The Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) is the national metrology institute in Germany and is responsible for the introduction and dissemination of the SI units as well as for basic metrological research for society and industry. Quantum technology is usually required to push precision metrology to its limits. PTB offers extensive resources and infrastructure for a wide range of precision measurements. In 2017, the German Council of Science and Humanities assessed PTB and attested to its excellent performance of tasks and high economic relevance. It recognized the “impressive achievements” in the core areas of metrological research for time and frequency, quantum metrology, terahertz metrology and the redetermination of SI units on the basis of quantum standards. PTB research on these topics benefits greatly from the collaboration with local university partners LUH and TUBS, as it promotes the exploration of new fundamental ideas that will influence future metrology applications, especially in the field of quantum technologies. PTB’s commitment to a long-term strategic research agenda enables critical expertise to be maintained within the consortium and helps to sustain activities beyond the lifetime of individual projects.
In 2019, PTB founded the Quantum Technology Competence Center (QTZ), which supports industrial developments in the field of quantum technologies. The QTZ coordinates special user facilities for testing new quantum technologies, e.g. quantum electronics and ion traps, and therefore plays a particularly important role in the QVLS initiative and the QVLS e.V.