraunhofer IAO and IAF institutes. Interactive training courses are intended to help link new scientific findings directly with practice. This form of knowledge transfer will not only benefit universities and research institutions, but also small and medium-sized companies that want to focus on quantum computing.

Continuation of successes

The Baden-Württemberg Quantum Computing Competence Center will be continued thanks to a ten-month transfer project starting in September 2024. This project is called KQCBW24 and will continue the research work from previous projects and carry out preparatory work for follow-up projects lasting three years. In this context, 12 partners from various scientific institutions as well as five associated corporate partners will be active. Access to powerful quantum computer infrastructure is of utmost importance for application-oriented research, as Fraunhofer IAO emphasizes.

Overall, the new funding initiative is a strong signal for Baden-Württemberg: by investing in cutting-edge technologies and strengthening cooperation between research and industry, the aim is not only to achieve top-class scientific results, but also to sustainably promote the region's economic performance. A good hand in implementing this vision could mean that Baden-Württemberg can be at the forefront of quantum computing.